Time to Talk About It: Why Prioritising Your Health Is a Business Power Move
As high-achieving women, we’re often celebrated for our resilience - for pushing through, showing up and keeping it all together. But what happens when staying committed to our careers means putting our health on the line?
Ahead of Cervical Screening Awareness Week (19–25 June), new research reveals a troubling trend: more than a third of women in the UK (35%) have delayed a cervical screening due to work. The findings, published by pioneering gynaecological cancer charity The Lady Garden Foundation, expose a quiet crisis unfolding in workplaces across the country - and it’s putting lives at risk.
The silent cost of success
We know that 99.8% of cervical cancer cases are preventable with early detection and regular screenings. But while the science is clear, workplace culture tells a different story.
The Lady Garden Foundation’s survey of 2,000 women found:
35% delayed screenings due to work commitments
50% felt pressure to prioritise their job over health appointments
31% used annual leave to attend a cervical screening
16% were asked to
31% believe their employer doesn’t consider screenings a valid reason for time off
For many women, attending a potentially life-saving appointment still requires guilt, negotiation or giving up precious holiday.
Work-life balance isn’t just about hours. It’s about health.
“This isn’t just about logistics - it’s about values,” says Jenny Halpern Prince MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of the Lady Garden Foundation.
“Employers have a huge role to play in enabling women to have the time off they need, while also normalising the conversation in the workplace.”
To drive change, the charity has launched a new campaign - a national call for employers to rethink how their workplace supports women’s health.
What does that actually look like? It might mean offering flexible paid time off for screening, reimbursing travel during work hours, or simply ensuring managers understand how crucial these appointments are. Some companies are even using screening reminder stickers in office bathrooms, or adding “cervical screening” as a visible option in shared team calendars - small nudges with big impact.
Crucially, it starts with listening. Anonymous staff surveys, internal focus groups, and open-door HR conversations can help shift the silence - and make health part of the culture, not an afterthought.
Even when you're the boss, you need permission
If you’re a founder or freelancer, this isn’t just a corporate HR issue - it’s personal. One of the biggest traps high-performing women fall into is thinking flexibility means freedom. But flexibility doesn’t help if you still feel guilty for taking it.
When did we start seeing self-care as indulgent?
Why does making a smear test feel like an inconvenience - instead of a non-negotiable?
The same principles apply: empower yourself with knowledge, document your time-off requests and don’t be afraid to be assertive.
And if you lead a team, this is your chance to make it easier for others, too. Leadership isn’t about sacrificing health for success. It’s about modelling sustainability from the inside out.
Maybe the real power more isn’t just showing up - but making space for others to do the same.
What would a business that honours your body look like?
If you’re rethinking your own boundaries - or your business policies - it may be worth considering small, practical steps like those shared in the Lady Garden Foundation’s recent campaign: from improving policy visibility to normalising open conversations.
📆 Save the date: Cervical Screening Awareness Week runs 19 - 25 June 2025
📣 Join the conversation: @ladygardenfoundation
Because real ambition doesn’t ignore the body. It honours it.
And no woman should have to choose between staying healthy and staying employed.
