Workplace Case Study: Horizon Health Network

“At Horizon, we’re proud to be the first healthcare organization in Atlantic Canada to join the Menopause Works Here campaign with the Menopause Foundation of Canada. This is about creating an inclusive workplace where people feel supported through every stage of life — because exceptional patient care starts with taking care of our people.

This is just the beginning. We’ll continue to build awareness, strengthen resources, and make sure our workplaces are menopause-friendly for everyone. By talking about it openly, we’re breaking stigma, promoting dignity, and leading change — here in New Brunswick and beyond.”

Brittany Stein, Regional Director, Wellbeing & Safety

The Organization:

Number of employees in Canada: 15,000

Proportion of employees who identify as female: 83%; of this group, 43% are between the ages of 40 and 60

Horizon Health Network is one of Atlantic Canada’s largest health authorities, committed to delivering safe, quality care while fostering a compassionate and inclusive workplace for over 15,000 employees and physicians across the region.

How Horizon Health Network is taking action:

Launched a new internal resource hub on menopause in the workplace.
Launched its commitment to supporting employees through this stage of life and participation in the Menopause Works Here™ campaign by hosting a series of in-person and virtual educational events during National Menopause Month in October of 2025, including:
- An information session with its benefits provider about its virtual women’s/mid-life health platform.
- A Menopause Works Here™ kick-off event attended by more than 300 employees that featured a dynamic employee panel discussion and a powerful keynote presentation by Dr. Christa Mullaly, a Horizon obstetrician-gynecologist based in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
- A virtual leadership session to help managers and leaders support staff, also featuring Dr. Mullaly, that discussed the impact of menopause at work, evidence-based interventions, and the Menopause Works Here™ campaign. Participants received resources including the Menopause Foundation of Canada’s Manager Guide, as well as information on supports available to employees, such as the virtual care platform for mid-life health, and EFAP offerings such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
- An end-of-month virtual session with a representative from its EFAP provider.

Advice from Horizon Health Network for organizations seeking to become menopause inclusive:

1

Shared experiences help people feel less alone.
A panel of employees sharing their stories helped kick things off powerfully. Peer support reduces stigma and normalizes conversations. Employees feel psychologically safer discussing symptoms when they know others share similar experiences. Normalizing dialogue encourages earlier help-seeking and reduces feelings of isolation.
2

Understand your audience.
More than eight in ten employees at Horizon Health Network identify as female, and 43% of those are aged 40 to 60. Add to that the universality of menopause which touches so many, whether through personal experience, a colleague, a friend, or a loved one. Nationally, one in three women say symptoms affect their job performance, and one in ten consider leaving the workforce. In healthcare, that matters deeply; bringing menopause to the fore made sense.
3

Leverage existing programs and platforms.
Through its benefits provider, Medavie Blue Cross, Horizon Health Network’s employees have access to sanoMidlife, a virtual women’s health and midlife care platform; through its EFAP provider, Homewood Health, employees have access to services such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which can be beneficial for some menopause symptoms. Reminding employees about the supports available to them is easy for workplaces to do—and impactful for those seeking help.

The Impact

An 84% growth for benefits usage was noted after the virtual benefits provider session. Feedback from the kick-off event was very positive: 97% of employees who attended were satisfied with the overall event experience, and 100% stated that they are likely to attend a similar event in the future.

What employees are saying about Horizon Health’s menopause-focused programs:

“Thank you so much! Being considered as a person and supported as a woman is something I can respect and appreciate as an employee. It feels good to be seen, and events like this should be truly celebrated. Thank you so much to the organizers for being so innovated and inclusive!”
“You are the change we women have been asking for”
“Learned so much from this presentation.”
“This was fantastic. Thank you so much!”
“Thank you for a great session. These resources will be very helpful.”

Employees celebrate the kick-off event on Oct. 16, 2025.