Fertility and your workplace

Managing a reproductive health condition or fertility investigation while working is one of the practical realities that rarely gets acknowledged. Blood tests need to be taken on specific days of your cycle, day 2, day 21, which may not fall on convenient days. Ultrasound appointments, specialist referrals, and treatment appointments can require repeated absence during working hours.

This is a real and often hidden part of the experience.

A UK study of 563 women undergoing fertility treatment (Payne et al, 2019) found the majority reported absence from work. The main reason women disclosed their fertility treatment to their employer was that they needed to explain their absence. The main reason for not disclosing was protecting their privacy. Both are legitimate positions.

A 2023 CIPD survey found: • 27% of UK employers have any form of fertility policy • 47% of employees did not tell their manager or HR about their fertility experience • 19% considered leaving their job because of the impact of fertility treatment

The majority of women going through this are doing so without formal employer support, while managing the physical and emotional demands of the process alongside their work.

There is currently no specific statutory right to paid time off for fertility investigations or treatment in the UK. This includes IVF treatment and associated appointments.

In practice this means fertility appointments are managed in the same way as other medical appointments, through sick leave if you are unwell, annual leave, or unpaid leave if your employer allows it.

Some employers have fertility policies that go beyond the legal minimum, offering paid leave, flexible working, or other support. It is worth checking your employee handbook or speaking to HR confidentially.