Menopause, mental health and mom-centric support: The benefits women need

Employers work hard to make sure their benefits reach all employees with a wide variety of needs. But it could be time to review those offerings to make sure women in particular have impactful support. 

While the "she-cession" may be over, as female labor participation is back to pre-pandemic levels, balancing work and home is still a major challenge for many women in the workplace. Whether it's supporting new moms with a breastfeeding-friendly workplace, to providing resources for women caring for both kids and elderly family members, every season in-between deserves individualized attention. 

"Having the type of benefits and support [systems] in place to ensure working moms have what they need to balance their jobs on top of care for kids — or often care for kids and care for aging parents for those working moms in the sandwich generation — is game-changing," says Lindsay Jurist-Rosner, CEO and co-founder of caregiver concierge platform Wellthy. 

Read more from Jurist-Rosner and other top leaders about the benefits that best support working mothers today: 3 ways to support moms in the workplace

While moms spend so much time thinking of others, it's important they find ways to fill their own cups, too. Education benefits are one way to help women pursue advanced degrees and certifications, and JPMorgan's partnership with education platform Guild is helping one employee do just that. 

Keisha Owens, a feedback analyst at JPMorgan, used the company's education reimbursement program to pursue a certification program in digital marketing, and now has plans to pursue even more education for both herself and her 11-year-old son down the line. She shares why this benefit has made such a positive impact on her life.  

Read more about JPMorgan's program and why it's helping them retain top talent: At JPMorgan, tuition-free education benefits helped this working mom advance her career

While benefits can support all employees, regardless of gender, there are areas where women can use some tailored advice. As women grapple with job changes, transitions to part-time work or leaving the workforce due to less supportive environments, employers should recognize the higher incidence of mental health conditions women face and how these challenges manifest in the workplace. 

Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare, lays out several ways to tailor mental health support to the female population: From providing greater access to virtual care, to reducing stigma through communication around depression and anxiety, here are a few places to start. 

Read more about what women need to care for their mental health: 5 ways employers can support women's mental health

Menopause support is one area where women certainly need individualized benefits and care. To address these specific needs, software company Nvidia partnered with Peppy, a U.K.-based digital health platform, which supports fertility care, men's health, gender-inclusive solutions and menopause support. Offering these benefits can have a trickle-down effect on how women view their employers' investment in them, says Max Landry, CEO and co-founder of Peppy. 

"We partner with companies who want to address this issue," he says. "These are companies that really telegraph to their employees that they genuinely care about things like closing the gender pay gap and getting more senior women in leadership positions." 

Read more about this partnership and how Nvidia's female employees have benefited: How to introduce menopause benefits to the workplace