James Naish, Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, is calling on businesses across Nottinghamshire to sign the Fertility Support Pledge – which asks employers to provide time off for employees undergoing IVF and other fertility treatments – and has received the backing of one of the largest employers in Rushcliffe, British Gypsum, part of the construction solutions group, Saint-Gobain.
Currently, employees have no legal right to paid time off work for fertility treatment. The Equality Act Code of Practice (on Employment) even compares IVF treatment to cosmetic dental procedures. With almost one child in every classroom (1 in 32) now born as a result of IVF, many people’s ability to have a family is heavily dependent on their employer’s workplace policies.
Research by Fertility Matters At Work shows the scale of the issue:
- 61% of employees fear telling their employer they are undergoing IVF;
- 38% have left, or considered leaving, their job due to a lack of fertility-related support;
- 64% take unplanned sick leave during treatment, costing employers an estimated £54 million each year.
Despite the lack of a legal requirement, a number of major employers already provide paid time off for fertility treatment. Businesses signing the Fertility Support Pledge are being asked to join them, while also helping to raise awareness of infertility and to tackle the stigma that surrounds it.
Rushcliffe-based British Gypsum, alongside the whole of Saint-Gobain Group’s UK business, has signed the Fertility Support Pledge as part of its commitment to employees. Chief Operating Officer for British Gypsum, Mike Emson, said: “We’re very pleased to give British Gypsum and Saint-Gobain UK’s backing to the FertilitySupport Pledge. Key life moments for people can often be times of great stress and can be very difficult for individuals and families. As an employer we want to support and help colleagues at these times as much as possible. We have had a policy in place for some time to support people undergoing IVF and other fertility treatments; this includes paid time off to attend appointments or to support a partner at treatments. This policy is one of many ways we support colleagues in addition to our wider range of policies to support people such as our enhanced maternity and paternity policies. “
There are four parts to the Fertility Support Pledge which is being championed by Alice Macdonald MP, Member of Parliament for Norwich North. The four parts are:
- Offer employees time off work to attend fertility appointments.
- Develop and communicate an accessible workplace fertility policy.
- Raise awareness internally and establish a Fertility Ambassador or Champion role within the organisation.
- Equip line managers with training on the realities of fertility treatment, including its physical, emotional and financial impact.
The campaign is personally important to Rushcliffe’s MP, James Naish. He said: “I’m really pleased to be supporting the campaign to secure better rights for people undergoing fertility treatment. Having spent several years receiving treatment myself, I know first-hand how physically and emotionally challenging the process can be, and how vital employer understanding and flexibility is for people trying to start a family.”
“I’m delighted that British Gypsum has publicly committed to signing the FertilitySupport Pledge, and I’d like to encourage many other Rushcliffe employers to do the same. Please let me know if you sign-up.”
Alice Macdonald, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, said: “Infertility affects people in my constituency of Norwich and all across the country. Therefore, I’m so grateful to have the support of James Naish MP, backing the Fertility Rights Campaign and fighting for better rights for people undergoing IVF in Rushcliffe.”
“Businesses who sign the Fertility Support Pledge will be sending a powerful message that they support everyone who wishes to have a child – no matter whether they require medical support to do so. We still need to secure a change in the law but, if more businesses join us, we have an opportunity to make a really big difference for thousands of people.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
You can find out more about the pledge here: alicemacdonald.org/campaigns/fertility-rights/
