How to Protect Your Mental and Physical Health at Work

In recent years, there have been amazing strides made to support women in their workplaces. Banking giant JPMorgan recently announced an expansion of its family leave policies, enabling all new parents to get 16 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child. Employees are also eligible for four weeks of leave to care for a sick family member, and women will get up to 20 days of leave following a miscarriage. Yes, JPMorgan is just one company, but it’s a company that boasts more than 240,000 employees in over 60 countries. It’s a huge step to level the playing field for mothers, who earn an average of 58 cents for every dollar a father makes while also shouldering the lion’s share of caregiving responsibilities. 

That change in policy is a perfect example of something we talk about a lot at HerMoney — the importance of women’s health in the workplace. Because if we really want to grow in our careers, we have to make the connection between our bodies, our minds, and our money. And in this episode, we’re digging into that connection with Joy Altimare, the Chief Revenue Officer of EHE Health. EHE is a healthcare provider that specializes in helping companies build preventative health programs for their employees, which includes setting up pop-up clinics in the workplace, expanding telehealth options for employees, and performing research to help employers understand the health needs of their workforce. Joy is also the host of the podcast, What the Health!?, which explores the biggest issues that women face in healthcare and how we can solve them. 

Joy guides us through all aspects of women’s health that affect us at all stages of our lives — starting with pregnancy and childbirth. We talk about how much paid parental leave is really enough to keep moms and babies happy and healthy — and what to do if your company doesn’t offer enough. Joy tells us how she expanded parental leave at her company, and she gives tips for starting that conversation with your own employer. 

We also dive into women’s health post-Roe, and why it’s necessary for employers to get involved in the discussion. Companies like Starbucks, Microsoft, and Netflix have announced policies to cover workers’ travel costs related to abortion, but those policies can sometimes be misguided — listen to hear why. Joy breaks down exactly how companies can offer support to employees who need an abortion without infringing on their medical privacy.

We also get real about women’s mental health. Research from the American Psychiatric Association shows that women are twice as likely as men to develop depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD — all of which have a huge impact on our ability to provide for ourselves and our families. Joy reflects on the progress the U.S. has made on burnout since the pandemic, and she offers some tangible advice for how to prioritize your mental wellbeing by setting boundaries at work. (Yes, it’s okay to say no.)

In Mailbag, we hear from a listener who’s looking for alternatives to 529 college savings plans for her children, in case they decide not to go to college. Another listener wants to break out of a cycle of credit card debt. In Thrive, we talk about four healthcare expenses you shouldn’t cut — even during a recession. 

You can find out more about Joy here.

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