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Women, Wellbeing, and the Workplace

Women should stand up for their own wellbeing in the workplace and should not accept the status quo, West Coast Primary Health Organisation Chief Executive Caro Findlay says.

Caro is the keynote speaker at a breakfast at the Beachfront Hotel in Hokitika on Friday 24 November co hosted by the West Coast Women’s Network, Development West Coast (DWC) and Te Tai o Poutini Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG).

“There are still things to do with women’s health that are taboo in the workplace. Menopause and menstruation have a real impact on women’s ability to work, and a good employer will want to make sure the working conditions and environment are right to enable the best from women.

“Mental health challenges are acknowledged, employers understand they have an obligation. But we also need to normalise conversations about women whose work is affected by the likes of menopause and menstruation. Employers could be making sure they’re in charge of the air conditioning. They could be looking at menopausal memory lapses as a health issue, not a performance issue, and thinking about how to support their female employees.

“Even women’s mental health issues are often different. They’re battling carer fatigue from looking after loved ones as well as doing paid work; they prioritise their own health needs lower than their whanau and they don’t always advocate for themselves.”

Caro’s vision is that the PHO becomes a role model employer in this space, demonstrating practical tools and policies that will better support women in paid employment.

“I’ll be talking about the opportunity we have as professional women on the West Coast to drive progressive societal change in our workplaces, taking control of our own health needs,” she says.

The PHO’s broader mission is to use community-based services and approaches to enable better health for the population of the West Coast and eliminate health inequities, especially for Māori.

Caro graduated in law and political studies from the University of Otago and was admitted to the Bar in Wellington. She has previously worked in Parliament as a Communications Advisor, at Westland Milk Products as General Manager of People & Safety, a tutor in business, economics, employment relations at the former Te Tai o Poutini Polytechnic and as HR Manager at the West Coast District Health Board.

She lives in Hokitika with her partner Louise Dando and their dog children Ripley and Kenny.

Event details:

Friday 24 November | 7.30am – 9am, Beachfront Hotel Hokitika, $25 for breakfast