Dealing with Infertility at Work

[SusanS]

I am giving a talk at The Fertility Show ( fertilityshow.co.uk ) next week on employment related issues and fertility treatment, including time off for treatment and how to tell your employer (if at all) that you are having treatment.

If you have any information on policies which employers have, or can share your experiences (anonymously is fine) I would appreciate you sharing them with me as the more details we have, the more information we can share with others and it all helps to build up a picture of what employers are doing to help those experiencing infertility (or not as the case may be)

Many thanks

Susan

[blou]

Hi Susan

I work for a large national charity.

My employer's 'special leave' policy says the follwing on IVF and fertility treatment:

4. Medical leave (see also sickness absence guidelines)

4.1 Staff should arrange medical appointments outside of working hours but, where this is not possible, paid time off work will be allowed for visits and check-ups as follows:

medical treatment or check-ups in medical surgery/clinic/hospital

GP appointments

dental appointments for check-ups or treatment

blood donation sessions.

4.2 Wherever possible, appointments should be arranged for the beginning or end of the working day, to minimise the amount of working time lost. Staff may be asked to provide evidence of the appointment such as an appointment card.

4.3 Paid time off will not normally be granted for other treatments and therapies unless specifically authorised by a registered medical practitioner.

4.4 Staff receiving in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or fertility treatment, are entitled to receive reasonable unpaid time off from work. In circumstances where the employee suffers from an illness as a result of the treatment, the sickness absence procedures and entitlements will apply. Please refer to the Sickness Procedure and Absence Management for further guidance.

I have not yet had to use the policy so don't know how they would interpret 'reasonable' in this case.

Blou

[SusanS]

Thanks Blou, appreciate your input and interesting to see they offer unpaid time off work for fertility treatment and yet paid time off for

medical treatment or check-ups in medical surgery/clinic/hospital

GP appointments

dental appointments for check-ups or treatment

blood donation sessions.

I remember a few years ago some companies were offering staff paid time off to watch the World Cup but not for fertility treatment!!!

Susan