Alice Macdonald, MP for Norwich North, has presented a Ten Minute Rule Bill to Parliament calling for a statutory right to paid time off for fertility appointments. The proposal, introduced on 4 November, seeks to provide greater workplace protection and support for people undergoing fertility treatment such as IVF.
“The current gap in the law affects many people – particularly women – who, during an already challenging time, face yet another obstacle,” Macdonald said. “A change in the law is not just a moral imperative but an economic one, as research has shown that inadequate fertility policies cost UK businesses millions annually due to unplanned sick leave, lost productivity, and staff turnover.
“My bill aims to help build a fairer, more supportive system and workplaces that truly reflect the realities of modern life.”
Research from the social enterprise Fertility Matters at Work found that 63% of employees undergoing IVF take sick leave to attend treatment, with many doing so to conceal it from their employers. Campaigners argue that fertility treatment should be recognised as a medical procedure and that paid leave should be a legal entitlement rather than dependent on employer discretion.
Union Backs Fertility Leave Proposal
While pregnancy resulting from IVF carries the same maternity rights as natural conception, there is currently no legal framework guaranteeing time off for fertility-related appointments. Supporters say this creates inequality and uncertainty for employees at a time that can already be emotionally and physically demanding.
The GMB Union, one of the UK’s largest trade unions, has publicly backed the bill, saying it would ensure fairness and consistency across workplaces and help tackle the stigma surrounding IVF and infertility.
Fraser Welsh, a GMB member, said, “Trying for a family is one of the biggest life events many of us will go through. If, like me and my wife, you need fertility treatment, the appointments require time away from work and the precise timing of those appointments will usually very much be out of your hands.
“Going through IVF and similar treatments can also take a big mental strain on those going through it, and so having the support and understanding of your employer can make a massive difference.”
Employers Urged to Introduce Clear Policies
Sarah Bull, Partner in the employment team at Birketts LLP, said that while there was currently no entitlement to IVF leave in the UK, “larger employers in some industries increasingly provide some form of leave” as more and more employees are accessing fertility treatment.
“Without legislation or clear guidance from the government, employers and employees are left to navigate this sensitive topic themselves, with many doing so on a case-by-case basis,” she added. “Some employees will use sickness absence or annual leave to attend appointments, but these forms of leave are not designed for IVF and skew employment attendance statistics.
“In order to regularise their approach, employers might benefit from considering whether they should put in place a policy for IVF absence. Such a policy would look at amount of time, type of time and to what degree pay might apply.”