Women are nearly ten times more likely to be asked by their manager about their plans to have children at 27 per cent, compared to men at 3 per cent, according to Infertility Awareness Report.
According to a Fertility Family poll of 429 UK respondents who have experienced difficulties with infertility, 47 per cent of them feel awkward asking for time off for fertility treatments, and 43 per cent feel awkward talking to their bosses about their infertility challenges.
Additionally, 22 per cent of workers have cut back on work hours in order to pay for fertility treatments, and 14 per cent postponed getting pregnant until they were in a senior capacity and financially stable. Women frequently have to decide between pursuing a job and attempting to conceive.
CIPD data shows that only 25 per cent of employers have policies in place regarding fertility treatments, and 40 per cent do not have any plans to have any.
Peninsula director of HR advice and consultancy Kate Palmer says: “It can be daunting for an employee to share details of their health, particularly with sensitive conditions like fertility. So it’s important to create a culture of open communication and support. Doing so allows employees to ask for the help they need, which in turn contributes towards increased productivity, satisfaction and retention.
“Introducing mental health first aiders or appointing fertility champions can be a great starting point for raising awareness about, and showing support for, those experiencing fertility struggles. Such people can be a point of contact for those who may not want to discuss this with a line manager or member of the HR team.
“A fertility policy both helps those trying to conceive and raises awareness of their struggles so that colleagues and managers know how to provide compassion and care.”