28 March 2023 – Recognising Reproductive Health’: a Fertility in the Workplace summit

Join us for this free networking event

On 28 March 2023, at City Hall, London, Fertility Network UK will bring together key campaigners, organisations and individuals to highlight the future of reproductive health in the workplace and the pressing need for change. The ‘Recognising Reproductive Health’ summit, which runs from 10.30am-3.30pm, is part of the charity’s ground-breaking and growing Fertility in the Workplace initiative which helps firms support staff on their fertility journeys.

Attendees will hear from Anya Sizer, Fertility in the Workplace lead, about the charity’s decades of experience in enhancing understanding of the impact of infertility and its treatment, and in helping organisations large and small develop tailored fertility policies. She will also highlight Fertility Network’s substantial body of research in this field, including its recent major survey on the impact of infertility and its treatment, and the charity’s growth plans in this area.

Nickie Aiken MP will discuss her campaign to give fertility patients the legal right to take time off work to attend necessary medical appointments and her work encouraging companies to join, and sign up to the Fertility Workplace Pledge; major firms like Co-op and Channel 4 have already signed up to the set of voluntary commitments.

 Alex Davies-Jones MP, has personal experience of fertility struggles and juggling IVF and a career, and will highlight how greater understanding, backed by policy, can help the 3.5million people in the UK experiencing fertility problems.

Other speakers include representatives from the Co-op, who have recently introduced an enhanced fertility treatment policy joining existing policies on menopause, pregnancy loss and parental leave; Bourn Hall Fertility Clinic: the world’s first ever fertility clinic founded by the UK pioneers of IVF; and AutoTrader, who have been working for over three years with Fertility Network to raise awareness and increase understanding of fertility issues at work.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Anya Sizer, Fertility Network UK’s Fertility in the Workplace lead, said: ‘With nearly two decades of experience in bringing about positive change in the workforce for fertility patients and their partners, Fertility Network is delighted to be hosting our ‘Recognising Reproductive Health’ summit. It could not be more timely. A lack of understanding and legal protections means too many people juggling fertility struggles and employment still do not get the support they need, and both individuals and firms suffer as a result.’

Fertility Network’s 2022 survey looking at the impact of infertility and its treatment revealed:

  • Less than half of respondents (45%) felt they received really good support from their employers,
  • More than 1 in 10 people (15%) left their job or reduced their hours,
  • Over a third (36%) felt their career was damaged as a result of fertility treatment, and
  • Only a quarter (25%) reported the existence of a supportive workplace policy.

Ms Sizer added: ‘Fertility Network’s experience highlights supporting staff on their fertility journeys is not only good for employee well-being, it is good for business too. It’s great to see more and more forward-thinking firms are recognising this and are moving to implement bespoke fertility policies and improve fertility workplace support. We’ve never been busier and are thrilled to announce we are growing our operations. In this, we are grateful for the recent funding from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Women’s Health and Wellbeing Fund. Let’s seize the moment and make supporting and protecting reproductive health a pillar of workplace policy.’

Fertility Network’s ‘Recognising Reproductive Health’ summit is a free event, but numbers are limited. As well as speaker presentations, there will be plenty of time for networking and sharing of ideas.

When: March 28th 10.30am-3.30pm

Where: City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, London E16 1ZE

Booking Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/recognising-reproductive-health-fertility-in-the-workplace-summit-tickets-545837593937