It is no surprise that health benefits are a driving factor in employee recruitment and retention. Yet, a new report from the Integrated Benefit Institute shows how powerful health benefits are, especially for women.

According to ESG Dive, “Women’s use of health benefits can influence workplace outcomes such as attendance, retention, and productivity. For instance, 89% of employed U.S. women said employer benefits positively influence overall workplace satisfaction, and 85% said benefits play a crucial role in attracting and retaining talent. In particular, benefit use was associated with fewer missed workdays, with the greatest effects seen from mental health benefits, reproductive health services and maternity care.”

The most popular healthcare benefit used by women is preventative care (63%), followed by benefits that support mental health (54%).

“This reveals a powerful link between mental health support and workplace attendance,” Sera-Leigh Ghouralal, the lead researcher of the study, said in a statement. “It’s clear that investing in comprehensive mental health support isn’t just good for employee well-being — it’s a strategic approach to maintaining a productive, engaged workforce.”

Other findings include that women ages 30-39 had the highest rates of benefit use, as well as those with incomes of between $100,000 - $150,000.

“Reproductive health benefits — including fertility treatments and menopausal support — can help retain women in the workplace, HR experts previously told ESG Dive’s sister publication, HR Dive. As HR teams become more involved in shaping the “people” part of business, benefits can be directly tied to holistic health, employee satisfaction and retention.”

This report further proves the power of healthcare and wellness benefits and why companies should consider innovative benefits packages to boost recruitment, retention, and satisfaction.