Trends and recommendations for employers
Manulife Group Benefits has prepared this report with support from Cleveland Clinic Canada and the womenmind initiative at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). We have identified health trends potentially impacting women in the workforce by analyzing aggregate claims data.
Some key findings:
- Many aspiring parents still struggle to access fertility treatment, with fewer than 10% of Canadian members having fertility treatment benefits through their group benefits plans.1
- 15.1% of women made mental health claims in the months following pregnancy, and 42% of those were not previously seeking mental health treatment in the year before pregnancy.1
- The use of hormone replacement therapy in women ages 45 to 65 to treat menopause symptoms increased by 21% from 2020 to 2023.1
Chapter 1: Use of fertility drugs up 26% following significant drop in 2020
Find out how the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the use of fertility medications among Canadian women and why it's important for employers to provide fertility benefits to support employees dealing with the emotional and financial challenges of infertility treatments.
Chapter 2: 15% of women seek postpartum mental health treatment
Recent Manulife claims data reveals that a significant percentage of women make mental health claims following pregnancy, with many not previously seeking treatment. Explore ways employers can better support women dealing with postpartum mental health conditions.
We add expert commentary so that organizations like yours can help positively influence employee health through wellness programs and benefits plans.
With this report, we’re giving employers and their teams information they can use to make meaningful organizational health improvements. We're also building a new digital experience in partnership with Canadian tech scale up League, and collaborating with Aeroplan to offer a rewards program that offers points for health and benefits-related activities. Together these offerings show how we’re striving to be a true health partner for the Canadians we serve.
Bonus chapter: Supporting women’s heart health in the workplace
Women’s cardiovascular disease doesn’t always receive the attention it deserves. This article outlines the unique warning signs of a heart attack in women and explores the increase in the number of people submitting claims for medications commonly used to treat high blood pressure in pregnancy.
Bonus chapter: Promoting positive change for women’s mental health
Efforts are being made to address the gender gap in mental health research and treatment for women. A group of scientists and philanthropists is working to raise awareness and improve the lives of women and girls by focusing on women-centered research and careers in science.
Introduction:
Raising the profile of women’s health issues
By Jennifer Foubert
Assistant Vice-president, Head of Health, Well-being, and Disability Products
Manulife Canada
Jenn Foubert leads a team dedicated to helping Canadians maintain or recover their health and wellness through innovative workplace programs and services. For two decades, Jenn has been involved in the business of improving health and helping people reach their potential. Jenn is passionate about women’s health and is dedicated to closing gaps and improving access to care for women and all other underserved groups, communities, and individuals.
For a variety of reasons that we explore in this report, there are some common health issues, unique to women, which haven’t received the attention and research they warrant. This has created a lack of general knowledge about the conditions, and less sympathy and understanding about the challenges women may face when dealing with their unique health issues.
In the past, this has meant that everyone – from employers, to doctors, to women themselves – hasn’t been fully versed about these conditions and their effects.
For instance, menopausal symptoms can present significant challenges for women in the workplace. In the absence of a supportive work environment, some female employees have left their careers, or put their careers on hold, at a time that some view as crucial for their full professional development. In this report, we look at some of the health issues that can have a profound impact on women’s physical, emotional, and social well-being, as well as their performance and satisfaction at work.
Employers have a vital role to play in supporting women’s health. By providing adequate health care coverage, reasonable accommodations, and supportive policies and practices, employers can help women cope with their health challenges and reduce the risk of absenteeism, disability, and turnover. Moreover, employers can benefit from investing in women’s health, as it can enhance your organization’s reputation, employee loyalty, diversity, and innovation.
Diversity is an essential and valuable part of the workforce. Women’s health issues should not be ignored, overlooked, or stigmatized. By creating a culture of understanding and empathy for the challenges women might face, you can foster a more positive and inclusive work environment that promotes their well-being and productivity.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Foubert
Group Benefits, Manulife Canada
Our Medical Director
Manulife is proud to have Cleveland Clinic Canada on board as Medical Director for our Group Benefits operations. Cleveland Clinic Canada has a wealth of global healthcare expertise and shares our goal to help Canadians live longer, healthier, and better lives.
Cleveland Clinic Canada participated in the creation of this special report and has shared insights and commentary throughout.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit organization that has been at the forefront of modern medicine since 1921. In recent years, Cleveland Clinic has worked with progressive companies in Canada and around the world to prioritize the health and well-being of their employees, customers, and communities.
To learn more about Cleveland Clinic Canada visit clevelandclinic.ca
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: Manulife supports women’s mental health and well-being
Manulife has committed to donating $1 million over the course of three years to support women's mental health and well-being. The donation will be directed towards the Women's Health Research Cluster, an international network of professionals focused on improving women's health across their lifespan. The partnership between Manulife and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health aims to address the disparities in funding and research for women's health. Manulife's support will enable research facilitation, capacity development, advocacy, and knowledge translation to drive equity in policy and investment in women's health research.