Therefore, Schibsted is now partnering up with the digital care company EsterCare in the first-ever corporate health screening pilot in Sweden.
Have you ever felt lost in the healthcare system, undiagnosed and with the feeling of being exposed and not taken seriously? This is a common experience for women and people born biologically female globally due to tabu and ignorance. A situation that affects both mental health and the ability to enjoy life and work freely.
The next step toward gender equality
By collaborating on this project, Schibsted and EsterCare want to create a more equal work environment, as well as break the stigma that often comes with health issues connected to female reproductive organs. This also lowers unnecessary sick leave and educates management and women themselves about the help they can get for different kinds of issues.
Many health issues women experience can be treated if detected and diagnosed. By partnering with the care company EsterCare, Schibsted wants to help their employees get the correct treatment and work proactively with their health. This is not the first time Schibsted has taken the lead in health-beneficial projects, and for this pilot, the Swedish part of Schibsted will be the first to try it out.
– Schibsted must be an equal workplace where the opportunities to work and develop are equal for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us unique. But still, we see that there are clear differences when it comes to sickness absence. Men have lower sickness absence than women, which we believe we can do something about with this initiative, says Håkan Halvarsson, SVP People & Culture at Schibsted.
Helps employees get the correct treatment
In this first step 100 employees will get the opportunity to participate in a pilot project and, through that, participate in an individual health screening. The screening will address gynaecological health and, if necessary, be followed up with a meeting with a gynaecologist through EsterCare for treatment. Schibsted is financing screenings and follow-up meetings, and all patient information is handled according to strict confidentiality with the Personal Data Act and the Patient Data Act.
The initial screening is part of a larger health investment on Schibsted’s part. The full program consists of:
- Five different medical tests related to women’s health, provided by EsterCare, with a 15 percent discount.
- A twelve-week health program directly related to ease menopause and developed by healthcare specialists at EsterCare
- Since before, Schibsted will continue to offer free menstrual protection to female employees.
- And if the pilot turns out well a yearly health screening and digital meeting with specialists on gynaecological health will be offered to all female employees.
Interested in learning more? In the latest episode of our podcast Schibsted Talks, we have Lydia Graflund, CEO of EsterCare, and Håkan Halvarsson, Head of People and Culture at Schibsted as special guests. They delve into the challenges related to women’s health, the exciting new partnership, and the ambitions for this collaboration going forward. Tune in!⬇
More about women’s health issues:
- Menopausal Symptoms: 60 percent of women aged 45–60 experience menopausal symptoms that can lead to personal and work-related problems, sometimes even resulting in sick leave. Symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, brain fog, sleep disturbances, and mental and physical exhaustion.
- Iron Deficiency in Conscripts: One third of conscripted women in Sweden have been found to have iron deficiency, causing fatigue and concentration difficulties.
- Incontinence: Approximately half a million women in Sweden live with incontinence, often caused by factors such as pregnancy and childbirth.
- Menstrual Pain: 15 percent of young girls and women miss at least one or more days of school or work each month due to menstrual pain.
- Endometriosis: One in ten women of childbearing age suffers from endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects fertility and causes severe pain during menstruation.
- PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): 10–15 percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS, the most common hormonal disorder in women, leading to irregular periods, acne, excessive hair growth, weight gain, and mental health issues.
- Vulvodynia: 8–16 percent of women of childbearing age experience vulvodynia, a pain condition in the vulva that makes it difficult for women to have intercourse or even wear tight clothing or engage in activities like cycling.
