‘Full ecosystem’ of infertility impact underestimated at work

Business leaders in Australia must consider the full impact of infertility, including the emotional and financial burden of treatments, when offering support to employees.

This was one of the key messages from an FW Fertility in Focus online panel discussion on fertility policy and fertility leave in the workplace in 2024.

“I think a lot of our People and Culture professionals, or our teams in general, may underestimate the emotional, physical, financial and time burden that any form of infertility, as well as the treatment options, are put on us as people,” panel member Dr Manny Mangat, a fertility specialist with IVF Australia, said.

Quoting the sobering statistics, Dr Mangat said one in six Australians experience infertility, with the impact of treatment equally affecting women and men.

“We see patients for a variety of reasons, not just IVF,” she said, adding some patients seek treatment for endometriosis, cycle tracking or sperm issues.

With this in mind, she said employers needed a greater understanding and awareness of the impacts of infertility to help “break the silence” and allow for better communication on the issue.

“All these different treatment options will require different degrees of support, time complexity, ongoing plans and ultrasounds, and patients access these different options from different pathways,” she said. 

Image credit: Getty Images

“So some women see a public gynaecology clinic to start those investigations and get all their testing done. Other people have the option of considering a bulk bill or a low cost fertility service, depending upon their situation.”

“It can be devastating when it doesn’t go to plan. There are so many different outcomes through this journey and so the reality of this challenge is rarely recognised in the workplace.”

As well as the emotional impact IVF brings, there is a significant financial load.

According to data from IVF Australia, a single IVF cycle costs $11,121 (before any Medicare rebates are applied). Most individuals or couples undergo two or three cycles.

Fellow panellist, Suzi Hullick, Westpac’s Group Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion said employers should not focus on “the demographics alone”.

“We don’t leave our personal lives at the door when we come to work, so supporting those employees during really key moments that matter is not only the right thing to do, it has a huge impact on your business and the bottom line in terms of that,” Hullick said.

“It’s not just about giving people time off… it’s about considering the full ecosystem of what employees might need, who’s impacted and how that makes them feel included in the workplace and also how that makes them feel valued and respected as well.”

“We see increased absenteeism, disengagement, lower productivity, so introducing support and awareness on fertility challenges, well, that’s the solution in the workplace.”

Kiri Stejko, the chief operating officer with Family Friendly Workplaces, said it was important not to forget the basics.

“Creating a family inclusive workplace is so important, and that does, of course, include provisions for a fertility friendly workplace,” she said.

Stejko said there should also be consideration for the unfortunate outcome, and sad reality faced by many, when planning a family doesn’t go as hoped.

“It can be devastating when it doesn’t go to plan. There are so many different outcomes through this journey and so the reality of this challenge is rarely recognised in the workplace,” she said.

“I’m glad to say that Suzi’s here representing Westpac – who do recognise this – but people can be really fearful of job security still and they don’t want to talk to their employers about the fact that they’re planning to have a baby.”

Stejko said in the absence of communication, many simply suffer in silence.

 “The consequences are that they can be quite stressed,” she said.

“We see increased absenteeism, disengagement, lower productivity, so introducing support and awareness on fertility challenges, well, that’s the solution in the workplace.”

Every year it is estimated up to 110,000 Australian women experience a miscarriage – a potentially traumatic event that affects physical and mental health.

“There’s always lots we can do that doesn’t necessarily have cost implications and I do think fundamentally it comes down to openness and inclusiveness in the messaging.”

In its 2024 Federal Budget, the Albanese Government announced a $9.5 million funding package for miscarriage support.

As for how an employer plays its part, Hullick said preparation is key. 

“I think the important thing to acknowledge first is, being a large organisation, we have the benefit of generally mirroring the Australian population,” she said, referring to the banking group’s ability to provide support to its workers. 

“So we modelled initially, the population data on the number of people undertaking IVF and then we applied that to average salary cost to understand what that financial impact was.”

She said the modelling showed the benefits of supporting employees in a key moment that mattered to them, “far outweighed any financial impact”.

“We’re in a position with the leadership team to be really strong and positive to say, this impacts our employee value proposition,” she said. 

“And it was quite symbolic for the younger generation in our organisation who aren’t yet on the journey, but may be required to be on the journey in the future.”

More than 20,000 babies were born following IVF treatment in Australia and New Zealand in 2021, medical research from the University of New South Wales found.

Of this number, 18,594 babies were from treatments performed in Australia.

Dr Mangat added it was important for those going through treatment, or considering treatment, to be free from any added workplace stress.

“You don’t need that added stress of keeping what you’re doing a secret,” she said.

“It’s unnecessary to then keep on top of that, who do you tell? When do you tell? What do you tell? Is it going to affect my job? Are they going to then think I’m not going to be productive? What’s going to happen when I’m pregnant? It’s emotionally and physically exhausting.”

As for companies that do not have coffers the size of an Australian bank, there are cost effective resources available.

“There’s always lots we can do that doesn’t necessarily have cost implications and I do think fundamentally it comes down to openness and inclusiveness in the messaging,” Stejko said.

“It might be as simple as having a guide that is published that people can access that shows that you as an employer, small business or otherwise, are supportive of, understanding of, and you know that fertility does impact people’s experience at work.”