UK employers ‘risk losing good people’ without policies on infertility, say managers

Survey by Chartered Management Institute finds only 19% of companies have a policy in place

• Exhaustive, expensive and soul-destroying': one NHS worker's infertility journey

Employers should have formal policies in place to help workers who are undergoing fertility treatment, the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has said, warning that businesses are increasingly losing talented people by failing to support them.

With NHS data showing that one in every seven couples have difficulty conceiving, the professional body urged companies to be understanding and supportive, and offer flexible work hours and paid time off to accommodate medical appointments, as well as paid compassionate leave when necessary.