Paid fertility leave essential for 'fairness and consistency'
GMB Union – Britain’s third largest union - has thrown its support behind a campaign calling for the legal right to paid time off for IVF treatment.
Alice Macdonald MP, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, will today [4 November] present a Ten Minute Rule Bill to Parliament that would give people a statutory right to paid time off for fertility appointments.
GMB is backing her bill, to ensure fairness and consistency across workplaces, and echoing wider calls to combat the stigma surrounding IVF and infertility.
Fraser Welsh, 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.”
Alice Macdonald, Labour and Co-operative MP For Norwich North, said:
“The current gap in the law affects many people - particularly women - who, during an already challenging time, face yet another obstacle.
“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.”
Lisa Bangs, GMB Senior Organiser, said:
“Fertility treatments take a physical and emotional toll, and we too often hear from members who struggle to manage this alongside their job when they have no entitlement to time off.
“The introduction of a statutory right to paid fertility leave is essential to ensure fairness and consistency across workplaces.”
