Covid / IVF - what's a reasonable expectation of employer?

[TurbulentTomato]

My wife and I have been trying to conceive for 3 years and on the IVF waiting list for 2. We've now reached top of the queue and have circa 6 weeks of treatment until the first fertilised egg is implanted and we start to hope.

As you can imagine, getting here has been pretty traumatic and an emotional rollercoaster, but we are here now.

One curve ball we have just been told is that should either of us get covid in the next 6 weeks, then the whole IVF treatment is off and we will have to wait another 3-7months. I work from home so I'm golden and pretty safe. My wife however is a teacher.

She spoke to her covid rep / H&S rep today to outline her concerns and ask for a risk assessment. Answer was "just to wear her mask and they'd give her some disinfectant spray". However the School will not support time off for IVF treatment but will give some time off, and I quote "out the goodness of their hearts"

The nuclear option is we have my wife signed off work from the Dr for the 6 weeks to keep us safe, and I don't think we want to go there yet, but the School's response seems underwhelming.

Bearing in mind, my wife has this morning alone, spoken with 3 people all of whom have covid positive partners or children at home and were not wearing masks.

Question being, under the circumstances what are the reasonable expectations we could expect the school to take to safeguard my wife?

Edit - I should note time "time off" the school are offering is just so she can attend her hospital appointments, no more.

Ugh, I hate this for you guys. Has she spoken to her Union rep? They are probably well placed to advise what employers should be offering.

There isn't really any legislation covering what an employer "should" offer in these circumstances and Your wife isn't protected under pregnancy legislation until she has done the transfer and then in the 2ww she is considered pregnant until proven otherwise

It's a tough one and very personal to your circumstances and employer but I'd think it was unreasonable to expect significant adjustments from your employer for fertility treatment and being "signed off" I think I'd feel embarrassed to do that to my employer (and colleagues) sorry (I did 5 rounds of IVF so I know how hard it is juggling treatment with work) but you could feasibly have several rounds and transfers in the space of a year...

She presumably hasn't caught it this far through 4 waves and numbers are now dropping so whatever she's been doing so far to avoid catching it must be working?

"She presumably hasn't caught it this far through 4 waves and numbers are now dropping so whatever she's been doing so far to avoid catching it must be working?"

Whilst that's a good point, the kids this week no longer have to wear face masks for the first time since goodness knows when. Also we got infected via school when the kids went back after the first lockdown in 2020, but that wouldn't stop a second re-infection now.

The Dr's at the clinic told my wife to WFH, but on finding out she was a teacher, said to get a risk assessment done by the H&S chap. He today declined to do that and it feels the school are doing the bare minimum -they frankly don't care despite it still being rife in school.

One could presume it's after all not in their best interests for my wife to become pregnant and have to go through the hassle of recruiting mat leave cover.

We have discussed her taking a career break, and if we were to tighten things a lot could hopefully make it work financially for a couple of years, but even if she handed notice in now, she would have to work up 'till probably xmas...

It's just frustrating - after such a turbulent and emotional few years to be so close and yet feel like it's just going to be whipped away at the last moment due to an employer saying "not our problem".

@TurbulentTomato sorry you are going through this, I felt the same while waiting for my FET. Would the clinic consider providing your wife with a letter saying that she needs to WFH for some time?

Is it possible to wfh for extended periods as a teacher? I imagined you’d need to be with your students most days . 6 weeks is a long time
Could she take it as holiday or part of it as holiday ?
Could she ask for unpaid leave?
Failing all that, I would probably try the GP for a note but I’m sure that wouldn’t be looked at favourably if they already said no.

That is really shit @TurbulentTomato - I am a teacher too so I know the drill. Could she do things like ask them if she can avoid assembly and large gatherings? If I were her and that was their stance, I would tap in and tap out exactly on my hours. Take marking or whatever home, but don't stay in the building any longer than is necessary. I think that is a crap attitude from them. I do think she should ask for unpaid leave - this way, her salary can cover for a supply teacher (I understand this isn't ideal and you may not be in a position to do that). Hope this works out for you!