Ivf appointment and work

[Kittens85]

Hello everyone

First time poster.

Am due to start my stims mid jan. Am struggle with work being difficult regarding time off. They want exact dates and exactly how long I will need off. I have tried to explain I can give a rough guideline providing everything goes to plan.
I have been very transparent and said I am at high risk of OSHH and these are the risks and what could happen.
I have given the dates that I am expected to have scans, collection and transfer.
However said this could change.

They have made it very clear this is inconvenient for them. My job requires someone to cover me as I am the only receptionist. I understand that. However there surely needs to be slight flexibility regarding dates?

I'm just here to rant. I find this so bloody unfair that the have added this stress to me. I have been as transparent as I can. There's nothing more I can do!

Sorry you have the stress of work as well as the stress of starting IVF, it's so upsetting your company doesn't show sympathy for personal life! Do you have the option to use holidays and book off a chunk at a time? Sending you lots of luck for your cycles 💛

@Kittens85 have you contacted HR to see if the company has an IVF policy? A lot of companies do these days.

I do have holiday however, my point was that this isn't holiday this is medicinal, and taking all that off in one chunk in January means I have nothing for the year at all and that will mean I won't be able to go visit my parents or go on my honeymoon.
I've not asked to be paid for the time off even. I don't think I am being unreasonable.

No ivf policy.
There isn't even a pregnancy or maternity clause in our HR documents.

No you shouldn't at all, I completely agree with you!
I am allowed the time off but it is unpaid, I luckily do have spare holidays to use so I am but by choice.
Have you contacted your HR department or is it them that are wanting exact dates?
Maybe speak to your GP and look at being signed off as an option

This :)

The scans required are the scans required (not much flexibility as they need to track follicles growth to advise on dosage change, if any); and depending how far your clinic is from home, this can just be a few hours in the morning.

You will most likely need a day off for collection (sick or planned) as you will be under sedation and especially if you are at risk of OHSS.

Transfer is more straightforward, so similar timing to scans I would say. Although that also depends on how how busy they are, who they see before you etc. My clinic does collections in the mornings, and transfers in the afternoon - and my transfer was delayed by an hour last time.

IVF is a stressful process and you have to try to be as stress-free as possible to get the best outcome. I hope you can come to an agreement with your work.

@waitingforourmiracle we don't actually have a Hr department as such. It's done by payroll. It's my actual boss who wants the dates.
I'm going to see about getting signed off. It's over whelming as it is and it's not helpful having people breathing down your neck right.

That's good you had the option.

@Kittens85 sending love, good luck x

@Kittens85 if my work were being like this I would definitely be looking into get a sick note from your doctor for the duration of your treatment. Sorry you had to have this added stress at an already stressful time! Hope your treatment goes well!

I would just get a sick note. My work couldn’t have been kinder. They were great and it made all the difference.

Not sure if this would be any use to you, but I casually sent this link to my manager of the new bill that will (hopefully) be coming in by the end of next year which basically means fertility appointments will need to be treated the same as maternity appointment with the same level of protection under law.
Made a slight difference as I just said they may need to re-asses their policies as going forward they will need to by law 🙃

https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3235

@Kittens85 this is so frustrating and shows your manager has no understanding of IVF! The scans and procedures need to follow your own body, they can't be planned in advance. Unfortunately the law is not on our side, the only time it is is after a transfer when you are considered pregnant and then all laws related to pregnancy in the workplace apply. I was lucky that my clinic could scan be first thing in the morning so I was back before work started. For procedures I'd ask my clinic when do they expect the collection/ procedure to fall and book off a few days and after as annual leave, then when I got closer to the time reduce the leave down when I knew more. That may not work for others though if cover needs to be arranged in advance.

@Futurethinker I've followed this bill for a while and the MPs backing it have always said it won't get through but it will draw attention to the issue, has this progressed on so it now might get through? I hope so.

@Kittens85 sorry to hear you're having that experience.

Hope this link helps, which provides guidance on IVF in the workplace. Long and short of it is they have to treat it the same as any other medical appointment in the business. If it is not, then it is possible sex discrimination.

www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights/having-ivf-treatment#:~:text=There's%20no%20legal%20right%20for,check%20your%20contract%20for%20this.