Building a fertility-friendly workplace: Policy, education, and genuine support when it matters
What practical fertility support looks like for employers this National Fertility Awareness Week, from flexible working and manager training to compassionate bereavement policy.
This National Fertility Awareness Week, it is time for organisations to step up and have an honest conversation about family building and the workplace.
Around 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility at some point in their lives, according to the World Health Organisation. In the UK, around 77,500 IVF treatment cycles took place in 2023, with numbers staying similarly high in 2024.
Employees do their best work when they feel supported by their employer during major life moments. But what does meaningful fertility support actually look like in practice?
Flexibility driven by biology, not bureaucracy
A common misconception is that fertility support requires vast amounts of paid leave. In reality, employees often don’t need full days off; they need small pockets of flexibility.
Treatments like ovarian stimulation are entirely driven by biology, making the journey highly unpredictable. When an employee requests a last-minute schedule change, they aren't being disorganised, they are responding to their body and their medical protocol.
Employers can make a profound difference simply by asking the right questions: “What do you know about your treatment so far?” or “Which weeks might you need more flexibility?” Empowering people to advocate for their needs means making policies practical, usable, and adaptable to virtual or in-office environments.
Workplace fertility support starts with culture and competent managers
A company’s culture is only as empathetic as its line managers. Are your leaders actually competent in supporting people through something as complex and emotional as fertility treatment?
A written policy won't do much good if your managers don't know how to handle the human side of things. They aren't expected to be medical experts, but they do need enough training to listen properly, offer support, and point people in the right direction. Without that basic awareness, it’s all too easy for a manager to say the wrong thing or just avoid the conversation entirely.
By giving them the right learning resources, you give your leaders the confidence to ask the right questions and create a genuinely safe space for their teams.
Recognising grief and championing inclusivity
The fertility journey is frequently accompanied by profound loss. It is crucial to recognise that emotional grief is valid and present regardless of the gestational age of a lost pregnancy.
From April 2027, employees in the UK will have a legal right to up to two weeks’ bereavement leave after a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including an unsuccessful IVF embryo transfer. Organisations should start educating their managers now, so compassionate leave policies reflect the realities of fertility treatment before the new right comes into force.
Support must be fiercely inclusive, because every path to a family looks different. A modern fertility policy accounts for the intersection of religion and fertility, addresses racial inequalities in healthcare access, and recognises the unique legal and systemic hurdles faced by the LGBTQ+ community and single men pursuing parenthood.
Building a fertility policy for your workplace
Organisations must create fertility policies that actually make a difference to people's everyday lives.
National Fertility Awareness Week serves as a crucial reminder to audit how you support your teams and build a proactive plan going forward. Make meaningful changes to your flexibility and bereavement frameworks, sign the Fertility Support Pledge, and shout about them across your business.
Communicating your stance loudly and proudly shows your people you care and helps break down the silent stigma that so often isolates those going through treatment.
Genuine support when it matters most
Ultimately, prioritising fertility awareness is about showing up for your people when they need it most.
We naturally stay with the organisations that look after us, and genuine loyalty is built on that care. Implementing robust, empathetic support doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive; the true value lies in nurturing your valued team members during their toughest times.
To help you turn policy into practice, Thrive Content has ready-to-go fertility educational resources designed to build understanding and empathy across your entire workforce, not just managers. Equip your people with the foundational awareness they need today, and build a workplace culture of true empathy and inclusion.