There’s nothing ‘elective’ about fertility struggles
By Kerrie Turner
Before I was remotely close to being at the ‘having babies’ stage of life, I remember a colleague telling me she was going through IVF and that she thought she was doing the right thing by being open with our workplace… until she was told she would need to use annual leave for any appointments she needed to attend because it was “elective”. It upset her, and it certainly didn’t seem right to me – there’s nothing ‘elective’ about fertility struggles, surely?
Her experience stuck with me, because when – almost 10 years later - I was faced with the need for fertility treatment to help me fall pregnant, I opted to keep quiet and not let my workplace know what I was going through. Where I could, I made my appointments outside of my work hours. But when I needed time off work for my egg collection, I simply said I was having a procedure which required day surgery and I was granted the time off as sick leave. No questions asked. I was back at work the next day, bloated and sore, but getting on with it. So, do workplaces need to be more supportive?
In May 2024, the Queensland Government introduced reproductive health leave. It means public servants in Queensland can access up to 10 days per year, paid reproductive health leave. That leave can be used for each parent to receive fertility/IVF treatment! Amazing!! But why only Queensland? What about the rest of Australia? Come on other states!
Surely, in 2024, it’s time to be as supportive as possible of your employees. I guarantee an employee is going to appreciate an open and honest environment, where a line manager or HR department is supportive and understanding. No judgement. And all the while, knowing their experience is going to be kept confidential. That’s right – no all-staff email to announce that Jane in sales will be away for a couple of days because she’s using some of her reproductive health leave. No one wants to be the subject of water-cooler gossip – and it’s not anyone else’s story to share!
Some people don’t mind who knows, and are open about everything they are going through. Others may choose to keep their fertility struggles a secret, and that is ok. I know all about that – I told basically no one! And explained to my husband why I didn’t want people to know what we were going through. My anxious ways were not going to cope with all the questions!
I chat all about my fertility journey in episode 6 of How Motherhood Changed Me. I hope it helps you feel less alone if you are going through something similar.
