Medically Verified By: Dr Kunzang Dolma, fertility specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Whitefield
Many companies are starting to understand infertility is a stressful process. They are including mental health days into their workplace programs. (Photo: Freepik)
Infertility problems and workplace issues: When a person is dealing with infertility and going through treatment, they are already mentally, emotionally and physically drained. It can lead to them feeling stressed, anxious, and isolated. For people with full-time jobs who face infertility, the struggle is doubled, as it extends beyond medical treatments. It can impact their mental well-being and workplace productivity. Organisations, therefore, must foster a supportive environment that acknowledges these challenges.
Read on to know about the methods of supporting employees battling infertility.
Couples receiving infertility treatments make numerous visits to the doctors. Employees may need sick leaves for treatments or after operations. Voluntary irregular working hours, telecommuting, and privilege leaves for fertility treatment are some policies admitting the medical conditions of the workers without jeopardising the stability and efficiency in their performance, states Dr Kunzang Dolma, fertility specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Whitefield.
Organisations can offer EAPs to address mental health concerns related to infertility. These programs usually provide professional and anonymous counseling services to employees, who can speak with licensed therapists. Organisations can also provide online self-help groups where people experiencing similar problem can interact with each other, Dr Dolma suggests.
Interestingly, fertility treatments are becoming a part of the package that organisations offer to their employees, the doctor states, adding that besides extending reimbursement for treatments like in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI), progressive employers are beginning to include mental health services in connection with infertility in health insurance, too.
Managers can ensure employees experiencing infertility are well-supported. "This means, through training offered to managers regarding infertility issues and likely emotional reactions, adequate support can be met. Informing leadership about discretion and flexibility and how it can be useful to everyone may help build a more forgiving work environment," the doctor states.
Many companies are starting to understand that infertility is a stressful process. They are including mental health days into their workplace programs that enable employees to take a break from work. Aside from mental health days, there should be mindfulness sessions or other stress busters; these include workshops, meditative or stress reduction programs.
Finally, the doctor says that organisational culture 'highly influences' employees' willingness to speak about fertility issues. "The discussions that employers have on such topics make people more accepting of those suffering from such conditions, due to the empathy that employers enable. Promoting policies and mentorship programs that are friendly to fertility can enhance support structures from top to bottom in a way that all employees can find support where they are," Dr Dolma concludes.
