06 Mar 2024

How businesses can support fertility: Zest/IVF Network webinar

Zest partnered with The IVF Network to explore how companies can better support employees with their fertility needs, regardless of what stage they’re at and what type of issue they are facing

The webinar was an inclusive discussion showcasing the positive outcomes of implementing a fertility benefit support policy, and aligns with Zest’s mission of empowering employees and championing a new era of employee engagement.

Its fertility experts included:

Jennifer Elworthy – Fertility & Career Coach (Host)
Dr Golnoush Golshirazi – CEO & Co-Founder of ScreenMe
Joy Waugh – Principle Consultant at Zest

Key points:

Fertility issues and infertility diagnosis can be a hugely stressful and challenging process for people going through it. This is further heightened by the absence of proper workplace support.

A recent study found that 38% of people going through fertility treatment consider quitting their jobs. With an average cost to a business of £30k to replace an employee, having the right support for your workforce is an important point to consider.

In fact, according to a recent study by Brabners, 53% of employees experiencing fertility issues say they’d be more likely to stay at their company if the employer funded fertility treatment.

Fertility benefits can range anything from paid time-off to attend appointments, access to counselling, partial or full IVF funding, at-home fertility testing kits, remote and in-person consultations, and diagnostics, or even partial or full funding for egg freezing.

Zest’s panel also discussed why it’s important for an inclusive discussion showcasing the positive outcomes of implementing a fertility benefit support policy.

In a study of 2,000 adults, Zest’s research found:

2% of all employees said if they could create their own benefits package, they would include fertility benefits in their top five benefits.
This rises to 3% for women and 4% for those aged 18-34.

In a study of 500 HR decision makers, Zest found:

17% of businesses said they offer fertility benefits to employees.
15% of businesses said that they’ve had employees ask for fertility benefits.
86% of businesses believe that they offer benefits that support employees across all life stages.

In a study of 2,000 UK adults, Zest found:

3% of employees said that their employer offers fertility benefits.
2% of employees said they had used fertility benefits in the last year (since July 2022).
When asked to create their own benefits package, 3% would include fertility benefits in their top five benefits (of these employees, 4% were male and 2% were female).

To watch the webinar, download here.