One in three young workers want workplace fertility benefits

More than 30 percent of workers, aged 18 to 34, believe treatments such as egg freezing or subsidised IVF should be a workplace benefit. This was revealed in a survey of 2,000 workers by advisory firm Willis Towers Watson.

The survey found almost half (47 percent) of workers, in the above age group, cited the high cost of private treatment as the biggest reason for wanting fertility benefits from their employer.

More than 40 percent of workers said they were concerned about restricted NHS treatment, while 26 percent believed the benefits would offer improved career opportunities and 24 percent said it would reduce time the pressures of having children too quickly.

The research also found there are an increasing number of employers across the US supporting employees on their path to parenthood.

Mike Blake, Willis Towers Watson’s wellbeing lead, said: “Their (US) counterparts in the UK should consider the recruitment and retention benefits of following their lead.”

However, Willis Towers Watson found almost one in four UK workers said that if their employer were to offer egg freezing as a benefit, they would view this as a selfish attempt to retain talent for longer.

Blake added: “While companies may appear forward-thinking and supportive by offering fertility treatments, employers should tread carefully to avoid a backlash.”

“The introduction of egg freezing as a benefit, for example – notably among the tech giants of Silicon Valley – has sparked controversy in some quarters and can risk raising suspicions around employer motivations.”