The group Fertility Matters At Work is advocating for IVF to be recognized as a medical procedure, rather than an elective treatment, under the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) code of practice for employers.
This change would prevent employers from denying time off for appointments and address the stigma and lack of support in many workplaces, according to the group.
Fertility Matters at Work published a report based on a survey of over 1,000 UK-based employees who have undergone fertility treatment. The report found that nearly all (99%) experienced it as a major life event affecting mental wellbeing, with 87% reporting anxiety or depression directly related to it, and 38% leaving or considering leaving their job.
An employee quoted in the report described fertility treatment as “a full-time job,” which includes phone calls, appointments, chasing results, taking injections, and dealing with the emotional and physical toll.
More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents believed that fertility treatment had negatively affected their career trajectory, and nearly a quarter (24%) thought it limited their promotion prospects. More than three-quarters (77%) took time off work due to treatments.
Two-thirds (61%) feared discussing fertility issues at work due to stigma and fear of repercussions, and a similar proportion (63%) were unaware of a workplace fertility policy. Only 35% felt that their line manager had been supportive.
Fertility Matters at Work is calling for more employers to implement fertility policies and provide line manager training. Fertility challenges now affect one in six people of working age worldwide, with around 52,500 people undergoing IVF in the UK in 2022.
Rebecca Kearns, a co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work, argues that the issue is not just personal but a workforce crisis. She emphasizes the need for employers and policymakers to provide support to those trying to start a family.
