New guidance: New CIPD guide to help support employees with fertility issues

The guide ‘Fertility challenges, investigations and treatment: Guide to offering workplace support: A guide for people professionals to provide effective support’ recommends good practice principles, including:

• Introducing an organisational framework, including specific policies, to support employees facing infertility issues.
• Ensuring the workplace has an open, inclusive and supportive culture.
• Being flexible and compassionate in relation to absences and leave, taking into account the impact of fertility issues on both employees and their partners.
• Training/equipping managers to be sensitive and show understanding.

There is no statutory right to time off for fertility treatment and it is not usually covered by statutory sick leave and pay rules, yet its side effects, both physical and mental, can affect attendance and performance. So the guidance recommends employers consider practical measures such as:

• Introducing a fertility leave policy, including paid fertility leave.
• Raising awareness of medical treatments/side effects and their potential impact on employees.
• Considering necessary reasonable adjustments for employees undergoing fertility treatment.
• Encouraging open, honest conversations to prevent stigma attaching to fertility issues.
• Training managers to handle fertility-related conversations sensitively.

Employers can also sign a Fertility Workplace Pledge, designed to help individuals and couples undergoing fertility treatment.

Operative date

• Now

Recommendation

• Employers can check out the guide on the CIPD website.