One in four women who disclose to their employer they are undergoing IVF treatment are then treated unfairly at work, a survey of more than 3500 women has shown.
Research carried out by campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed in partnership with Women in Data found that out of 3540 respondents, 42 percent revealed to their employer they were having fertility treatment. Of those, 24 percent said they received no additional support at work, while the same proportion said they were subsequently treated unfairly. Results of the research were presented to coincide with National Infertility Awareness Week (23 to 29 April 2023).
Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, said: 'We are seeing an increasing number of calls to our helpline from women who experience discrimination in the workplace as a result of reproductive health issues.'
The group also found that women who told their employer they had suffered pregnancy loss, then faced discrimination in the workplace. Recent data released by the WHO found that one in six people globally are affected by infertility (see BioNews 1186).
Natalie Sutherland – co-host of podcast In/Fertility in the City, partner at law firm Burgess Mee and Progress Educational Trust trustee – commented: 'If only these statistics were surprising. To create workplace cultures which support those on less traditional or straightforward paths to parenthood, this issue needs to be brought into the open and employers must be encouraged and supported to have a meaningful understanding of pregnancy loss and fertility treatment and the impact they can have on their people both at home and at work.'
Pregnant Then Screwed is due to launch a new programme aimed at helping employers become better at dealing with reproductive health issues in the workplace. Brearley added 'This discriminatory behaviour doesn’t just impact women's career prospects, the lasting impact on their mental health can be devastating, and costly to both businesses and to staff wellbeing. It's in the best interests of both employers and employees to get this right. Starting from now. That is why we have launched a new programme of free training for employers – because this really matters.'
Politician Nickie Aiken MP, has recently proposed the Fertility Treatment (Employment Rights) Bill to the UK parliament, as well as launchig a Fertility Workplace Pledge (see BioNews 1166) to which employers can voluntarily adhere in order to provide support to employees undergoing fertility treatment. This initiative has already been joined by major UK employers including Co-op, Natwest, Metro Bank and Channel 4.
Sources and References
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IVF discrimination in the office is just the start of workplace prejudice against mothers
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Quarter of women undergoing fertility treatment face unfairness at work
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Woman told her miscarriage was 'best thing' as a baby would 'destroy her career'
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One in four women undergoing fertility treatment experience unfair treatment at work
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