Firms not supporting staff through IVF could lose £217m in hidden costs, study shows

The report estimates that providing 10 days’ paid fertility leave costs £388, and is cheaper than providing five days, which costs £434, due to productivity gains from carefully planned absence. Photograph: Maskot/Getty Images

UK employers who do not formally support staff undergoing fertility treatments could be losing £217.3m a year in sick leave, lost productivity and resignations, research estimates.

Companies without fertility leave pay £35,317 per affected employee, compared with a cost of £388 for 10 days’ paid leave when a clear fertility policy is in place, the campaign group Fertility Matters at Work estimated.