One in workers receiving fertility treatment quit their jobs over ‘way they were treated’, survey suggests

One in five workers undergoing fertility treatment have quit their job due to the way they were treated during the process, a report reveals.

Researchers surveyed 2,000 people in the UK who have had fertility treatment in the past five years, such as IVF.

They discovered that 43 per cent said they had faced negative comments and attitudes from colleagues.

A fifth said they quit their job because of the way they were treated by their employer, while a further 33 per cent said they considered leaving their place of work.

The figures suggest women are more likely to be impacted by men – especially women on low incomes or who are single.

Half of women – but only 8 per cent of men – said they had kept it a secret from senior bosses.

The top three reasons that people kept their fertility treatment a secret were that it felt too personal, concern for it not working out and fear of being judged or misunderstood by colleagues or superiors.

As many as 83 per cent argued that it’s important for workplaces to give the same support to those trying to have a baby as they do those who are expecting or already have a child.

The research, commissioned by Totaljobs, was carried out in partnership with women’s rights charity the Fawcett Society.

Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: ‘We believe in workplaces that work for all women, at every stage of our careers and lives.

‘This report shows unequivocally that women, and especially minoritised women, feel the impact of fertility treatment on their ability to progress at work, but that supportive workplaces can make a huge difference in ensuring that women don’t need to choose between their job and their desire for children.

‘When half of women choose not to tell anyone at work that they are undergoing fertility treatment, as opposed to just 8 per cent of men, as this report shows, it’s clear to see that there is a significant gap in how men and women are perceived on the path to parenthood.’