Major employers back Fertility Workplace Pledge

UK employers, such as Co-op, Natwest, Metro Bank and Channel 4, have signed up to the Fertility Workplace Pledge to help employees undergoing fertility treatments.

The Pledge offers accessible workplace information and staff training surrounding fertility treatments, such as IVF, to remove stigma and promote understanding. Fertility Ambassadors will also help raise awareness in workplaces to open conversations surrounding fertility and provide help in navigating any required flexible working adjustments.

Nickie Aiken, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, launched the Fertility Workplace Pledge campaign. She explained 'individuals and couples need the right to attend fertility appointments no matter where they work, without fear of being negatively in their career.'

The Pledge coincides with a recent Fertility Network UK survey of 1279 fertility patients discovering that 40 percent of patients reported experiencing suicidal feelings during the process (see BioNews 1165). Employers signing up to the Pledge will provide support for employees undergoing fertility treatments in order to help alleviate some of the stresses involved.

'Not only are employees having to deal with multiple cycles, side effects and complications in silence, I've heard of women injecting themselves in the toilets at work, just so their bosses or colleagues don't find out,' Aiken added.

Furthermore, a study by Co-op revealed that over 45 percent of people who have undertaken fertility treatment did not talk to their employer or manager before beginning the treatment. This prompted Co-op to move towards supporting employee fertility treatments, who will be offering paid leave to its staff to undergo such treatments.

In addition to signing up to the Pledge, the Co-op's policy offers flexible, unrestricted time off for colleagues undergoing treatment, surrogates and their partners. They will also provide counselling and wellbeing support, no matter how long the colleague has been at Co-op or how many hours they work.

Shirine Khoury-Haq, chief executive of Co-op, stated that 'the decision to discuss this with your employer is an incredibly difficult and personal one. However, by creating a supportive environment companies can go a long way in opening the conversation with colleagues and easing the stress that people in this situation often feel.'

In response to the Fertility Workplace Pledge and Co-op's initiative, Amber Boniface recounted her fertility treatment experience to iNews: in five years, she underwent eleven cycles of IVF and experienced four miscarriages before having her first child. Boniface believed that written policy within her workplace would have helped in supporting her through this difficult time, and that these policies will allow for more open workplace conversations with less pressure.

Other companies who have signed up to the Pledge, such as Natwest, are also moving towards supporting employees undergoing fertility treatments by introducing discounts on treatments, such as IVF and sperm freezing, for their employees.