Six Years In: How Fertility Matters at Work Is Changing the Conversation
Six years ago, most workplaces did not talk about fertility. Not because it was not happening in their teams. Because no one had yet made it safe to say so out loud. Six years ago, myself, Becky and Claire were registering our idea to form a CIC with companies house,...
Fertility Isn’t Just a Women’s Issue — And Here’s Why That Matters at Work
Written by Jennifer Elworthy, Career & Fertility Coach and Director of Engagement at Fertility Matters at WorkWhen most organisations think about fertility support, they picture a woman, probably in her thirties or forties, probably going through IVF. That picture...
3 Simple Steps to Being a Fertility-Friendly Manager
Written by Jennifer Elworthy, Director of Engagement and Career Coach at Fertility Matters at Work Being a fertility-friendly manager is simple. It just requires something most good managers already have: the willingness to show up for your people. Fertility...
Fertility Benefits Aren’t Enough: Why Culture Matters More Than Cash
There's no question that fertility benefits matter - but they're only part of the picture. Financially, the impact on those going through fertility treatment can be huge, especially as we see cut-backs by the NHS on eligibility and number of funded rounds for...
Fertility Policy or Guidance? Why Having Something in Writing Matters
Written by Becky Kearns, CEO and Co-Founder FMAW "Do we really need a formal fertility policy?" This question comes up constantly in my work at Fertility Matters at Work. As co-founders with over 35 years combined HR experience, Claire and I understand the reluctance....
Our journey to fatherhood – by William Dryden
Post by William DrydenAs children, we both dreamed of having our own families. We imagined building sandcastles, reading bedtime stories, and wiping away tears after scraped knees. But as gay men, those dreams seemed impossibly far away for much of our lives. Being...
IVF, layoffs, and letting go of the “perfect plan”
Guest postI never thought I’d be unemployed and trying to get pregnant. In my head, the path was simple: settle into a role I loved, fall pregnant, take maternity leave, return to a team that still felt like home. But life zigzags. As we geared up for our first IVF...
My Journey Through Fertility Treatment While Working as a Ward Manager in the NHS
Guest postBack in 2021–22, during the height of the Covid pandemic, I was a 41-year-old Ward Manager working on a busy acute ward in Manchester. Life was chaotic, both professionally and personally. But amidst the uncertainty, I made one of the most important...
Breaking the Silence: Fertility Matters at Work Hosts Powerful Round Table at Diageo
On Wednesday, 30th April, Fertility Matters at Work (FMAW) hosted a transformative breakfast round table in the stunning library of Diageo’s Masonry building in Dublin. Bathed in morning sunshine, we welcomed a packed room of senior HR leaders, all keen to explore how...
Infertility Matters at Work Case Study – Rachel and Ryan
Post by Rachel and RyanInfertility is an emotional and physical rollercoaster. One which we’re not supposed to talk about because it makes others uncomfortable. People respond with everything from judgement, to well-meaning advice, to obvious discomfort as if it might...
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Becky, Claire & Natalie
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