From Stigma to Support: Empowering Women in the Workplace
MWN-AI** Summary
Sun Life has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to support women's health in the workplace through the launch of Dialogue's menopause care offering. This new program responds to a pressing issue, as a study revealed that 60% of working women perceive health challenges related to menstruation, menopause, and reproductive health as potential barriers to their career advancement. Alarmingly, 10% have either left or considered leaving their jobs due to menopausal symptoms.
Provided to Sun Life plan members and their dependents, the menopause care offering includes personalized care plans, educational resources, and access to a specialized team of clinicians trained in women's health. This initiative not only empowers women to manage their health better but aims to reduce the stigma surrounding discussions of menopause at work.
Sun Life's Vice-President, Erin Crump, emphasized the importance of creating an inclusive environment where women can comfortably address their health needs. The organization is committed to bridging the gap between awareness and tangible support, with only one-third of women feeling their employers adequately address their health concerns.
Furthermore, Sun Life is an industry leader in women's health support, having previously launched innovative initiatives such as Family Building benefits and a Community Impact program that aims to provide free healthcare access to underserved communities. The organization also released a Women’s Health Toolkit, offering resources to employers seeking to improve health supports for women.
In summary, Sun Life is championing the fight against stigma and advocating for comprehensive health support in the workplace, acknowledging the critical connection between women’s health and overall career success. This initiative marks a significant step towards a more inclusive work environment that values and supports women at every stage of life.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The increasing recognition of women’s health issues in the workplace represents both a challenge and an opportunity for employers to re-evaluate their health benefits packages. Recent findings highlight that a significant portion of working women feel their health issues relating to menstruation and menopause can impede their career progression. With 60% expressing concern and a staggering 10% contemplating leaving their jobs due to menopausal symptoms, it’s clear that addressing these health concerns is not merely a matter of corporate responsibility—it's a strategic imperative.
Companies that adopt inclusive health policies, such as those introduced by Sun Life through their menopause care offering, are positioning themselves better in the competitive market for talent. Employers should proactively incorporate resources to support women’s health—personalized care plans, access to specialized clinicians, and ongoing coaching—into their employee benefits. This engagement demonstrates a tangible commitment to employee wellbeing, which can significantly enhance workplace morale and productivity.
Moreover, organizations should prioritize breaking the stigma surrounding women’s health. Initiatives, such as comprehensive awareness campaigns or partnerships with health-focused foundations, can effectively disseminate information about available resources. Employers can further leverage these health initiatives into branding strategies that highlight a commitment to diversity and inclusion, thereby enhancing their public image and attractiveness to potential recruits.
From a financial standpoint, fostering an environment conducive to women’s health can translate into reduced turnover rates, lowering recruiting costs, and enhancing overall operational efficiency. By prioritizing women’s health and wellbeing, firms can not only fulfill a social responsibility but also drive better financial performance through a more engaged and healthier workforce. Companies need to act swiftly to integrate comprehensive support for women, as this will likely differentiate them within an increasingly competitive labor market.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Canada NewsWire
- 60% of working women believe health issues around menstruation, menopause and reproductive health could affect their career advancement
- 10% of working women have left their job or were planning to because of menopausal symptoms
TORONTO, March 5, 2026 /CNW/ - Sun Life today announces another step towards comprehensive support for women's health in the workplace with the launch of Dialogue's menopause care offering. For Sun Life plan members and dependents with Lumino Health Virtual Care this enhancement provides access to:
- Personalized care plans and educational resources: creation of a comprehensive care plan that considers various treatment paths, including the prescription of menopause hormone therapy if applicable.
- An in-house team of multidisciplinary clinicians trained in women's health: providing timely access to Dialogue's care team who have received additional training on how to guide those going through their menopause journey within days.
- Coaching and navigation support: ongoing follow-ups available to adjust the care plan as needed and support menopause symptom reduction.
"We've seen that by raising awareness and making small but meaningful changes, workplaces can be powerful allies in helping women thrive through every stage of their health journey," said Erin Crump, Vice-President, Market Development, Sun Life Health. "This new menopause care offering is another step in helping women live healthier lives."
As the workplace landscape shifts and support for women's health grows, creating an inclusive environment where women feel comfortable discussing their health needs is essential. Equally important is pairing inclusion with accessible tools and resources.
In a recent study, Sun Life found that more than half (60 per cent) of working women believed that health issues around menstruation, menopause and reproductive health could impact their career advancement but only one-third (37 per cent) felt their employer provided adequate resources and supports for their health needs. There is work to be done to break down stigma and help connect employees with available resources and benefits, to help organizations continue demonstrating that women's health matters.
Sun Life has an extensive history of supporting women in the workplace, including being the first major insurance company in Canada to launch a Family Building benefit, which includes Surrogacy and Adoption coverage.
Sun Life also provides employers, plan members and communities with a range of solutions, services and supports designed to address women's health including:
- Bridging the gap through community impact
- In 2025, Sun Life launched a Community Impact program to provide 10,000 program participants with no-cost access to healthcare through Dialogue. Sun Life also contributed $500,000 in funding to support community-led programming. The Community Impact program is part of Sun Life's global sustainability plan and broader Bridges Initiative which aims to address the needs of underserved groups in local communities through new product and service innovations, philanthropy, advocacy and thought leadership.
- Women's health toolkit
- In 2025, Sun Life launched a toolkit as a go-to resource for employers. It includes research, best practices, and products and solutions specific to women's health.
- Closing the menopause gap
- In 2022, Sun Life led the way with breaking stigma around menopause and its impact on workplaces in Canada. Bridging to a partnership with the Menopause Foundation of Canada, Sun Life was the first Canadian organization to sign on to the Menopause Works Here campaign.
- Sun Life also received Catalyst's first-ever 2025 Breakout Program Award and launched a menopause guide sharing helpful resources and tips for navigating this important life stage as an employer supporting women.
- Moving the needle on inclusion in the workplace
- In 2019, Sun Life was one of the first to lead the industry in launching a Gender Affirmation product, an industry first, supporting the health of transgender individuals.
- Sun Life also launched their benefits inclusivity playbook helping plan sponsors understand how to build more inclusive plans and build awareness of the supports available within them.
- The health and wealth link
- There is an important connection between wealth and health which is even more critical for women – they retire with 30 per cent less wealth and spend 25 per cent more time in poor health.
- Sun Life also released a new report on Women and Wealth revealing that women are systemically underutilizing workplace savings plans at every income level and career stage. However, with access to digital planning tools and professional advice the gender gap in workplace plan maximization doesn't just narrow – it reverses.
To learn more about Sun Life's support for a healthier future for women, click here.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.60 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Note to editors: All figures in Canadian dollars
To contact Sun Life media relations, please email Media.Relations@sunlife.com
SOURCE Sun Life Financial Inc.
View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2026/05/c6256.html
FAQ**
How do the recent initiatives by Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) to address women's health in the workplace align with current trends in employee wellness and support programs?
What impact do you anticipate the Dialogue menopause care offering will have on employee retention and career advancement for working women at organizations partnered with Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF)?
In what ways does Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) plan to measure the effectiveness of its women's health toolkit and menopause guide on workplace inclusivity and employee satisfaction?
How does Sun Life Financial Inc. (SLF) view the relationship between women's health support and financial well-being, considering the highlighted findings on wealth disparities?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSXC: SLF:CC).
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