New report reveals gaps in fertility challenges support in workplaces
Employer support for fertility and family-building challenges is gaining momentum, as related initiatives become essential in the workplace amid growing demand from employees.
This is according to a new global study from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Fertility Matters at Work, and This Can Happen, which polled over 3,600 employees and employers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Poland, and France.
The global study revealed an ongoing shift in workplaces where employers increasingly recognise the importance of fertility support on employee engagement and talent attraction.
It found that 58% of employers are either already including fertility and family-building challenges as part of their workforce engagement and wellbeing strategy or will be in the future.
"This represents a clear opportunity for organisations to strengthen support, improve internal communication about policies, reduce attrition, and differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive talent landscape," the report read.
Lack of employer support
The growing support comes amid perceived lack of support from employers when it comes to fertility challenges, according to the findings.
Two in three (67%) employees who have experienced fertility challenges said their workplaces do not offer support for those who are undergoing fertility treatment.
This includes paid time off, where 60% said they did not receive it for fertility appointments. Instead, these were recorded under paid leave, unpaid leave or annual leave (26%).
Another 17% said they took sick leave for fertility appointments because of lack of flexibility, while 36% said they felt pressure from their employers to be at work while undergoing treatment or investigations.
The gaps extend to financial wellness, according to the findings. Just 24% of employers recognise and support employees financially on fertility treatment, while 55% do not recognise the financial implications of the treatment.
"This gap between employee need and employer understanding represents a critical opportunity for business leaders to reassess how fertility treatment affects both their workforce and their organisation's bottom line," the report read.
Not seeing the full picture
Three in four employers said they feel their organisation acknowledges fertility treatment as a significant life event, but they might not be getting the full picture.
According to the report, 67% of employees shared details about their fertility treatment with line managers.
About a quarter (24%) confided only in colleagues or team members, while just 12% informed HR or their rewards or benefits teams.
"This low rate of HR disclosure suggests that organisations may not be fully aware of the prevalence and impact of fertility treatment within their workforce, potentially missing opportunities to provide structured support and track the true extent of the issue," the report stated.
This leaves line managers at the frontline of fertility support, according to the report, which noted that many line managers may lack guidance and confidence to handle these conversations appropriately.
Addressing the fertility support gaps
The findings underscore the need for clearer workplace policies and better workplace cultures to address the fertility challenges of employees.
"More workplace recognition and clearer fertility policies could make a huge difference for individuals and organisations, with those who feel supported less likely to leave their jobs," said Becky Kearns, co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work, in a statement.
The report found that 73% of employees experiencing fertility challenges would be more attracted to a role that provides related support.
On the other hand, the lack of support is also making 39% leave or consider leaving their roles while undergoing treatment.
"Supporting employees through fertility treatment is an investment in employee loyalty, talent retention, and competitive advantage. The question is not whether organisations can afford to provide this support but whether they can afford not to," the report read.
It stated organisations that will thrive are those that will create comprehensive, well-communicated, and consistently applied fertility support frameworks.
"By addressing the universal fundamentals of clear policies, manager capability, effective communication, psychological safety, wellbeing support, and financial consideration, whilst remaining sensitive to cultural contexts, employers can bridge the gap between their intentions and employees' lived experiences," the report read.
