MP calls for paid time off for fertility treatment

Alice MacDonald MP proposed a bill to introduce a legal right to paid time off for people undergoing fertility treatment.

In 2023, over 52,000 people in the UK received IVF treatment, highlighting the substantial demand for fertility care, however inflexible workplace conditions can make accessing appointments challenging for patients. Research published earlier this year by Fertility Matters at Work, a UK organisation which campaigns for fertility support in the workplace, found that 63 percent of employees surveyed had used sick leave to attend fertility appointments, and many sought to hide their treatment from their employer (see BioNews 1296). MacDonald called on parliament to 'right this wrong' and introduce a legal right to paid time off to attend fertility appointments.

'Whether someone can attend their fertility appointment should not depend on luck of the draw, a kind manager or an understanding employer, it should be the norm for everyone,' MacDonald told the House of Commons. 'Providing a statutory right to time off not only protects employees, but gives them permission to take that time off openly, and to plan it with their employer, transforming chaos into clarity for everyone.'

The Equality Act 2010 Code of Practice already recommends to employers that offering time off for fertility treatment is 'good practice'. However MacDonald was critical of the document's comparison of a woman taking time off for IVF treatment with a man taking leave for 'cosmetic dental surgery'. MacDonald argued that this presents fertility treatment as a 'lifestyle choice' rather than a 'necessity'.

She also noted the importance of introducing supportive measures to address the barriers people face in having children, particularly in the context of declining fertility rates (see BioNews 1305). While some employers voluntarily offer paid leave for fertility treatment, coverage is inconsistent and some patients find this a significant challenge to navigate.

One fertility patient, Nicole McCarley, told the Guardian about her experience of taking multiple periods of sick leave due to side effects of treatment, and receiving no assurance from her employer that she would not lose her job: 'The fear of losing my income and the chance of starting a family was overwhelming... At the back of my mind I was hoping someone would say, "I know you’re struggling taking this time out – take the time and don't worry about work".'

MacDonald also highlighted the hidden costs of the widespread use of sick leave for fertility treatment, citing estimates from Fertility Matters at Work that inadequate support for fertility treatment can cost UK employers £217 million annually, including £54 million in unplanned sick leave.

'The choice is simple. A minimal cost for planned fertility leave or as much as £35,317 in unplanned costs,' said Becky Kearns, CEO of Fertility Matters at Work, explained. 'Most businesses are choosing the expensive option without realising it, and employees are paying the price in lost careers and stalled opportunities.'

The Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off) Bill is due to be read in parliament a second time later this month.

---

The Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off) Bill will be discussed at the free-to-attend PET event Fertility and the Workplace: Can Employers Help? Should They?, with speakers including Becky Kearns of Fertility Matters at Work.

The event is taking place online on Wednesday 14 January 2026. Find out more and register here.