What are the effects of fertility care on the workforce?

A new study by Mount Royal researchers, done in partnership with Fertility Alberta, is shedding light on fertility care and how it impacts Alberta’s workforce.

“Employees Accessing Fertility Care: Perceptions of Effective and Supportive Government and Employer Policies” examines the experiences of Albertans navigating fertility treatment while working.

Led by Dr. Rachael Pettigrew PhD, professor and chair of the Department of General Management and Human Resources, the study surveyed 206 fertility patients from across Alberta and included four focus groups. Dr. Sarah Orton, PhD, and Dr. Carol Armstrong, PhD, both from MRU’s Department of Biology, also worked on the study, which was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Infertility affects men and women at equal rates. An estimated one in six people of reproductive age will face infertility, making up approximately 250,000 Albertans. Many others, including members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and individuals pursuing single parenthood, also rely on fertility care to build their families.

Ten is the average number of fertility interventions that participants went through, including methods like in-vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination and frozen embryo transfers, among others.

In Alberta, this care is not publicly funded, leaving many families facing significant financial barriers. Survey respondents reported spending a cumulative average out-of-pocket cost of $35,000 per family, with an additional $7,000 spent on things like counselling, travel, supplements and legal and other fees.

More than 60 per cent of respondents reported seeking outside financial assistance for their treatments, with only 21 per cent of respondents saying their employer offered benefits to cover fertility care related costs.

“This research highlights the significant financial barriers facing Albertans who want to build their families but require reproductive health care to do so,” says Michelle Chidley, chair of the Fertility Alberta Advocacy and Outreach Association.

The results of the survey show that employees are navigating fertility care while still trying to meet the demands of their jobs, often without clear policies or support.

Sixty-five per cent of respondents experienced negative work impacts and only 39 per cent described their workplace culture as supportive of their fertility journey.

Fertility treatments also impact productivity in the workplace. Eighty-two per cent of survey respondents have taken time off for treatments, missing an average of 18.7 days.

The data from the study has been synthesized into two reports; one aimed at employers and the other aimed at the provincial government.

The reports suggest that by implementing inclusive family building benefits, flexible leave policies and a supportive culture, employers can lessen the financial, emotional and logistical burdens faced by Albertans who require assisted reproductive technologies.

“Demand has been steadily increasing for fertility care, but employers and the government have been slow to respond with policies and practices that can support employees,” Pettigrew says.

“Employee-supportive policies are essential for recruiting and retaining key staff, as well as insulating them from potential negative impacts on their work. However, policies developed must be inclusive.”

Chidley highlights the survey’s finding that only 21 per cent of participants reported having access to family building coverage through workplace benefits.

“This gap is a clear call to action for Alberta employers to strengthen support for their employees.”

Watch Orton’s interview on CTV Your Morning Calgary, where she discusses her research and expertise in the field of fertility.