Mental illness is more prevalent among women than men, which is generally known, as well as the fact that women are often absent from work due to illness.
What can be done to reduce the gap? Perhaps changed health examinations at the workplace can lead to fewer women being absent from work, believes Emma Bro, company doctor at Avonova.
Life phases in focus
She is one of several experts who believe that greater focus should be placed on women's different life phases, such as menopause or the years as a parent of small children, and that employers should more clearly take into account women's specific needs during different stages of life.
Biological factors affect women's health, research shows. We're looking at how to develop the examination of women, take more consideration of their age. One should incorporate gynecological concerns in health examinations, together with the social situation at home and the working conditions. The three puzzle pieces we're working with, she says.
Individualized examinations
Emma Bro believes that more individualized health examinations can lead to better well-being for women in working life.
But it's also about employers having more room for action. Doing an examination and then not following it up makes no sense, she says.
For some time now, Avonova has been driving a project that focuses on improving women's health at work.
Absenteeism figures for men are decreasing, but not for women. There is a difference, it's a problem we must address in some way, she says.
