More than 3 out of 10 young workers aged 18 to 34 believe fertility benefits, such as egg freezing or subsidised IVF, should be offered by employers.
Research by Willis Towers Watson has found that 47 per cent of these millennials and post-millennials cite the high cost of private treatment as the biggest reason for this.
The research found 43 per cent are concerned about restricted NHS treatment, 26 per cent believe it would offer improved career opportunities while 24 per cent said it would reduce the pressure on them to have children too quickly.
“Increasing numbers of employers across the US are now supporting employees on their path to parenthood, as highlighted by the Willis Towers Watson Maternity, Family and Fertility Survey,” says Willis Towers Watson wellbeing lead Mike Blake. “Their counterparts in the UK should consider the recruitment and retention benefits of following their lead.
“One in seven UK couples face difficulties trying to conceive, yet restrictions in NHS funded treatments have been widely reported in recent years, with postcode variations in access to services. Furthermore, the cost of private fertility treatments can be a significant financial burden, and in some cases, may even prove prohibitive.”
The research, conducted among 2,000 workers, found that the number of workers calling for fertility treatments to be offered by employers was highest among younger employees. The figures fell to 20 per cent for all UK workers and not surprisingly dropped to just 6 per cent among workers aged over 55.
“While companies may appear forward-thinking and supportive by offering fertility treatments, employers should tread carefully to avoid a backlash,” says Blake.“The introduction of egg-freezing as a benefit, for example – notably among the tech giants of Silicon Valley – has sparked controversy in some quarters and can risk raising suspicions around employer motivations.”
Almost one in four UK workers said that if their employer were to offer egg freezing as a benefit, they would view this as a selfish attempt to retain talent for longer.
Blake says: “Family-friendly employers looking to introduce fertility benefits to support workers, and to relieve their financial burden, should be aware that although health insurance policies will ordinarily cover underlying medical conditions related to infertility, they will not typically cover fertility treatments, such as IVF.
“Alternative options include provisions via self-funded schemes, such as healthcare trusts. Specialist benefits consultants can advise on the solutions that are available, along with appropriate, sustainable, benefit limits.”
