About the data
The WBA Gender Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to advance gender equality and women's empowerment, tracking how companies integrate gender across their governance and strategy, promote fair representation at all levels of leadership, close the gender pay gap, support workers' health and well-being, prevent violence and harassment, and drive gender equality through their supply chains and communities. The 2026 edition assessed 105 companies across two sectors identified as having a particularly significant impact on gender equality: apparel, and food and agriculture. Companies were scored on 91 elements across six measurement areas: governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. The benchmark is designed to incentivise companies to move beyond policy commitments and take concrete, measurable action to respect and promote gender equality throughout their full value chains, keeping women workers' rights and human rights at its core. More information can be found here.
Methodology
A company committed to gender equality invests in women’s health and well-being,
including in maternal health, sexual and reproductive health (e.g. contraception, abortion, assisted
reproductive technologies), and mental health, stands to not only improve the lives, health and
workforce participation of women employees but also generate business returns in terms of its
productivity, recruitment, retention and reputation.
Research Guidance
1\.At least online one-on-one sessions with licensed professionals (counselling, clinical counselling) or more.
a. Licensed professionals can be inferred through other terms as well like health specialists, doctors, psychologists etc.
b.Important to clarify that the service is provided by a health professional or an external service provider.
c. Mental health services that are focused on occupational mental health are enough if there are services provided after diagnosis. E.g. a stress test isn't enough, but support/counselling provided after the test counts.
2\.Not acceptable if the service is just a stand-alone an internal questionnaire or app or an internal HR initiative without professional follow-ups.
3\.Wellness programs, information services on Mental health and mental health workshops are not accepted. Access to a life coach, access to counselling (with no reference to mental health) are not accepted.
including in maternal health, sexual and reproductive health (e.g. contraception, abortion, assisted
reproductive technologies), and mental health, stands to not only improve the lives, health and
workforce participation of women employees but also generate business returns in terms of its
productivity, recruitment, retention and reputation.
Research Guidance
1\.At least online one-on-one sessions with licensed professionals (counselling, clinical counselling) or more.
a. Licensed professionals can be inferred through other terms as well like health specialists, doctors, psychologists etc.
b.Important to clarify that the service is provided by a health professional or an external service provider.
c. Mental health services that are focused on occupational mental health are enough if there are services provided after diagnosis. E.g. a stress test isn't enough, but support/counselling provided after the test counts.
2\.Not acceptable if the service is just a stand-alone an internal questionnaire or app or an internal HR initiative without professional follow-ups.
3\.Wellness programs, information services on Mental health and mental health workshops are not accepted. Access to a life coach, access to counselling (with no reference to mental health) are not accepted.
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report