Workplace Fertility Support SG introduces a guide aimed at enhancing assistance for women experiencing IVF procedures within the work environment
In a significant move to support women struggling with infertility, Fertility Support SG (FSS) has launched the first set of workplace guidelines, the Workplace Fertility Support Guide. The guide, released on World IVF Day, was founded in 2020 by a group of women aiming to provide emotional and social support to women facing fertility challenges.
The guide is aimed at supporting employees undergoing fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). It addresses issues such as the fear of stigma and judgment, unintended career consequences, and a lack of workplace recognition of fertility as a well-being issue. Many women choose to keep their fertility journeys a secret from their colleagues due to these issues.
Key Points in the Guide
The Workplace Fertility Support Guide offers valuable insights to both employees and managers.
- Detailed information on the trying to conceive (TTC) process helps everyone understand what the fertility journey involves.
- Sample conversation starters for employees enable them to discuss their infertility struggles with their managers comfortably.
- Recommendations for managers and coworkers include being flexible with work arrangements, expressing verbal support, and developing empathy and understanding of the emotional and physical challenges faced by both male and female employees on fertility treatments.
- The guide also addresses workplace stigma and privacy, providing guidance that supports employees without forcing them to repeatedly explain their situation amid treatment stress.
Survey Findings
A survey informing the guide showed that only 27% of respondents reported their companies offered fertility-related benefits such as flexible work or paid leave. 77% said fertility treatment caused career sacrifices. Over a third of workers kept silent about their treatment due to stigma and fear of discrimination. More than half wanted more flexible working hours to manage appointments. 13% of community poll respondents left their jobs to focus on TTC.
Encouraging Workplaces to Offer Support
The guide encourages workplaces to offer leave during treatment and provide financial and emotional support resources. It aims to promote awareness, empathy, and broader conversations, helping workplaces better support employees through fertility journeys.
Personal Experiences
Christine Ong, vice president of FSS, who went through seven embryo transfers and three miscarriages, described her experience as "leading a double life" due to her fertility journey. Rafidah Jalil, a member of the advocacy group and a mother of three, who went through IVF twice at the ages of 31 and 34 while working as a senior manager at a global bank, stated that managing work while undergoing fertility treatments was physically and emotionally challenging.
The Workplace Fertility Support Guide includes information on what trying to conceive (TTC) entails, as well as tips for supervisors who want to support their staff but are unsure of how to begin.
[1] Source for the survey findings [2] Source for the guide's release on World IVF Day [3] Source for Christine Ong's personal experience [5] Source for Rafidah Jalil's personal experience
- The Workplace Fertility Support Guide, launched by Fertility Support SG, provides mental health support for women dealing with infertility issues by addressing concerns such as workplace stigma, unintended career consequences, and a lack of recognition of fertility as a health-and-wellness issue, advocating for workplace policies that focus on health-and-wellness, including women's health.
- In an effort to improve workplace-wellness, the guide offers crucial resources for both employees and managers, including detailed information about the trying to conceive (TTC) process, sample conversation starters, and recommendations for managers and coworkers on how to support employees facing fertility challenges, thereby promoting a healthier and more empathetic workplace environment.
