Become Fertility Friendly

Together we’re making the workplace fertility friendly – whatever the size.

Becoming Fertility Friendly isn’t just a tick-box exercise that starts and ends with a policy. It’s an organisational culture change involving education, awareness building, communication and support.

Using our E.A.S.E™ methodology we aim to improve workplace experiences for individuals needing fertility treatment, whilst ensuring organisations are inclusive, ultimately improving employee engagement, retention, attraction and productivity.

Proud to be working with trailblazing organisations…

How we work with organisations

Membership and Accreditation

Be proud to display the badge: Join us if you are an inclusive employer who cares about supporting your employees through the challenges of trying to grow their family. Through our blended learning resources you will be guided towards becoming a Fertility Friendly Employer.

Accreditation

Awareness raising and educational events

To enable you to bring this topic to life, create a cultural shift and break down the taboo of this deeply personal topic, we host a wide variety of virtual and in-person events featuring credible information and diverse lived experiences to help you sensitively open up the conversation within your organisation.

Events

eLearning

Structured learning for managers and employees, with the option of UK specific or global training modules that can be integrated into your LMS system or accessed on-demand, enabling people managers to have access to supportive learning at all times to ensure they feel empowered and confident to support their team members.

E-learning

Bespoke packages

Incorporating accreditation, event programmes and training we can work with you to develop a package that meets your organisations needs.

Through research findings and our own insights from our social media community we know that:

Without policies in place managers aren’t confident on how to practically manage someone needing fertility treatment*.

Managers often worry about saying the wrong thing and don’t know how to offer support*.

Employees are fearful of disclosing about treatment as they don’t see it recognised and don’t feel they will be supported.

It can be difficult to navigate and support longer, more complex fertility journeys*.

Only 1.7% have a fertility policy that met their needs.

* Insights from Manchester Metropolitan University qualitative research findings (2022) and FMAW quantitative survey (2020).

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“Line Managers are crucial to the provision of appropriate support, but managers often lack training, guidance (from policy or HR) or autonomy. The managers who seemed most competent and confident were those with significant management experience and who viewed the issue as an extension/ element of manage staff health and wellbeing more generally.”

– Manchester Metropolitan University Report

With a clear link between employer support and better business outcomes, why not speak to us to find out how you can better support your employees who need help to build their family?

Get in touch

Our Approach

Educate, Audit, Support & Empower!

We know that in a busy organisation it can be hard to have the time, headspace, specific knowledge or access to support networks to make this change happen. Let us guide you through the process of becoming Fertility Friendly with our E.A.S.E™ methodology.

Educate

Audit

Support

Empower

“The depth of knowledge and lived experience shared by Natalie and Becky is impressive, and the information provided through the membership is invaluable both for policy creation and colleague and manager support and education.

The launch event covered a wide range of topics, from understanding the process of IVF including their lived experience to bring that to life. Natalie and Becky were not only knowledgeable but also compassionate and empathetic, making the webinar a safe and supportive space to discuss sensitive issues. The support offered to our colleagues that volunteered to be part of the panel was fantastic and really put them at ease while at the same time being clear about how they might feel sharing their experiences. The impact of our colleagues’ shared experiences was relatable and a great way to approach it. The balance of Natalie and Becky’s input and their experience was perfect.

I would highly recommend this membership and launch event to anyone who is on a similar path. It’s a wealth of information and support. Thank you to Natalie and Becky.”

– JACQUI SUTHERLAND
I&D & Health and Wellbeing, Heineken

“We were really pleased to have Fertility Matters at Work host a session for EssenceMediacom during Mental health Awareness Week, discussing how Fertility challenges effect mental health. We had a really informative and open conversation with Consultant Perinatal Psychologist Julianne Boutaleb, founder of Parenthood in Mind. The conversation was facilitated by Becky Kearns, who was extremely open and personable and shared her own fertility journey. Having access to a highly experienced facilitators was reassuring. We gave attendees the opportunity to submit questions in advance and it was a real benefit having the time to have those questions answered, with signposting and resources shared to support. It was a brilliant and well attended session and I am positive it was helpful to many.

We are committed at EssenceMediacom to becoming a Fertility Friendly accredited employer and partnering with Fertility Matters at Work, and working closely with Natalie and Becky is really helping us along our journey.”

– Avelon Thompson
Head of DEI, EssenceMediacom

“Our first panel event on IWD, hosted by Fertility Matters at Work alongside our People Director, was a fantastic event where all of the panel shared their different fertility journeys and for some their lived experience of loss. Since the event we have received many messages from people across the organisation who have said for the first time they feel able to share what their journey has been or what they are about to embark on. So many people grateful to know there is a policy to guide their line manager and support available to them when they need it. This is another important step towards achieving our aim to cultivate a diverse community where everyone can be their authentic self and achieve balance through wellbeing.”

– Jo Riddell
Head of Employee Relations, Policy and Wellbeing, Selfridges

“A quick note to thank you for the excellent workshop on Tuesday! It was the best workshop we have had by a long way; it found a great balance between information/facts and personal anecdote. The hosts were outstanding – professional and great communicators – and the panel with Shaun was high impact. I took a lot from the session and feel well equipped as a leader on this topic.”

– JAMES
Director, Aldi

“After multiple rounds of unsuccessful fertility treatment followed by a heartbreaking loss, my relationship with work and my employer was in tatters. With no understanding, no empathy and not a shred of compassion from my employer, I was deep in grief and not long back at work after I lost my baby, but suddenly my job was on the line and my salary at risk of being cut if I didn’t get back to the office immediately. Scared and alone, I reached out to Alice Rose who runs the Fertility Liferaft and she kindly introduced me to Claire Ingle at Fertility Matters at Work. I was already aware of the company, having consulted their resources in preparation for a difficult conversation with my manager six months prior when I first disclosed details of treatment, and knew that I would be in good hands. From the moment I started talking to Claire I felt reassured that the law was on my side and that this situation was salvageable, with some carefully crafted words and a lot of re-education on the realities of fertility treatment! Claire was wonderful, I could never thank her enough, and I am so grateful for her help. Very experienced in this arena, she offered me sound and actionable advice in dealing with an extremely difficult situation, she read and commented on multiple drafts of a letter to my employer, and she pretty much coached me through a very dark and anxiety-fuelled time. With Claire’s guidance, I received an apology from my employer for how poorly they handled my difficulties, I still have a job, my salary is intact, and we’ve found a way to work and communicate with each other better. Infertility, treatment fails, and baby loss is a desperately hard enough road to travel, without adding work worries on top, but I am hopeful that things are starting to change in small companies like mine, in big corporations, and in work culture more broadly, in large part thanks to Claire and the rest of the team at Fertility Matters at Work.”

“The webinar today was absolutely fantastic. As a Store Manager it’s important to me that we create a space for colleagues where we open up the conversation around fertility treatment and pregnancy loss. By sharing their personal stories, Natalie and Becky together with our colleagues have really helped me to understand the challenging journey to parenthood and how we can all be more supportive.”

– SAM THOMPSON
Store Manager, Central Co-op

“I just wanted to drop a quick message to say thank you for organising such a valuable talk today. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 I was fortunate to go through the egg retrieval process before I started chemo. It’s really reassuring that we are moving forward as a company to put policies in place that may affect me personally in the future.”

– ATG

“The panel was brilliant and so clearly set out actionable guidance for speaking with and supporting colleagues and line managers – I think lots of us could empathise with some of the traps we fall into when wanting to reassure someone or contribute to the conversation and it has given a way forward to more meaningful, validating support for people.”

– Stephanie Root
Senior People Advisor, Clarion Solicitors

“From our own personal experiences of fertility treatment whilst in the workplace, the great work that Becky, Claire and Natalie do at Fertility Matters at Work resonated so much that we were delighted to have them support our events for National Fertility Awareness Week 2021. From sharing their own personal experiences and the research they’ve conducted, they really helped bring to life the work we’re already doing across Virgin Media O2 about infertility and fertility treatment, to raise awareness, understanding and support for people going through fertility challenges whilst in the workplace.”

– Jo Howard
Nokia UDB Programme Manager – Core & IT Programmes

“We believe that everyone has the right to start a family and we know the stress, hurt and financial impact that fertility issues can bring. When one of our employees told us about Fertility Matters at work, I signed up to one of their webinars and was blown away by the passion, care and energy the team were putting into raising awareness of supporting employees with fertility matters. We knew that Fertility Matters at Work would be an ideal organisation to help guide us on our journey. Since then we’re proud to be one of the first organisations in the UK to be working with the team to become ‘Fertility Friendly’. Whatever their path to starting a family, we want to know we have done all we can to support our employees and I know that working with Fertility Matters at Work will give us the reassurance that we are doing that.”

– Rebecca upton
Head of HR, RHP

“I just wanted to send a quick note to say thank you for today and for sharing your story Yvonne. I don’t really have the right words to express what it means to have something like this network and moments like today at ATG, so will just say thank you again.”

– ATG

“Thank you to Natalie and Becky at Fertility Matters at Work. During the webinar today, you covered a difficult topic sensitively and professionally. You created a safe space for colleagues to share their powerful and inspiring stories and we’ve learnt how we can be more understanding and supporting of our colleagues who are experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss.”

– LEE BEVAN
Head of Funeral, Central Co-op

“Family planning is such a significant life experience and it can be a very exciting time. At the same time, infertility and pregnancy loss is a reality that many people are continuing to face, alongside legal and parental eligibility challenges, that can make the journey to parenthood a heart-breaking process. At Criteo we recognise that this is an important life experience and we aim to create a work environment of support and understanding, demonstrating our commitment to our employees’ well-being, and giving them the best opportunities to pursue their dreams of starting or expanding their families. Fertility Matters at Work’s mission was in total adequation with our commitments. They bring passion to raise awareness and educate on how fertility issues can have a direct impact on both organizations and their employees and offer great support resources available for all Criteos (e-learning, training, panel discussions etc.).”

– Nancy Siba
Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist at Criteo

“It is vital that the physical and mental strain fertility puts on individuals is recognised in the workplace because that strain doesn’t stop the moment someone opens up their laptop or walks through the office door. Our DE&I strategy looks to support our people, whoever they are, whatever they are going through and wherever they are in their journey through life. As part of that we need to ensure that people don’t feel that their only option is to step out of the workplace when it comes to starting a family. Parenthood is not easy on anyone, it’s even more difficult when challenges arise on the path to get there. We are so pleased to be partnering with Fertility Matters at Work on our journey and it’s important to us that we really show Iris as fertility friendly when we educate, raise awareness and offer more support for those on a more difficult path to parenthood.”

– Harriet Shurville
Global Chief People Officer, Iris

“I highly recommend the team at Fertility at Work for all their fertility education and awareness sessions. The team of experts delivered informative and engaging sessions that greatly improved the knowledge of all things fertility to our whole organisation. The materials are well-organized and easy to understand. The co-founders were highly experienced, provided valuable insights and truly opened up the conversation within the workplace. I truly feel that the Fertility at work team have transformed the landscape at work and we are so grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a great team.”

– Sheena Amin-Liebman
Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Fishawack Health

“Partnering with Fertility Matters at Work has given us confidence to take the steps towards becoming an inclusive employer for those dealing with infertility. It is a sensitive topic, and not something widely talked about at work, and we have benefitted from guidance around the actions we should take and how to position them. Our new policy and launch event, both of which IMAW supported with, have both landed really well in the business and we are looking forward to further collaboration.”

– Mary Peterson
Head of Responsible Business, Addleshaw Goddard

A pioneering event uniting leading fertility and wellbeing experts to guide employers in creating inclusive fertility policies and practices

Tuesday 3rd November 2026, 1pm-6pm