Discover Fertifa

It’s clear to see that better employee benefits has a huge impact on higher retention rates. However, a discounted gym membership and basic medical care do not meet employee demand.

In recent years, many international law firms, including those in the magic circle, have seen over 25% associate turnover due to burnout, intense competition, and a lack of work-life balance. In response, these firms have enhanced their health insurance to include a wide range of fertility coverage and other reproductive health benefits, resulting in significant improvements in employee happiness, drive, and dedication.

This positive change is a significant step forward in workplace inclusivity by offering coverage for fertility treatments and support. It ensures that all employees, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation or whether they are a single parent, feel supported in pursuing both personal and professional goals.

What are fertility benefits?

Fertility and family forming benefits are a type of employee benefit offered by some employers to support employees undergoing fertility treatments or alternate paths to parenthood. Offering access to fertility benefits helps a company stand out by demonstrating a genuine commitment to supporting employees both in and outside the workplace. These benefits can vary but typically they will include:

• Financial assistance with Fertility Treatments, including coverage for a broad range of procedures such as IVF, intrauterine insemination, sperm freezing, infertility investigations and other fertility services.  
• Infertility Diagnosis/Treatment, offering financial support towards testing and diagnosis to determine fertility issues and seek help if required.
• Counselling and Mental Health Support by acknowledging of the emotional impact of fertility treatments and providing access to therapy sessions.
• Paid Leave for Fertility Treatments, some employers offer paid time off for employees undergoing fertility treatments, allowing people to attend appointments and undergo procedures.
• Adoption and Surrogacy Support and Navigational Advice, offering emotional and logistical support to individuals pursuing adoption or surrogacy. This includes guidance through the process and provision of resources to help manage the emotional aspects.

These benefits are designed to help employees navigate the fertility process and any challenges they may face by offering both financial and emotional support.

Why are law firms offering fertility benefits?

With recruitment and retention being the top challenge for 60% of law firms, and nearly 78% of individuals citing fertility support and family-forming services as a key factor in job decisions, implementing fertility policies is not just a preference, it's essential.

When companies prioritise their employees' wellbeing both personally and professionally, especially during challenging times like reproductive health issues, their drive, ability, and loyalty will grow significantly. This not only boosts their professional performance but also strengthens their commitment to your company and its goals.

The statistics are clear: law firms are increasingly prioritising support for employees facing fertility challenges. As a result, they’re seeing a positive impact on employee retention, with 72% of workers in the UK, across various sectors, saying that access to comprehensive fertility benefits would make them more likely to stay.

15 law firms with the best benefits

A&O Sherman

To retain top female talent, A&O Sherman has incorporated fertility benefits into their employee packages, including five days of paid leave for fertility treatments, additional time off for families with premature or neonatal care needs, and other key benefits.

Ashfords

Ashfords offers financial support for fertility treatments, a health cash plan to cover fertility expenses, and a wellbeing app for extended support. They also facilitate meaningful conversations around fertility through employee-led groups like the ‘Women’s Network’.

Ashurst

Since partnering with FamilyCare, Ashurst has provided employees with leave entitlements for fertility issues and pregnancy loss, along with support to ensure a seamless transition back to work after fertility or maternity leave.

Clifford Chance

Since 2021, Clifford Chance has significantly enhanced fertility benefits, covering treatments and investigations up to £15,000, and providing access to fertility support.

Cooley Godward

In 2021, Cooley Godward enhanced it's fertility support by offering all UK-based employees a lifetime allowance of £45,000 for eligible fertility treatments, in addition to personalised fertility and family-forming care.

🏆Crowell & Moring

Since partnering with Fertifa over a year ago, Crowell & Moring have been able to provide their employees with the highest quality fertility benefits, including fertility and family-planning advice, educational hubs and webinars, as well as personalised one-on-one support from our leading clinicians. Advice on adoption and surrogacy is also available as part of family planning, which promotes inclusion, especially for LGBTQIA+ employees, ensuring no one faces barriers alone in their fertility journey.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

In recent years, Magic Circle law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has enhanced their fertility benefits. The firm now provide a reimbursement allowance for fertility treatments such as IVF and egg freezing, alongside additional fertility health benefits.

🏆Fried Frank

Since partnering with Fertifa, Fried Frank has introduced a wide range of fertility-related employee benefits, including access to educational hubs and webinars, personalised one-to-one support and a reimbursement allowance. They also have access to family planning advice and guidance which offer support to those going through process' such as adoption and surrogacy, creating an inclusive workplace, especially for employees in the LGBTQIA+ community.

🏆Foot Anstey LLP

In 2023, Foot Anstey joined the Fertifa family and, in doing so, developed comprehensive and impactful fertility benefits/policies. These include educational hubs, webinars and personalised 1-2-1 fertility support and advice. As part of family planning support, Foot Anstey is able to offer their employees guidance on adoption and surrogacy, marking a significant step forward in inclusion and diversity.

Herbert Smith Freehills

To demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting employees' fertility needs, Herbert Smith Freehills offers family-friendly policies, including compassionate leave for pregnancy loss and paid leave for fertility treatments, while promoting a healthy work-life balance.

Linklaters

Linklaters recognises the emotional and physical challenges of fertility treatments and actively supports employees by offering flexible working arrangements, financial assistance, and enhanced educational resources. These efforts aim to establish a supportive work environment while reducing the stigma surrounding fertility issues.

🏆Morrison & Foerster

Through its partnership with Fertifa, Morrison & Foerster now offers top-tier fertility benefits, including educational hubs, personalised one-to-one support and a reimbursement allowance. As part of their fertility benefits, employees will have access to advice and guidance on alternative family-building options, ensuring all employees feel supported and valued.

🏆Osborne Clarke LLP

Since joining the Fertifa family nearly a year ago, Osborne Clarke has provided employees with access to educational hubs, webinars, and personalised one-on-one support to help navigate their fertility challenges. As part of their fertility benefits, employees will also have access to advice on various family-forming methods, allowing all people, regardless of marital status or sexual orientation to feel supported during their fertility journey.

Slaughter & May

Slaughter & May offer fertility support through their PMI scheme, along with other reproductive health resources and advice, to assist employees in navigating various reproductive health challenges at every stage of life.

🏆Weil

With Fertifa's support, Weil offers employees access to fertility and family-planning advice, educational hubs, personalised one-to-one support, a reimbursement allowance, and a payment plan for fertility-related costs. The comprehensive fertility benefits available to their employees through Fertifa, represents a significant commitment to inclusivity and equality in the workplace.

Fertifa’s fertility health benefits

• Learn: Our patients have access to educational employee resources and on-demand videos, created and curated by medical experts on the most complicated and complex fertility issues.
• Consult: Through the Fertifa app, patients will have access to 1-2-1 video consultations and medical appointments with our in-house clinical team and fertility experts, from anywhere in the world.
• Diagnose: We manage all diagnostics, genetic screening tests and testing for fertility, including home fertility testing kits delivered straight to the door. Our clinical team will be there every step of the way.

Fertility challenges aren’t going away anytime soon, but without support for those facing them, you may find your employees do. Book a call with us today to make the first step towards supporting your employees on their fertility journey.