^ 1. Nickie led the debate on her Fertility Treatment (Employment Rights) Private Members' Bill in Parliament. 2. Nickie joined Becky Kearns and Natalie Sutherland at the In/Fertility in the City event.
One in six couples are affected by infertility and turn to IVF, but currently, employees must take time off to attend early stages of IVF treatment.
Unlike employment legislation for pregnancy, maternity and paternity antenatal care, there is no requirement for employers to give time off work for IVF treatment.
Furthermore, most workplace protection policies exclude “elective” medical processes, placing fertility treatment in the same category as cosmetic surgery.
Nickie believes IVF treatment should be categorised as antenatal and thus patients be given the same work rights. Nickie is campaigning to secure a change in the law to ensure individuals and couples are given the rights they deserve at what is already an incredibly stressful time. Nickie was pleased to meet with Paul Scully MP, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets, to raise her campaign and look at the legislative routes to effect change.
In June 2022, Nickie brought forward legislation via a Private Members' Bill which if passed by Parliament would give those going through IVF treatment the right to paid leave for medical appointments. Nickie's Bill had its Second Reading in November 2022. Unfortunately, owing to Parliamentary procedure, the Bill was 'spoken out', but over the coming months, Nickie will be lobbying Ministers and colleagues to make the case for why this legislation is crucial. Following the King's Speech, Nickie brought her Bill back to Parliament and it will have its Second Reading on 1 March 2024.
Catch Nickie's conversation with Becky Kearns and Claire Ingle from Fertility Matters at Work and Natalie Sutherland from Burgess Mee, a law firm that helps families with fertility law.
Nickie also sat down with Anya Sizer of Fertility Network UK and racing driver, Toby Trice, who advocates for better awareness around fertility treatment. Listen to their conversation and hear more about what they had to say.
If you back Nickie, let her know by signing her petition below.
Fertility Workplace Pledge
At the same time, Nickie has embarked on a national campaign, the Fertility Workplace Pledge, to support people in the workplace going through fertility treatment. Working alongside Fertility Matters at Work, Burgess Mee Family Law, and Fertility Network UK, the Fertility Workplace Pledge is a set of simple and voluntary commitments, designed to benefit millions of individuals and couples going through fertility treatment.
It's already supported by major national companies including, NatWest Group, Co-op, Channel 4, and UK Hospitality. Read more about the pledge here.
