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ARTICLE · 22 NOVEMBER 2014

Fertility Treatment And Employment

Withers LLP
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This is a topic that employers can no longer afford to ignore. The most up to date figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (‘HFEA’) show that 48,147 women underwent IVF or similar treatments in 2011, with 61,726 cycles culminating in 17,041 live births.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Christina Morton
Christina Morton
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Shared parental leave | Be prepared

This is a topic that employers can no longer afford to ignore. The most up to date figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ('HFEA') show that 48,147 women underwent IVF or similar treatments in 2011, with 61,726 cycles culminating in 17,041 live births. The average time trying to conceive for these women was 4.6 years. Babies born through IVF or similar treatments now account for 2% of all births.

Rights

There is no statutory right to time off to attend appointments for fertility treatments. Whilst infertility is a medical condition and may involve a number of medical tests and procedures, treatment is largely seen as elective in the eyes of the law. Employers need to tread carefully and avoid unintended consequences by making ad hoc decisions or creating a policy through informal custom and practice.

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