The global women’s health company took another step in its initiative to encourage healthcare equality for women by declaring March 8, International Women’s Day, an annual holiday.
The chief executive officer of Organon, Kevin Ali, launched his company dedicated to hearing women out on healthcare concerns; what he heard from the company’s research has prompted a new drive to inspire his 9,500 employees and others in emphasizing healthcare for women, whatever that looks like for them.
The global women’s health company took another step in its initiative to encourage healthcare equality for women by declaring March 8, International Women’s Day, an annual holiday. Driven by its founding cause, Organon has jumped to respond to the current pandemic and the setbacks to gender equality in healthcare access it has posed. Striking at the root of the problem, it decided to start the battle at home by offering paid time off to all employees so they would have the time to tend to their health. The company hopes this will set an example for other companies globally and act as a call to action.
Organon is not alone. Already the leaders of other organizations, such as HealthyWomen, have recognized the company’s effort and rallied in support.
“Empowering women to put themselves at the top of the list has always been a priority for HealthyWomen and is an important part of our mission to educate women on the importance of making informed decisions about their health,” said Beth Battaglino, CEO of HealthyWomen. “As the pandemic continues to limit women’s ability for self-care, we are proud of Organon for joining the movement and call on other companies to recognize International Women’s Day as a day to honor women’s unmet health needs.”
Indeed, as women have firmly established themselves in the workplace, they have met with another challenge—exacerbated by the stress of pandemic life, the burnout rate for women remains disproportionately high. Their physical and mental health have suffered as a result. However, this issue is not novel to life under COVID-19 precautions.
The repercussions of the issue have been amplified by the pandemic, but it stands as an extension of a longstanding challenge faced by women pre-pandemic. A 2015 survey found that 78% of women reported putting their own healthcare on the back burner to prioritize other responsibilities.
For example, a more recent study found that 44% of older women and 62% of women aged 20-34 delay scheduling a doctor’s appointment in response to a symptom.
Ali and Organon believe this effort will have far-reaching benefits in communities and beyond because women play such an integral role in society. With the conviction that understanding women’s health concerns is an essential part of advancing equality, Organon encourages the global community to join in this pursuit.
