SOM has published new guidance on Supporting employees at work during fertility treatment and pregnancy loss.
Fertility treatment and pregnancy loss are increasingly relevant workplace issues. Rising female workforce participation, later parenthood, and assisted conception mean more employees will experience these events during employment.
Both fertility treatment and pregnancy loss can significantly affect physical health, mental state, attendance, performance and retention. While specific legal protections are limited, employers have health and safety duties as well as obligations under the Equality Act 2010.
Organisations that adopt appropriate structured approaches to supporting employees with fertility treatment and pregnancy loss are better positioned to build health and productivity within a diverse workforce, retain talent and reduce risk.
Increasing women’s workforce participation means family planning and fertility are more relevant to employers. In turn, supporting women’s health at work, including family planning and fertility, is relevant to removing further roadblocks to women’s workforce participation. Importantly, fertility treatment and pregnancy loss are life events which involve and impact on men and women.