Menopause and Perimenopause in the Modern Workplace: Law, Ethics, and the Leadership Imperative
How purpose-driven leadership sustains fairness, retains talent, and strengthens organizations.
March 10, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Eastern Time | Virtual Delivery
This program contains 1 hour of Professionalism Content and 1 hour and 20 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content, accredited by the Law Society of Ontario.
About this Program
Menopause is a universal physiological transition that affects a significant portion of the professional workforce. Nearly half of working Canadians over 40 experience menopause. Fewer than one in five workplaces offer support. Research from the Menopause Foundation of Canada shows it affects performance and confidence for most, with one in ten leaving the workforce early—costing organizations valuable experience and trust. Yet most organizations treat menopause as invisible—leaving leaders to make decisions without the knowledge or frameworks they need to manage performance, fairness, and credibility responsibly.
When handled poorly, menopause can lead to avoidable loss of experienced professionals, flawed assessments, and reputational damage. When handled well, it becomes a measure of ethical leadership and institutional maturity.
This timely and critical discussion examines menopause as a case study in Leadership, Ethics, and Vision—a predictable, manageable transition that requires informed, ethical response. Gain the clarity, language, and tools you need to manage menopause-related workplace issues with professionalism, fairness, and confidence.
Join our experts to improve your ability to:
- Understand the physiological, cognitive, and emotional realities that can influence professional performance.
- Recognize when workplace responses—or silence—can create inequity or legal risk.
- Apply ethical, legal, and procedural standards that safeguard both people and integrity.
- Strengthen trust, retention, and reputation through knowledge-based leadership and governance.
Program Agenda
10:00 | Welcome and Introductions
10:05 | Leading Through Change: Why Menopause Demands Our Attention Now
Speakers:
Trish Barbato, Co-Founder, The Menopause Foundation of Canada
Dr. Shawna O’Hearn, Co-Founder and Director of the Menopause Society of Nova Scotia
Menopause is a natural life stage with significant impacts on the wellbeing, performance, and retention of experienced professionals. Yet, it remains one of the least discussed workplace issues. Explore why addressing menopause has become an ethical, legal, and leadership priority, and how organizations can respond with awareness and empathy. Bolster your leadership abilities to:
- Understand why menopause is an urgent workplace and leadership issue today.
- Explain how menopause intersects with equity, inclusion, and workplace wellbeing.
- Identify practical steps leaders and organizations can take to foster menopause-informed policies and culture.
- Inspire action toward a supportive, stigma-free environment for midlife professionals.
10:25 | The Physiological and Cognitive Context: Understanding What Really Changes
Speakers:
Jennifer Baldachin, MSW RSW MMHP, Social Worker, Team Lead Mind Station
Jennifer Zelovitzky, MD
Ethical leadership begins with accurate knowledge. Menopause alters hormone regulation, sleep patterns, and cognitive processing in ways that can influence concentration, communication, and composure. Develop informed leadership capability to:
- Understand key physiological and cognitive effects relevant to workplace performance.
- Distinguish temporary symptoms from capability or commitment concerns.
- Initiate private, respectful dialogue grounded in knowledge rather than perception.
- Use evidence-based understanding to improve fairness and protect valued professionals.
11:00 | Ethics, Law, and Accountability: Managing Fairness with Precision
Speakers:
Erin R. Kuzz, Sherrard Kuzz LLP
Kathryn Marshall, Marshall Law
Jennifer Zelovitzky, MD
Human rights and occupational health obligations increasingly require leaders to address menopause-related impacts within existing protections such as sex, age, and disability. Enhance your legal awareness to help ensure your organization’s practical leadership competence. Build confident, defensible practice by knowing how to:
- Interpret legal duties on accommodation, privacy, and procedural fairness in context.
- Apply consistent, transparent processes that balance empathy with accountability.
- Document decisions effectively to demonstrate fairness and compliance.
- Align ethical reasoning with organizational risk management and trust.
11:35 | Break
11:45 | Integrity in Practice: Retaining Experience and Protecting Performance 3
Speakers:
Aimee Debow, MBA, Founder, Menovate.ca
By mid-career, many professionals hold deep institutional knowledge. Losing that expertise through misunderstanding or stigma is a preventable leadership failure. Translate your ethical awareness into performance protection by discovering how to:
- Establish communication frameworks that respect privacy while enabling timely support.
- Design clear, fair policies that reinforce confidence and prevent attrition.
- Address bias or insensitivity early to preserve credibility and morale.
Integrate menopause competence into leadership and succession planning as a governance best practice.
12:20 | Governance, Risk, and Oversight: Professional Accountability in Health-Related Leadership
Speakers:
Jennifer Baldachin, MSW RSW MMHP, Social Worker, Team Lead Mind Station
Aimee Debow, MBA, Founder, Menovate.ca
Boards and executives set the tone for ethical oversight. Treating predictable health transitions as part of human-capital governance strengthens institutional trust and resilience. Advance your organization’s oversight maturity by understanding how to:
- Embed menopause understanding into culture and workforce-risk frameworks.
- Align fiduciary and ethical duties to protect both reputation and retention.
- Recognize emerging equity and performance risks before they escalate.
- Communicate transparently to build stakeholder confidence and ethical credibility.
12:50 | Closing Reflections: The Leadership Measure
Leadership credibility is revealed in moments of human complexity. This closing reflection integrates law, ethics, and physiology to define what fairness, courage, and composure look like in practice.
1:00 | Program Ends
The Speakers
Jennifer Baldachin
Jennifer Baldachin is a Registered Social Worker who has worked in the health care field for over 25 years offering evidence-based psychotherapy for those seeking support for life changes, anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder. Trained in multiple modalities (cognitive behavioural therapy, brief solutions focused therapy, mindfulness and narrative therapy), she is flexible and adapts her style and approach to meet her client’s needs. Last year she was certified as a Menopause Mental Health Practitioner.
Jennifer believes there is a strong connection between thoughts and wellness. Being a runner who has completed multiple marathons and half marathons, as well as having been a musician, she understands the power of the mind and its influence over the body, spirit and behaviour.
She is also a wife, mother, and dog mom.
Jennifer works as the Team Lead for the Mind Station at Medcan as well as provides therapy privately and guided therapy through MindBeacon.
Trish Barbato
Trish is the Co-Founder of the Menopause Foundation of Canada. She has been a vocal advocate for the rights of menopausal women for the last decade. The Menopause Foundation of Canada has changed the conversation about menopause within Canada and beyond through its two groundbreaking reports – “The Silence and the Stigma: Menopause in Canada” and “Menopause and Work in Canada”. The Menopause Foundation of Canada’s Menopause Works Here™ campaign recently won the first-ever global Catalyst Award for a Breakout Program. Trish has spoken internationally and supports leaders globally on menopause related initiatives. She does all this as a passionate volunteer.
Trish is currently President and CEO of Arthritis Society Canada and has held progressive leadership positions in healthcare for the last 25 years. Trish is a Chartered Professional Accountant, published author, award-winning innovator, and recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award.
Aimee Debow
After navigating her own challenges during menopause—while excelling in a demanding corporate career—Aimee saw a glaring gap in workplace awareness, resources, and open dialogue. She recognized how this silence was costing companies top talent and leaving women to face unnecessary struggles alone.
Aimee talks about menopause at work – clearly, practically, and without shame – and every time she does, employees say some version of: “We’ve never heard this at work before. Thank you. It’s about time.” They leave feeling seen and supported. And they feel better about their company that finally brought the conversation into the open.
At a recent corporate talk, HR asked her if they’d set up too many chairs. They were hoping 50 people might show up. By the time the talk started, the room was jam packed and another few hundred employees had joined online.
That keeps happening.
Aimee works with HR and senior leaders who know they’re behind on menopause, but don’t want another generic lunch-and-learn. Together we create sessions that are honest, inclusive, and deeply human – the kind of sessions where engagement numbers surprise people, and the positive follow-up messages don’t stop.
Erin R. Kuzz
Erin Kuzz is one of the founding members of Sherrard Kuzz in Toronto, Canada where she represents employers in all areas of employment and labour law. Erin has been recognized by Lexpert®, Chambers Global®, Who’s Who Legal® (Most Highly Regarded and Global Elite) and Best Lawyers® as one of Canada’s leading employment and labour lawyers. Having practised labour and employment law for more than 25 years, she has earned a reputation for practical, results-oriented advice.
Erin is a Past Chair of the Labour and Employment Section of the Ontario Bar Association and was a member of the Human Resource Committee for the Toronto 2015 Pan/Para Pan Am Games. She is also a member of the prestigious College of Labour and Employment Lawyers. Erin is widely published, has written extensively about a number of different labour and employment issues and has also taught labour relations issues at both York University and University of Toronto.
Kathryn Marshall
Kathryn is a fearless and tireless advocate known for her tenacity and relentlessness in obtaining justice and results for her clients. Although she is a fierce advocate, she is also known for her empathic and personal approach with clients. She handles all areas of employment and human rights law, as well as cases involving sexual assault and harassment.
Kathryn understands that work is a core part of a person’s life and that employment law cases are deeply personal and profoundly important. She has represented thousands of people, from students, journalists, educators and nurses, to physicians, CEO’s, politicians, bankers, lawyers and executives. She handles everything from contract negotiation to litigation involving wrongful termination.
Kathryn has a particular expertise in navigating contentious and complex constructive dismissal cases. She is skillful and creative in her approach as she guides clients through some of the worst moments of the lives to empowering results.
Kathryn is passionate about improving the law and fixing injustices and inequalities. Kathryn helped write new employment law as part of a special committee on the future of work, appointed by the government of Ontario. This included both the ban on non-compete clauses and the right to disconnect. She has also provided expert testimony to the federal Parliament about ways to enhance legal protections for vulnerable girls and women.
Shawna O’Hearn
An Occupational Therapist and Geographer with a powerhouse background in leadership, Shawna O’Hearn brings passion, purpose, and a bold voice to the conversation around women’s health. With years of experience championing inclusive workplaces and empowering others to thrive, she is on a mission to break the silence around menopause, reduce stigma, and make sure every woman feels seen, heard, and supported.
Whether she’s leading teams or leading tough conversations, her energy is contagious and her message is clear: women deserve to navigate every stage of life with confidence, knowledge, and community.
Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky
Dr. Jennifer Zelovitzky is a Certified Menopause Provider and the Clinical Director of Women’s Health and Vitality at Medcan. She earned her M.D. from McMaster University and completed her residency in Family Medicine at Sunnybrook Hospital. She has held staff positions at the Immigrant Women’s Health Centre in Toronto and at Sunnybrook, where she co-founded a survivorship clinic for young gynaecological cancer patients. She is passionate about educating women and fellow providers about perimenopause care and cancer prevention.