Talking openly about fertility and baby loss
We observed World Fertility Day on November 2nd to raise awareness about global fertility issues and support anyone contemplating or undertaking a parenthood journey. Fertility’s such a deeply personal and often challenging subject for many and we’re keen to offer whatever help we can, sharing useful information and resources so people can understand what’s involved and make informed decisions.
Did you know one in six couples experience fertility difficulties? Those who do are often too embarrassed or even ashamed to share their stories, irrationally feeling they’ve failed in some way. There’s a huge stigma around the subject. At First Central we foster a caring environment where people feel safe to talk openly about whatever life throws at them. Wellbeing’s at the very core of our colleague experience and fertility, including the heartache of baby loss, can profoundly affect people’s mental, emotional and physical health. That’s why we provide a wealth of tools to sensitively support them through their reality. As well as offering time off for fertility treatment we encourage all our managers to develop authentic connections with colleagues so they know what’ll help, whether that’s flexible working arrangements to cover medical appointments or simply a compassionate, listening ear.
Colleague Stories
Our Chief People Officer, Jo McGowan, was recently brave enough to be open about her own IVF and fertility story in the Insurance Post. You can read it here. Although admitting it was nerve wracking to be so vulnerable, especially in the context of her career, she recognised how important it is we all keep having difficult conversations so we can promote better inclusivity in the workplace. Inclusivity isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a key driver of business growth and success and First Central hugely values its significant importance. Jo shared her gratitude for the understanding the leadership team showed her, particularly our CEO Michael Lee:
“I and my partner went through several unsuccessful rounds of IVF before deciding not to pursue parenthood any longer. The support and compassion I received from my manager Michael Lee and senior colleagues helped make sure I could continue operating in my Exec-level role during this testing time. It’s made me an even greater advocate of making certain our colleagues receive vital support during such periods as well as committing towards flexibility as an employer.”
And, Jo’s not the only colleague who’s felt comfortable enough to share their personal fertility story, a powerful means of fostering a sense of community and honesty. Rachel Glennon says “Many topics relating to women, their health and experiences are still seen as taboo and not talked about as openly as they could be. I’d encourage people to talk more and not be afraid to share too much information or ask too many questions.” Read Rachel’s story here.
First Central’s authentic, people-centric culture.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) communities, a ‘Women in Leadership’ initiative and a robust mentoring programme are just some of the ways we reinforce our pledge towards nurturing a thriving, diverse environment. We continuously review our policies and practices so they’re fair; we recently revised our maternity and paternity packages to reflect varied family units (they now talk about primary parents and co-parents). Encouraging a culture of inclusivity is essential for businesses to achieve their full potential and insurance is no exception. There’s always more to do but we’re proud of the progress we’ve made and are honoured by the recognition we’ve received via several industry awards, including ‘Best Insurance Employer’ at this year's British Insurance Awards. What’s next? We’ll continue to focus on breaking down barriers to promote a more diverse industry in which talented people can thrive, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, circumstances or religion.
Fertility support
Anyone who’s interested in learning about infertility or who needs help can check out the following resources:
It’s important to keep talking.
