A significant amount (77%) of 18- to 40-year-old employees said they would stay at their company for longer if it provided them with fertility benefits, according to research by fertility provider Carrot Fertility.
Workers are also considering changing jobs to access fertility benefits, with 88% of respondents stating they would change their role.
Why fertility benefits are needed:
Fertility support should be a statutory right, say HRs
From fertility to menopause – these are the times when your employees need your support
The respondents, who were mainly female (97%), reported being hesitant to approach their male managers for support as they feared it could harm their chances at a promotion and stunt their career progression.
This led to 79% of UK employees not feeling adequately supported when undergoing fertility treatment.
Speaking to HR magazine, Leslie Neitzel, vice president of people at Carrot Fertility said: “HR teams, at their core, should listen to employees, hear their needs and make changes that represent the people they serve, especially when it comes to fertility care and family forming.
“We know from our survey that support of family forming through benefits is incredibly important to employees, and most people would even leave their current job for a career that offered the benefits around fertility care that they seek.”
Neitzel said the research made her question if she was doing enough to represent the needs of her people.
She said: “Ultimately, it is up to HR teams to be a voice for the group of employees they represent, providing support where there isn’t.
“We need to start conversations that haven’t happened and bring transparency to topics that might be misunderstood and confusing but are necessary.”
HR teams have a responsibility to meet with company executives and advocate for employees, educate c-suite members and create a better, more equitable workspace, said Neitzel.
“By doing so, companies will not only see a better rate of retention of diverse talent, but they will draw in more people who are seeking fair, equal healthcare around fertility, creating a stronger company culture, workforce, and environment," she added.
