Supporting Employees with Fertility Issues

Introduction

With 20,000 babies a year in the UK delivered via IVF, organisations need to acknowledge that employee infertility is widespread and it is essential that employers implement comprehensive policies around IVF to deal with issues such as employee absence and protection rights under the Equality Act 2010. Employers must also be aware of their specific obligations towards employees undertaking fertility treatment.

The programme content can be adapted to meet your specific organisational challenges and training needs. The course runs for approximately 6.5 hours and can be adapted for a briefing or half-day session. 

This training programme examines questions around fertility such as whether employers should support employees undertaking IVF and whether employees have rights to sick leave after unsuccessful IVF treatment.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme you will:

• Be aware of your duties and obligations towards employees undertaking IVF
• Understand why the issue of fertility is relevant to your organisation
• Be aware of which terminology to use around fertility issues

Course Overview

Supporting employees with fertility issues - is fertility a private matter or do you need policies in place; extending support to employees undertaking fertility treatment; when should women inform employers about their IVF treatment; why do employees feel they must choose between job prospects and IVF treatment; understanding the emotional implications of IVF.

Operational challenges with employees undertaking IVF - Implementing flexible working patterns; risk assessments for pregnant employees; managing time-off; guidance documentation – what could be included.

Your duties and obligations towards employees with fertility issues - policies and legislation vs practical realities; are employees entitled to take time off work for fertility treatment; is absence due to IVF side-effects treated the same as sick leave; is infertility treated as a disability under the Equality Act 2010; are there protection rights under the Equality Act for women undertaking IVF; what legal rights to women receiving fertility treatment have; the ‘protected period’; employee rights to sick leave after unsuccessful IVF treatment; time taken off for a miscarriage count towards an employee’s sickness record.

Make an in-house enquiry 

Click here to fill in our enquiry form or to have a confidential discussion about your requirements, please contact Catherine Ouston our Head of In-house Training on 01983 861133 or email Teamtraining@bfi.co.uk