This Is the Everyday: Why Leadership Must Go Beyond “Just Get On With It”
By Naomi Saunders
May 4, 2026
Women’s health remains one of the most overlooked and under-supported areas within the workplace, yet its impact is profound. Over the course of life, women experience stages including menstruation, fertility and pregnancy, postnatal recovery and menopause. These are not niche issues, they are part of everyday life for a significant proportion of the female workforce.
Leadership is not only about driving performance, it is also about human connection. Too often, leaders show up to the workplace without fully appreciating the psychological load their team may be carrying each day.
Behind every employee is a life outside of work. It may be the stress of moving house, relationship challenges, caring for a child with additional needs, or the exhaustion that comes from a long and difficult commute. Added to this are the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, unresolved trauma, and the growing weight of everyday responsibilities. These are not exceptions. They are the daily realities that shape how people think, feel, and perform.
The world of work has changed more in the last five years than it did in the previous fifty. We are seeing generational shifts in a workforce that is more emotionally aware and intuitive than ever before, and one that increasingly looks to employers for structure, understanding, and support during difficult times.
For many, it runs deeper. One in three adults will experience a major trauma in their lifetime, often during their working years. The question is not whether this exists within your workforce, but how prepared your organisation is to recognise and respond.
Leaders who adopt a “just get on with it” mindset risk falling behind. While it may deliver short-term results, it ultimately leads to disengagement, burnout, and loss of talent.
Research shows that 47% of employees say open conversations about mental health would significantly improve their wellbeing at work. With more flexible opportunities available, people are no longer willing to stay where these needs are ignored.
It is time for organisations to recognise these cultural shifts and get on board. Because when leaders show up with awareness, they do not just support their people, they unlock the full potential for their best talent to thrive.