Almost one in four employees in the education sector would call in sick before sharing fertility struggles with employers, according to a survey.

The 2023 Workplace Infertility Stigma Survey, conducted by Fertility Family, found that half of workplaces in the education sector do not have a supportive workplace policy for employees struggling with their fertility. One in five (20%) feared they would not be promoted or would miss out on future opportunities if their employer knew they were trying for a child.

However the survey also found that the education sector had the highest proportion of employees who were comfortable speaking to their colleagues about fertility (two in five).

When asked what support they wanted from their manager or employer, the majority said  flexible working to leave for fertility-related appointments (76%), followed by paid compassionate leave (60%) and having all employees trained on fertility issues, including how to address these conversations with colleagues (30%).

Kate Palmer, director of HR advice and consultancy at Peninsula, which provides human resources, employment law, and health and safety services to small businesses, said it was important for managers to create a culture of open communication and support.

“Doing so allows employees to ask for the help they need, which in turn contributes towards increased productivity, satisfaction and retention,” she said. “Introducing mental health first aiders and/or appointing fertility champions can be a great starting point for raising awareness about, and showing support for, those experiencing fertility struggles. Such people can be a point of contact for those who may not want to discuss this with a line manager or member of the HR team.”