Fertility Policies

[KRM29]

Guys,

Do any of your employers have a fertility policy? If so, can you send it to me? I'm hoping to make some changes as currently my trust does not have one!!

Thanking you in advance.

[Lynnr54]

Mine does. It essentially says work flexibly where you can do so that you can get to appointments and when you need to you can apply to take paid special leave, though doesn't define what is appropriate special leave.

In practice I had a few middle of day appts in the run up to starting my cycle where I took time off for the appointment. Once I started the cycle then I booked scans for first thing so I just got to work a bit late and then worked a bit late to make up for it. I took EC day off as special leave (though I didn't formally apply to take it - just told my boss in advance that's what I was planning on doing and he said fine) and then annual leave following ET.

I don't know if there are any circumstances when they would have given me extended special leave for it, but they were really good to me throughout the process and found projects for me to do where I didn't need to travel or stay over places (which is common in my job) so I didn't want to ask for extra leave when I had annual leave I could use.

[KRM29 in reply to Lynnr54]

Please can you forward it to me?

[KRM29 in reply to KRM29]

[e-mail]

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Mine has a staff leave policy which states up to five days paid absence for fertility treatment which can be taken in part days. I'm a teacher and further absence can be authorized at the head teacher's discretion, either paid or unpaid. X

[KRM29 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Please can you forward it to me? [e-mail]

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to KRM29]

I don't have an electronic copy I'm afraid, it's just within our staff handbook which is on paper.

Oh, it's five days per academic year btw.

[KRM29 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Could you take a picture and then send it over? I'm doing a grievance with my work and if I find other companies who offer policies then it'll be really handy.

[Oakey80]

Hiya I work for a a large company and hey have an ivf policy that says we get 5 days extra off for treatment but that's not per cycle, that's per your entire treatment. So if u have 3 goes, that days has to stretch over all of them.

I ended up not telling them as I can work from home anyway. Generally did this when I had appointments and made out I had something medical going on due to "women's stuff"...hey never questioned it (male bosses haha!)....even when I self certified 3 days for egg collection.

[KRM29 in reply to Oakey80]

Please can you forward it to me? [e-mail]

[Leesara]

I don't have one at all and wish my work did. My number of appointment can be really challenging to say the least. Hope your employer is supportive to you oxo

[Kyell2]

We have a quite a good policy at my work and get two paid weeks off every 12 months for fertility treatment.

Once you have exhausted this you can then take whatever additional leave you need either as holidays or unpaid leave.

Plus you are considered pregnant from the day of the egg transfer so you are protected under the pregnancy policy.

I'm on holiday at the moment but will email it across when I get back.

[KRM29 in reply to Kyell2]

Sounds fantastic. That would be grand. Thank you.

[e-mail]

Have a lovely holiday x

[KRM29]

Please can anyone email me their employment policies?

[e-mail]

[embiemomma]

you can do a freedom of information request to any NHS trust and they will send you the policy, it's usually part of the maternity policy (it is in my trust)

[KRM29 in reply to embiemomma]

Great advice. Thank you. Do you work in NHS? My trust doesn't have it within maternity.

[embiemomma in reply to KRM29]

yes I work in the NHS (currently on mat leave) it was in the maternity and adoption policy, not much though.

[KRM29 in reply to embiemomma]

What's the name of your trust embiemomma?

[Wilburbear24]

Hi there, I work for a big supermarket chain and we get a week off fertility pay which I can either take all in one go, or spread out or even half days. They expect you to do blood test appointments in your own time if possible or swap your shift. A week off is per cycle and they'll pay for a week off up to 3 cycles a year. I sadly don't have a digital copy but I do have paper one so will gladly send you it. Sorry to hear your having such a hard time over it xx

[7AVA in reply to Wilburbear24]

This sounds like a very clear, transparent policy. I wish all employers followed this xx