Latest news with #WorkplaceFertilitySupportGuide
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Career setbacks cited in S'pore survey of people seeking fertility help
SINGAPORE – Some 41 per cent of respondents who struggled to conceive said in a poll that fertility treatment affected their work, with 13 per cent saying they quit their jobs to undergo such treatment. Top workplace challenges cited were seeking approval for time off (34 per cent), career progression setbacks (31 per cent) and getting their colleagues' understanding (15 per cent). These findings come from a sensing poll in June by non-profit initiative Fertility Support Singapore, which surveyed 504 of its members – 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men – who have faced fertility struggles. The poll aims to shed light on the workplace experiences of those facing infertility, defined as an inability to conceive after 12 months of trying. Results were released on July 25 at an event hosted by Fertility Support Singapore to mark World IVF Day. The demand for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in Singapore has grown, with more couples delaying marriage and childbirth, and seeking medical help to have a baby. Giving a speech at the event, Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, called for more companies to provide fertility benefits such as paid time off and training for managers, so that employees can pursue both personal and work commitments. 'You have the power to create workplaces where employees feel seen, heard and supported, and where talent feel cherished and stand ready to give their all in return to support your business needs. That is a win-win outcome,' she said. Ms Indranee, who assists in overseeing the National Population and Talent Division, including the marriage and parenthood portfolio, said the Government has provided 75 per cent co-funding for eligible couples to receive assisted reproduction technology treatments for up to three fresh and three frozen cycles at public healthcare institutions. Fertility Support Singapore was started in 2020 by a group of women facing infertility, to advocate for better support for individuals navigating challenges here. On July 25, the group launched a Workplace Fertility Support Guide to help companies better support employees. The guide provides practical tools such as an e-mail template for those going through fertility treatments to raise the matter to bosses, the typical IVF timeline and medical leave required, and tips on how to talk to colleagues undergoing treatment. The guide can be found at To understand the barriers to fertility support in the workplace, Fertility Support Singapore partnered with market research firm Milieu Insight to conduct a study in March with 400 Singaporeans aged 25 to 55. The survey found public awareness to be lacking, with 62 per cent not knowing what fertility support is. Some 77 per cent of respondents perceive a trade-off between work and pursuing such treatments. Nearly 60 per cent of people would be interested in joining a new employer that offers fertility benefits, results showed. Only 27 per cent said their companies provided some form of fertility benefits, such as flexible work hours to attend appointments, and paid or unpaid leave for treatment. Ms Rosalyn Wee and her husband sought help from a fertility specialist after a year of trying to conceive. The educational therapist and project lead, who underwent IVF, did not tell her boss as she felt fertility treatments were personal. 'It doesn't really occur to you how painful emotionally and physically discomfiting it is, until you actually go through it,' she said. Her first embryo transfer ended in failure. The news came while she was in an important meeting. 'That really broke me,' she said. She decided to open up to her bosses, who offered both paid and unpaid leave for treatment. After taking 10 weeks of no-pay leave for another IVF cycle, Ms Wee successfully conceived in August 2023. Another mum, Mrs Rafidah Jalil, 39, had just been promoted and was managing a team at a bank when she decided to start a family at 31. Her first IVF cycle was successful. At 34, she tried IVF again but felt more stress due to greater work responsibilities and a lower egg count. But her bosses were supportive, and she could work flexibly, which helped her through the process. She is now a proud mum of a seven-year-old son and four-year-old boy-girl twins. Global healthcare company Merck, which sponsored the Fertility Support Singapore study, offers a lifetime cap of €100,000 (S$150,234) for fertility treatments, including IVF, elective egg freezing and male infertility treatments. Employees can get 90 per cent of their eligible fertility expenses reimbursed by the company. Ms Pixie Yee, general manager of Merck Healthcare Malaysia and Singapore, said the company has seen 79 claims amounting to $160,000 since the benefit was introduced in March 2024. Merck has 429 employees in Singapore. Ms Yee said she hopes to create a safe space where employees feel comfortable to tell their bosses about their fertility journey, to avoid any misunderstandings. 'Most people, when they have a very supportive manager, they will share,' she added. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Straits Times
25-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Time off, career setbacks: New S'pore survey on fertility challenges at workplaces
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Rafidah Jalil with her husband Mimrah Mahmooh, their seven-year-old son Mika Mimrah, and four-year-old twins Maira Mimrah and Abdul Matin Mimrah. SINGAPORE - Some 41 per cent of respondents who struggled to conceive said in a poll that fertility treatment affected their work, with 13 per cent saying they quit their jobs to undergo such treatment. Top workplace challenges cited were seeking approval for time off (34%), career progression setbacks (31%), and getting their colleagues' understanding (15%). These findings come from a sensing poll in June by non-profit initiative Fertility Support Singapore, which surveyed 504 of its members - 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men - who have faced fertility struggles. The poll aims to shed light on the workplace experiences of those facing infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of trying. Results were released on July 25 at an event hosted by Fertility Support Singapore to mark World IVF Day. The demand for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in Singapore has grown, with more couples delaying marriage and childbirth, and seeking medical help to have a baby. Giving a speech at the event, Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, called on more companies to provid e fertility benefits such as paid time off and training for managers, so that employees can pursue both personal and work commitments. 'You have the power to create workplaces where employees feel seen, heard, and supported, and where talents feel cherished and stand ready to give their all in return to support your business needs. That is a win-win outcome,' she said. Ms Indranee, who assists in overseeing the National Population and Talent Division, including the marriage and parenthood portfolio, said the Government has provided 75 per cent co-funding for eligible couples to receive Assisted Reproduction Technology treatments for up to three fresh and three frozen cycles at public healthcare institutions. Fertility Support Singapore was started in 2020 by a group of women facing infertility, to advocate for better support for individuals navigating fertility challenges here. On July 25, the group also launched a Workplace Fertility Support Guide to help companies better support employees. The guide provides practical tools such as a email template for those going through fertility treatments to raise the matter to bosses, t he typical IVF timeline and medical leave required, and tips on how to talk to colleagues undergoing treatment. The guide can be found at / To understand the barriers to fertility support in the workplace, Fertility Support Singapore also partnered market research firm Milieu Insight to conduct a study in March with 400 Singaporeans aged 25 to 55. The survey found public awareness to be lacking, with 62 per cent not knowing what fertility support is. Some 77 per cent of respondents perceive there to be a tradeoff between work and pursuing such treatments. Nearly 60 per cent of people would be interested in joining a new employer that offers fertility benefits, results showed. Yet only 27 per cent said their companies offered some form of fertility benefits, such as flexible work hours to attend appointments, and paid or unpaid leave for treatment. Ms Rosalyn Wee and her husband sought help from a fertility specialist after a year of trying to conceive. Ms Rosalyn Wee with her husband Shaun Low after her embryo transfer in August 2023, which resulted in successful pregnancy. PHOTO: ROSALYN WEE The educational therapist and project lead, who underwent IVF, did not tell her boss as she felt fertility treatments were personal. 'It doesn't really occur to you how painful emotionally and physically discomfitting it is, until you actually go through it,' she said. Her first embryo transfer ended up in failure. The news came while she was in an important meeting. 'That really broke me,' she said. She decided to open up to her bosses, who offered both paid and unpaid leave for treatment. After taking 10 weeks of no-pay leave for another IVF cycle, Ms Wee successfully conceived in August 2023. Another mum, Mrs Rafidah Jalil, 39, had just been promoted and was managing a team at a bank when she decided to start a family at 31. Her first IVF cycle was successful. At 34, she tried IVF again but felt more stress due to greater work responsibilities and a lower egg count. But her bosses were supportive, and she could work flexibly, which helped her through the process. She is now a proud mum of a seven-year-old son and four-year-old boy-girl twins. Global health care company Merck, which sponsored the Fertility Support Singapore study , offers a lifetime cap of EUR 100,000 for fertility treatments, including IVF, elective egg freezing, and male infertility treatments. Employees can get 90 per cent of their eligible fertility expenses reimbursed by the company. Ms Pixie Yee, general manager of Merck Healthcare Malaysia and Singapore, said Merck has seen 79 claims amounting to $160,000 since the benefit was introduced in March 2024. Merck has 429 employees in Singapore. Ms Yee said she hopes to create a safe space where employees feel comfortable to tell their bosses about their fertility journey , to avoid any misunderstandings. 'Most people, when they have a very supportive manager, they will share,' she said.
CNA
25-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
Fertility Support SG launches workplace fertility guide to better support women navigating IVF
Fertility Support SG (FSS), a social advocacy group, released on Friday (Jul 25) the country's first set of workplace guidelines, the Workplace Fertility Support Guide, aimed at supporting employees undergoing fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The release of the 39-page guidebook coincides with World IVF Day, which celebrates advancements in fertility medicine and the significance of IVF for couples who hope to start a family. It is one of several initiatives by FSS aimed at raising understanding about infertility in Singapore. The guidebook was developed as FSS recognised a significant lack of awareness around how fertility treatments can affect both employees and the workplace environment. It cited issues such as the fear of stigma and judgment, unintended career consequences, and a lack of workplace recognition of fertility as a well-being issue. All these contribute to why many women choose to keep their fertility journeys a secret from their colleagues. Christine Ong, vice president of FSS, who went through seven embryo transfers and three miscarriages, described the experience as 'leading a double life'. '[It's] one where I was a competent, reliable professional going about my job, and another where I was quietly grieving, hoping, and sometimes falling apart,' the mother of three said. FSS came about in 2020, started by a small group of women who wanted to offer emotional and social support to other women struggling with infertility. Rafidah Jalil, one of the advocacy group's early members, and now a mum of three, said: 'When I was trying to conceive, the odds felt stacked against me. 'I was managing so many things at work, but I was also trying not to let my body and mind fall apart. The physical struggle was so tough, and the emotional weight was even heavier,' added the 39-year-old, who was a senior manager at a global bank when she went through IVF twice, at ages 31 and 34. 'Fertility challenges don't pause for office hours,' Ong said. 'They require time, flexibility, and emotional bandwidth that can be hard to reconcile with workplace expectations, and that's where the guidelines come in.' It also outlines recommendations for managers and colleagues, such as being flexible with work arrangements, ways to express verbal support, and understanding what a fertility journey can look like for both male and female employees. 'This can help shed light on what it's like for employees going through treatments, without requiring them to explain their situation while already coping with the emotional and physical stress of trying to conceive,' said 39-year-old Rosalyn Wee, a stay-at-home mum of one who was a special needs educator when she was undergoing IVF. To inform its recommendations, FSS conducted two studies: First, a poll of over 400 female and 100 male members in the FSS community; and second, a nationwide study in partnership with market research firm Milieu Insight, which surveyed 242 female and 158 male Singaporeans on fertility-related workplace experiences. In the national study, only 27 per cent of respondents felt their companies offered benefits to accommodate fertility treatment, such as flexible work or paid leave. Meanwhile, 77 per cent said they had to make career sacrifices while undergoing treatment or accompanying their spouses to appointments. From the FSS community poll, 13 per cent reported leaving their jobs entirely to prioritise their TTC journey. The studies also revealed certain workplace arrangements respondents felt would benefit employees in their fertility journey. For example, more than half of the respondents in the national study said they would appreciate more flexible working hours to accommodate appointments. While the guidelines are not enforceable and are not mandatory for companies to follow, they are meant to spark broader conversations, said Simran Toor, a 46-year-old lawyer and FSS board member, who underwent IVF at age 44 and helped develop the guidelines. SUPPORT FOR COUPLES LOOKING TO CONCEIVE Singapore's total fertility rate fell to a record low of 0.97 in 2024. Despite this, demand for fertility treatment is rising, driven by later-in-life marriages and changing family planning choices, the FSS studies noted. The World Health Organization also found that in 2023, infertility affects one in six adults globally, up from one in eight five years prior. 'This makes it all the more important to ensure women going through treatment don't have to choose between their jobs and the chance to start a family,' Toor said. 'Some companies may think these guidelines are just a mere wellness benefit, but it is not – businesses stand to benefit financially and economically from caring for staff navigating fertility treatments.' She highlighted that companies should care because when employees feel supported, it boosts morale, talent attraction, and retention. The guidebook noted how fertility support signals long-term investment in employees' lives beyond work, enhances corporate reputation, and reflects openness to evolving social norms. 'There's no one-size-fits-all, and that's why these are guidelines – every workplace needs to recognise the needs of its workforce and tailor their policies, even on a micro level,' Toor said. 'This is an entry point to a national conversation, one that empowers women to initiate discussions with their supervisors and normalises support for fertility in the workplace. 'It's very crucial to ensure women – and men – going through treatment don't have to choose between their jobs and the chance to start a family.'
