We've had feedback that we should consider introducing a policy to support employees going for fertility treatment so that we are consistent in how we respond to requests for time off etc. Does anyone have a formal policy in this area and, if so, any specific elements you offer such as a number of days' leave?
We offer time off for fertility treatment under our wider time off work policy. This is special leave and is only eligible to employees with 1 years continuous service, and for one cycle of IVF or fertility treatment in a 12 month period. Female employees undertaking IVF are eligible for 5 days special leave + 5 days unpaid. For any other fertility treatment we offer 5 days unpaid leave. We do ask that where possible fertility appointments are scheduled outside of the working day, or at the beginning or end of the day.
We have a generous policy inherited under TUPE for some staff. They are entitled to a max of 10 days leave per annual leave year (can be taken as partial days), pro-rated for part time staff. The leave is available for both those undergoing the treatment or supporting partners. Leave can be used for preliminary stages of diagnoses as well as subsequent procedures involved in the fertility treatment itself. The policy excludes common gynae treatments. The leave is used to supplement annual leave rather than in place so any annual leave carry over rules would not apply to those who have used the benefit. Hope this helps.
We allow paid leave for Fertility Treatment as part of our Special Leave Policy. We grant up to 3 days’ leave in any one year for those employees going through treatment in order to accommodate appointments or treatments that may necessitate an absence from work of one day or more. We do stipulate however, that appointments should be made outside the working day/normal working hours, wherever possible, but where a colleague cannot accommodate this, then paid leave will be granted. If the time off is required beyond the permitted number of days, the employee may be allowed to take time off out of his/her annual holiday entitlement for this purpose. The policy also applies equally to an employee whose partner is undergoing fertility treatment.