Summary
Calls are being made for employees undergoing IVF treatment to have the legal right to paid leave for their medical appointments. Many employees currently use sick days or holidays for these appointments to avoid disclosing their treatment plans to employers. Campaigners argue this lack of paid leave affects productivity and could be costly to the economy.
Key Facts
- Natalie Rowntree is using sick days for IVF appointments because there is no legal right to paid leave.
- 63% of employees undergoing IVF take sick leave for treatment appointments.
- Fertility treatments need to be done at specific times, making them hard to schedule around work.
- Currently, UK law does not grant specific paid leave for fertility treatments.
- Some argue that IVF treatment should be seen as a medical procedure like any other.
- Campaigners claim that providing paid leave could save the economy money by reducing lost productivity.
- Denying leave for IVF might be seen as sex discrimination under certain conditions, but it is hard to prove.
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission advises good practices for employers, but laws don't cover IVF appointments as pregnancy and maternity do.
