EZRA: MENOPAUSE COACHING.
AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE FEEL UNSUPPORTED WHEN EXPERIENCING MENOPAUSE IN THE WORKPLACE, WITH SOME LOSING CONFIDENCE AND EVEN RESIGNING. AS SUCH, DIGITAL COACHING COMPANY EZRA IS STEPPING IN TO HELP EMPLOYERS DEVELOP EFFECTIVE POLICIES AND SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THEIR MENOPAUSE JOURNEYS.
[originally commissioned by CANVAS8].
HIGHLIGHTS + DATA
- Almost one million women in the UK have left their job because of menopausal symptoms (BUPA, 2022)
- 92% of women say menopause symptoms have affected them at work, decreasing their ability to concentrate (72%), increasing stress (70%), and resulting in a loss of confidence (67%) (GOV.UK, 2022)
- In the UK, 90% of women have never been taught about menopause at school, and over 60% don’t feel informed about it (NIH, 2022)
- With people experiencing menopause the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, EZRA is stepping in to support individuals and help companies develop effective menopause policy
- Workplaces are playing catch up regarding menopause and reproductive health policies, delayed action that has seen many women drop out of their careers
- Internal workshops and coaching sessions can help companies better understand the needs of menopausal employees and reduce related brain drain
SCOPE
By 2025, 1.1 billion women, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals are expected to be postmenopausal. [PitchBook (May 2020)] Previous generations have dealt with menopause in silence, yet thanks to social media and women’s health activists, people are speaking out about symptoms and complications – which can range from insomnia, skin changes, vaginal dryness, and painful intercourse. Despite conversations opening up and brands developing products to ease menopausal symptoms, the work environment is an area that needs attention – people experiencing menopause are the fastest-growing demographic in the UK workforce. [NHS (March 2022)] London-based digital coaching company EZRA has developed a programme that supports women at any stage of their menopause journeys called The Equity Project. Its aim? To empower menopausal individuals to deal with any challenges they’re facing and tap into the full potential of this stage in life, both inside and outside of work. EZRA’s coaching programmes are available to all levels of any organisation, from C-suite to new starters, and start at €2,800 for six months of unlimited coaching. Participants undergo a 180-degree behavioural assessment, titled EZRA MEASURE, along with one-to-one coaching and curated content linked to development focus areas – as a result, 58% of line managers have observed ‘substantial improvements’ in employee performance. [Forbes (August 2022)] Nick Goldberg, the CEO and founder of EZRA, believes coaching should be as easy as a video call – so the company has redesigned its coaching for the digital age. [Forbes (March 2022)] As part of the Lee Hecht Harrison family and parent company Adecco, EZRA can utilise 50 years of global leadership to offer coaching and talent development to help build better careers, leaders, and businesses. Hence why it has been closely involved in the development of Adecco’s Menopause Programme. “It’s more around the culture change of an organisation. That’s what we are trying to achieve,” says Helen Tomlinson, the head of talent at Adecco and a menopause coach. “Around 78% of people don’t feel comfortable talking about menopause and less than 10% of businesses have a menopause policy or provide any form of support,” she adds. [Interview with Helen Tomlinson conducted by the author] With Adecco and EZRA showing continued commitment to menopausal employees, how can other brands adapt to demonstrate support and foreground equity in the workplace?