1 in 6 people in the workplace will struggle with their fertility, even if you don’t need fertility treatment it’s likely one of your colleagues or employees will do. So whether you are asking what support to look for when starting treatment? Or how to support your colleagues or employees when they are on their fertility journey? This blog aims to give you an introduction to workplace fertility support and how clinics can help you access treatment while working full-time.
What is Workplace Fertility Support?
Many organisations are pushing for fertility support to be included when employers are offering workplace benefits packages. Companies such as Fertility Matters at Work and Fertility Network UK are on a mission to expand a network of fertility friendly employers and ensure fertility is recognised and supported in all organisations. At the same time, there is not currently any legal protection for those going through treatment until an embryo is implanted and pregnancy protections come into place. This is why there needs to be a push for employers to offer fertility benefits internally to assist those employees who are going through treatment.
19% of employees said they have considered leaving their place of employment due to a lack of support about fertility challenges, investigations or treatment. The consequences of not feeling supported mean companies are losing valuable employees and it makes fertility struggles not just a personal health issue but a workplace issue. But what kind of support should you be providing if you are an employer or accepting if you are an employee?
What can employers do to support their employees going through treatment?
There are many support options for those going through treatment, and studies have been looking the best ways for employers to support their staff. In a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), people facing fertility issues reported that the top three most helpful forms of support were paid time off to attend appointments, understanding from managers, and paid compassionate leave. Creating an environment change in this way is a delicate balance that needs everyone on board, including employers, colleagues of those going through treatment and those having treatment themselves. Having workplace fertility support as part of the benefits package might be one of the best ways to set a company culture of openness from the start. Using a customisable company benefits package also allows companies to give their employees fertility support, prioritise employee wellbeing and ensure everyone is protected.
What do Manchester Fertility do to Support people working full-time?
At Manchester Fertility, we understand our role not only as an employer to make fertility treatment accessible for our staff but also to support our patients in continuing with their everyday working lives while undergoing treatment with us.
We make sure to schedule any in-clinic appointments together, this can reduce the need to travel multiple times for appointments. Some planning and counselling appointments can also be completed virtually to minimise disruptions to our patient's lives. Making it easier to keep on top of appointments, paperwork and medication, our patient app helps remove some of the administrative burden of treatment from the patient, keeping everything in one place.
“We felt the staff really cared about making it a successful outcome for us, and we felt in very safe hands all the way. The patient app was brilliant to keep track of everything and the level of communication and responsiveness was superb. Honestly can’t recommend them enough." – Manchester Fertility Patient
Our clinic is open when you need us, with our team here to answer your calls Monday to Friday, 7 am until 6 pm and at the weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 8 am until Midday. This lets you fit your appointments or contact our team around your work schedule. When you are a patient having treatment with us, you can also contact the team via the patient app.
We have a team of friendly patient coordinators who are available to talk at workplace events, including wellbeing weeks or other organised events, to talk about fertility more generally or to have 1-2-1 discovery appointments at convenient times.
Your fertility journey
Your fertility journey is personal to you. Who and when you decide to share details of your treatment with is entirely your decision, but if you are struggling to manage undergoing treatment and balancing normal life, our team can help support you in getting the support you need to be mentally and physically prepared for your dream family. You can contact our knowledgeable team on 0161 300 2737 or request a call-back if you have a specific question about how we can support you on your treatment journey.
Last updated: 24th February 2025
