"Natalie Rowntree from North Yorkshire has recently started her IVF journey, and describes the process as "intense". The 38-year-old has had seven IVF-related appointments in the space of eight weeks, including multiple blood tests, scans and X-rays, one of which left her in physical discomfort for "a good few days". As is the nature of fertility treatment, all of these appointments have to be done at very specific times of the month -"
"and fitting this around her job at a private opticians has proven difficult. "I've just been using sick days and holidays to go through these appointments," she says. Added to this is the emotional toll of having to manage the process, with no entitlement to time off. Two years ago, Natalie had two miscarriages over a six month period and since then has not been able to conceive with her partner."
""The emotion side is quite difficult, and then trying to manage that around work...do I bite the bullet and explain what's happening? Or keep having sick days and holidays?" she says. According to research from the social enterprise Fertility Matters at Work, Natalie is one of the around 63% of employees undergoing IVF who are taking sick leave to undergo treatment - with most citing they were doing so to hide their treatment from their employer."
"Now there are calls for women undergoing fertility treatments to have the legal right to paid time off to attend their appointments. Campaigners claim that while some employers offer fertility support, it is unequal and not guaranteed, and should be classed as a medical procedure. Becoming pregnant through IVF enables the same maternity rights as non-IVF pregnancies, but currently in employment law there are no legal rights when it comes to fertility treatment."
A 38-year-old woman began an intensive IVF process involving seven appointments in eight weeks, including blood tests, scans and an uncomfortable X-ray. Timing requirements for fertility treatment created scheduling conflicts with work at a private optician, leading to use of sick days and holidays. Emotional strain is compounded by prior miscarriages and uncertainty about disclosing treatment to employers. Research indicates about 63% of employees undergoing IVF take sick leave, often to conceal treatment. Campaigners call for legally protected paid time off for fertility appointments, arguing employer support is inconsistent and economic costs arise from lost productivity.
Read at www.bbc.com
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