Has anyone asked for temporary workload changes while coping with infertility?

[26birdsong]

Has anyone asked for any adaptions to their role/workload whilst going through infertility? I don’t really mean just when going through an IVF cycle, I mean that but also when you’re totally worn down/burnt out by infertility (and all other life stressors). Part of my role is manageable and part feels stressful - the elements that need me to be emotionally available and support other people’s difficult circumstances. I’m considering asking for a temporary reduction in this part of my workload, rather than taking time off altogether, and picking up some more less-demanding tasks. The challenge with infertility is not knowing when I’ll feel better? So it’s hard to put a time frame on it.
has anyone else done this? Or reduced hours, taken sick leave etc?

just to add - I know some people find work distracting and just want to crack on, but I just don’t unfortunately, and whenever people say this I just feel even more guilty about how I’m feeling 😓

Hi birdsong. I asked for some adaptions to my role whilst preparing and going through IVF but not apart from that. I totally understand where you're coming from though. Do you have an Occy Health team you can get advice from? Take care x

My company has ivf-related time off people can take. I only learned about it after my IVF, unfortunately. I just ploughed throgh work and I wish I hadn't. I wasn't productive whatsoever. It was stressful. Most of my work days went either waiting for calls from the clinic and crying in stairwells or taking pregnancy tests and staring at them at my desk for hours. In addition, I had two early miscarriages that happened while I was at work. I am still traumatised when I go to work bathrooms..... It was rough. Defnitely try to take time off somehow. Hope your experience will be more positive <3

Should have said my company has special leave which I used for IVF appts and procedures.

Thanks both ❤️ yes my employer also gives 3 days per cycle leave to use for IVF. We’ve not even started IVF yet (still waiting), but we’ve had a lot of challenges including early losses and diagnoses plus other life rubbish which have compounded it all.

Could you get signed off work for a week or two with stress, and then when you start back up ask for some adaptions to your role to help you?

Yes my manager was brilliant at trying to reduce my workload a bit where possible. At one point I also had a few weeks off sick after an awful IVF round and mentally I was just not okay (thankfully we had a positive outcome in the end though).

Be kind to yourself and accept as much help/reduction in workload as you can!

The problem with this is infertility can go on for years, it took us 5 years and 7 IVF rounds to get pregnant. Your work should be accommodating whilst you're actively going through treatment but they'd be unlikely to amend your responsibilities for an unknown timeframe. You can also use sick leave for times when you're really struggling.