This National Fertility Awareness Week, we welcome Anita Guru, Business Development Manager at Fertility Network UK, to share the importance of raising awareness of fertility in the workplace, why a fertility policy is essential for employers to have in place, and why nurturing a supportive work environment for people going through fertility challenges is key to reducing stress and mental health issues.
Why fertility awareness in the workplace matters
This year, national charity Fertility Network UK is celebrating 20 years of improving workplace wellbeing. It’s a phenomenal achievement and one we are immensely proud of - we are the pioneers in this field, with extensive experience of working with employers and their staff to understand and better support employees facing fertility challenges, whatever they may be. Crucially, our research and expertise tell us that employers can make a major difference.
It is with great excitement that we are partnering with Calmer to further support employees in the workplace and raise awareness on the challenges around infertility. This partnership is pertinent as this National Fertility Awareness Week our theme is #FertilityinMind, recognising the mental health impact of infertility and its treatment, and our latest research highlights the importance of supportive employers – yet shows there is still more work to be done.
This major piece of research - co-produced with the British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA) and researchers at Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and Queen’s University Belfast - looks at the prevalence of infertility-related trauma among fertility patients. We found that sadly, but not unexpectedly, infertility-related trauma is common, with 41% of respondents meeting criteria for either post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex PTSD. Evidently, and unsurprisingly, there is a strong link between ferility challenges and mental health struggles, which is why we feel our partnership with Calmer is so timely.
The impact of navigating fertility challenges and work
Our research reveals how levels of distress can be compounded by a lack of workplace understanding and support. Respondents noted triggers such as pregnancy announcements in the workplace contributing to re-experiencing trauma, and the difficulty of receiving news of negative outcomes while working.
Specific workplaces, such as schools, midwifery and antenatal care, were particularly traumatising because of prolonged and unavoidable contact with babies, children and their parents. Some individuals even stated they had been bullied because of taking time off work to attend treatment.
Participants also said they faced difficulties at work because of the immense psychological and physical impact of treatment. Many felt they need to carry on in work regardless of how challenging their circumstances were, either due to commitments or not feeling they could share with colleagues what they were going through.
Respondents’ comments included:
“Work was challenging and I feel the lack of infertility knowledge, especially around what the IVF process involved, was very difficult.”
“My workplace not understanding the time needed for treatment caused a lot of unnecessary stress when undergoing IVF.”
“I was working as a programme lead and had to go straight into meetings after the scans. I again had to push the feelings away to try and function.”
Understanding and empathic employers make the difference
This latest research builds on a body of work from Fertility Network UK and other sources that highlight having an understanding and empathic employer is key.
A recent survey from the UKG Workforce Institute found managers impact employees’ mental health (69%) more than doctors (51%) or therapists (41%) — and even the same as a spouse or partner (69%). This tell us employers can make a major difference, and a supportive workplace is good for business, as well as for employees.
This is why a core part of our Fertility in the Workplace initiative involves providing support in a variety of ways. These include education sessions, policy development and sharing stories of lived experience to help managers and staff understand the realities of treatment and the emotional, physical, financial and social toll infertility can wreak. Additionally, we are passionate about raising awareness about reproductive health among all employees; increasing knowledge is vital.
It’s time to raise awareness
Many managers feel overwhelmed by discussing these issues at work. However, it’s important to reassure that managers don’t have to be medical experts or to have all the answers. What is most important is listening and offering support.
IVF is time intensive and time sensitive. Fertility Network’s previous research found the average person going through an IVF cycle will need between 8-10 flexible working days for appointments, scans, egg collection and embryo transfer. Clinic appointments can also often overrun or have to be booked at the last minute, which means workplace flexibility is essential.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for staff to end up reducing their hours or quitting their job if they’re unable to balance work and fertility issues. Our research shows almost 1 in 5 employees left their job because of the impact of fertility treatment. Yet if employers can be flexible, that need not happen.
The importance of a fertility policy at work
Having an accessible workplace fertility policy is important in creating an open culture, free from stigma. It helps to make sure employees feel comfortable in the workplace so that you attract and retain the best talent. Our research found that 83% of respondents said fertility support or a fertility policy was very important when they considered a new job or employer.
Fertility in the Workplace (FITW) works with organisations to develop bespoke workplace policies. For small and medium organisations with fewer than 250 employees, FITW can provide fully funded support. Once you have a policy in place, make sure people are aware of it. It can also help to assign a Fertility Ambassador to open conversations internally and let people know what support is available.
In the 20 years since Fertility Network UK first began working with employers and staff to improve workplace wellbeing, we have seen so much positive change and it’s been fantastic to spearhead that. We are now looking forward to the next 20 years, as increasing numbers of forward-thinking firms embrace empowering employees and eradicating stigma in their workforce.
We hope you will join us in our mission.
Anita Guru is Business Development Manager at Fertility Network UK. Following her own experience of infertility which led to a diagnosis of PTSD, she’s passionate about supporting others and educating individuals to better understand the fertility journey, and the impact it has on mental wellbeing.