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Natalie Rowntree, a resident of North Yorkshire, has recently embarked on her IVF journey and finds the process to be “intense.” The 38-year-old has attended seven IVF-related appointments within an eight-week span, which included various blood tests, scans, and X-rays. The demanding nature of fertility treatment necessitates precise timing for appointments, causing challenges in balancing them with her job at a private opticians, leading her to use sick days and holidays for these visits.
The emotional strain of managing the IVF process without any entitlement to time off has been particularly challenging for Natalie. Following two miscarriages in a six-month period two years ago, she and her partner have struggled to conceive. The emotional aspect coupled with the logistical difficulties of coordinating appointments has left her pondering whether to disclose the situation to her employers or continue using sick leave and holidays.
Statistics from Fertility Matters at Work reveal that approximately 63% of employees undergoing IVF resort to taking sick leave for treatment, often to conceal their therapy from their employer. Advocates are now advocating for legal provisions granting paid time off for women undergoing fertility treatments to ensure fairness and equality in the workplace. While becoming pregnant through IVF entitles individuals to the same maternity rights as non-IVF pregnancies, current employment laws lack specific provisions for fertility treatment, potentially costing the economy and businesses in lost productivity.
Rebecca Kearns, a co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work, underscores the importance of providing time off for fertility treatments for employees. Kearns emphasizes the financial benefits for businesses and the detrimental effects of the stigma surrounding IVF and infertility on employees’ well-being. Despite government expectations for employers to accommodate reasonable requests, Labour MP Alice MacDonald is spearheading efforts to introduce a bill entitling individuals to time off for fertility appointments to promote fairness in the workplace. While some businesses express concerns about the potential for excessive legislation, individuals like Natalie believe that legal rights to time off would significantly alleviate stress and uncertainty associated with undergoing IVF treatments
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