Bus company offers paid time off for IVF

A UK bus company will offer paid leave to employees undergoing IVF treatment.

From June 2026, First Bus employees receiving fertility treatment will be able to take five days of paid leave, and partners of people going through treatment will be allowed two days. This policy is being introduced following staff feedback and wider campaigns to encourage more employers to offer similar support (see BioNews 1296).

'Fertility treatment can be physically demanding and emotionally challenging,' said Gareth Hind, director of employee engagement and internal communications at First Bus. 'We want our colleagues to know that they do not have to choose between their careers and starting or growing a family… This policy reflects our belief that supporting our people through real-life challenges leads to a healthier, more engaged workforce.'

In the UK, figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority show that more than 52,000 women undergo IVF treatment each year. However, there is no legal requirement for employers to allow staff time off to attend appointments.

The Equality Act 2010 Code of Practice suggests that offering time off is 'good practice', but compares IVF to taking leave for 'cosmetic dental surgery'. MP Alice MacDonald raised this issue in parliament last year, noting that it made IVF sound like a 'lifestyle choice' rather than medical treatment (see BioNews 1314).

The Fertility Matters at Work campaign, which calls for employers to offer fertility policies, found that of over 1000 surveyed employees who had IVF, 38 percent either left or considered leaving work due to fertility treatment. A 2022 study by Zurich Insurance surveyed 250 women in the UK, of whom 58 percent felt unable to tell their employer about their IVF treatment, with fear of losing their job being the most common reason (see BioNews 1166).

First Bus is implementing the policy as part of a package of measures to support a wider goal of encouraging more women into its industry.

'Our focus is on creating an environment where women can build long-term, rewarding careers,' said Janette Bell, managing director at First Bus. 'With the introductions of paid leave for employees undergoing IVF treatment, we're reinforcing our commitment to supporting our people through every stage of life.'