What is the new F-word?
Fertility. It’s a word still rarely spoken aloud in professional settings, yet it affects a significant portion of the working population. In fact, around 1 in 6 couples face fertility challenges, meaning it’s highly likely that someone in your business is silently navigating this complex journey while managing their professional responsibilities. Fore more information around this read the article by World Health Organisation
Despite its prevalence, fertility remains one of the most overlooked aspects of workplace wellbeing. Employees going through IVF, IUI, or other treatments often deal with intense physical, emotional, and financial pressures – all while attempting to keep up with the demands of work. The silence around this topic doesn’t just impact individuals. It also carries hidden costs for businesses.
Understanding the Fertility Blind Spot in Organisations
One recent webinar attendee summed it up perfectly:
“You don’t know what you don’t know.”
This business owner shared that learning what her staff experienced during IVF treatment was genuinely eye-opening. The appointments, side effects, emotional toll, and impact on daily life were all new territory. As a result, she has begun implementing flexible working hours and adapting her policies to be more inclusive of fertility-related needs.
Another attendee, also unaware of the deeper consequences, discovered that by making small changes, their business could potentially save £20,000 per year in recruitment and retention costs. These stories reflect widespread gaps in workplace understanding.
The Hidden Business Costs of Ignoring Fertility
When fertility challenges go unacknowledged in the workplace, businesses often experience:
- Increased absenteeism due to medical appointments, procedures, or recovery periods.
- Presenteeism, where employees are at work physically but mentally and emotionally exhausted.
- Higher turnover rates, as staff leave for employers who demonstrate understanding and flexibility.
- Rising recruitment and training expenses, with CIPD research showing it can cost between 6 and 9 months of an employee’s salary to replace them.
According to the CIPD’s 2023 report on reproductive health in the workplace, 36% of organisations have no support or policies in place for fertility or reproductive health, despite growing awareness and demand.
Why Fertility Support Is Good for Business
There are compelling reasons to integrate fertility awareness into workplace wellbeing strategies. Businesses that proactively support employees through fertility treatment benefit in several key areas:
Improved Retention
Employees who feel supported during vulnerable life moments are significantly more likely to remain loyal to their organisation.
Increased Productivity
Reducing stress and uncertainty around scheduling, time off, and open communication improves employee focus and engagement.
Better Inclusivity and Culture
Inclusive workplaces acknowledge all life stages and health journeys. Fertility support creates a sense of psychological safety and belonging.
Enhanced Employer Brand
Forward-thinking companies that prioritise wellbeing attract and retain top talent and stand out in competitive recruitment markets.
What Fertility Support Can Look Like
Offering fertility support does not require a complete overhaul of HR processes. Often, a few simple, thoughtful changes are enough to make a lasting impact:
- Introduce flexible working hours to accommodate medical appointments and recovery time.
- Develop or update your fertility policy to clearly communicate what support is available.
- Train line managers to understand the emotional and logistical challenges of fertility treatment.
- Create safe spaces where employees can speak openly without fear of judgment.
One small business we worked with created a manager’s guide and added two days of additional paid leave for fertility-related treatment. Within three months, employee engagement scores had improved, and they reported a reduction in sick leave.
How We Help Employers Support Fertility in the Workplace
At the heart of our work is helping businesses make fertility a confident and constructive part of workplace wellbeing. We partner with HR teams, leaders, and business owners to create meaningful change through education, strategy, and empowerment.
This means delivering webinars, workshops, and tailored sessions that shine a light on the real impact fertility struggles can have on employees.
It also means working together to shape or review policies so they’re inclusive, flexible, and communicated clearly. Equally important, we support managers in developing the confidence and skills to have open, compassionate conversations, ensuring every employee feels understood and supported.
How Can We Make These Conversations Easier?
Talking about fertility at work can feel daunting for both employees and managers. To ease this, we focus on equipping managers with the right tools, confidence, and compassion. This includes offering practical conversation guides, role-play exercises in training, and simple prompts to help managers listen without judgment and respond with empathy. For example, a manager might learn how to say “Thank you for sharing this with me—what support would be most helpful for you right now?” rather than worrying about having all the answers. We also encourage businesses to make fertility awareness part of wider wellbeing discussions, so it feels less like a “taboo” topic and more like a normal part of workplace culture.
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