Prefatory note: In line with Imperial College’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy, we are committed to creating an event that is inclusive and we do not want to unintentionally exclude anyone to whom the topics covered in the event might be of interest. In using the term “women”, we include all women and females, including those whose gender does and does not align with their sex at birth.
Women comprise 46% of Imperial College’s staff and around 40% of its student body. A significant proportion will encounter various health challenges whilst balancing work or studies – spanning concerns such as heavy and painful periods, pregnancy loss, mental health challenges, or menopause. These challenges, whether occasional or persistent, have the potential to not only hinder productivity but also be compounded by the demands and stressors of the workplace. Policies that support the health and wellbeing of women at work are therefore important for achieving gender equity as well as sustaining a productive and inclusive workforce at the College.
This collaborative event, co-hosted by the Women’s Health Network of Excellence, Academic Women Association and Women in Academic Medicine, will serve as a closed forum to:
• Discuss some of the specific health challenges (physical and mental) faced by women in the academic workplace.
• Raise awareness about the roles and responsibilities of employers to ensure that women are supported at work.
• Share examples of positive and negative experiences of workplace support, either at Imperial or other workplace settings.
• Highlight any gaps that exist in Imperial College’s workplace policies around women’s health.
There will also be an opportunity for audience members to submit anonymous feedback on areas for improvement, which will be fed back to the relevant teams at the College.
This event is open to all Imperial College staff and postgraduate students. To allow a free and open discussion, this event will not be recorded and will be in person only.
Please note, the Imperial College Women’s Health Network processes your data according to the Events Privacy Notice (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/admin-services/secretariat/information-governance/data-protection/processing-personal-data/privacy-notices/events-privacy-notice/). If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact womenshealthnetwork@imperial.ac.uk.