A growing number of employees want their workplaces to support them through fertility and family-building challenges, and employers are starting to take notice.
The global study titled, “Fertility Matters at Work, and This Can Happen,” by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, covered more than 3,600 employees and employers across the UK, Australia, Japan, Poland, and France, shows a clear shift. Employers increasingly recognise that fertility support plays a major role in employee engagement and talent attraction.
According to the report, 58% of employers already include, or plan to include, fertility and family-building support in their wellbeing and engagement strategies.
“This represents a clear opportunity for organisations to strengthen support, improve internal communication about policies, reduce attrition, and differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive talent landscape,” the report said.A gap in real support
Despite that growing interest, many employees still feel unsupported. The study found that 67% of employees who have faced fertility challenges say their workplace does not offer support during fertility treatment. This includes flexibility and time off:
- 60% did not receive paid time off for fertility appointments
- 26% used annual leave, unpaid leave, or standard paid leave
- 17% took sick leave because they had no other option
- 36% felt pressure to be at work even while undergoing treatment
Financial support is also lacking. Only 24% of employers recognise and support the financial burden of fertility treatment, while 55% do not acknowledge the financial impact at all.
“This gap between employee need and employer understanding represents a critical opportunity for business leaders to reassess how fertility treatment affects both their workforce and their organisation’s bottom line,” the report noted.Employers are not seeing the full picture
While three in four employers say they recognise fertility treatment as a major life event, much of the real impact stays hidden.
The report found:
- 67% of employees tell their line managers about their fertility treatment
- Only 12% inform HR, rewards, or benefits teams
- 24% share details only with colleagues
“This low rate of HR disclosure suggests organisations may not be fully aware of the prevalence and impact of fertility treatment… potentially missing opportunities to provide structured support,” the report said. This places line managers on the front line, often without training or guidance on how to handle such sensitive conversations.The stakes for employers
Clearer policies and supportive cultures could significantly change outcomes for both organisations and employees. “More workplace recognition and clearer fertility policies could make a huge difference for individuals and organisations, with those who feel supported less likely to leave their jobs,” said Becky Kearns, co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work.
The research shows:
- 73% of employees dealing with fertility challenges are more attracted to a role that offers fertility support
- 39% have left or considered leaving their job while undergoing treatment
“Supporting employees through fertility treatment is an investment in employee loyalty, talent retention, and competitive advantage. The question is not whether organisations can afford to provide this support but whether they can afford not to,” the report stated.
According to the study, organisations that will succeed are those that build comprehensive, well-communicated, and consistently applied fertility support frameworks.
“By addressing the fundamentals of clear policies, manager capability, effective communication, psychological safety, wellbeing support, and financial considerations, while remaining sensitive to cultural contexts, employers can bridge the gap between their intentions and employees’ lived experiences,” the report said.