Law firm reveals rise in workplace fertility queries

National law firm Mills & Reeve has revealed that ‘fertility matters at work’ has seen a significant spike in search volumes as individuals consider their pathway to parenthood.

Over the past five years, there has been a 550% increase in people searching ‘fertility matters at work’ as individuals and employers navigate the increasingly complex practical and legal considerations involved in creating a family.

According to the World Health Association, infertility affects one in six people globally, however, a relatively low proportion of businesses offer fertility benefits or have a specific policy in place. IVF births also made up more than 3% of births in the UK in 2023 – a figure roughly equivalent to one child in every classroom, according to data released last year by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). A survey by reproductive healthcare provider Fertifa and UK charity Fertility Network UK (FNUK) found that 38% of people going through fertility treatment consider quitting their jobs.

Rose-Marie Drury, a fertility lawyer and surrogacy specialist at Mills & Reeve, said: “The reality of building families today means the journeys are varied and unique. It’s a significant challenge for businesses and advisors to ensure they understand the practical and legal implications of those who may be considering fertility treatment, surrogacy and adoption or taking different routes to parenthood.”

A 2026 UK Parliament Research paper showed there has been an increase in other pathways to parenthood in recent years with nearly 500 surrogacy parental orders made in 2024, compared to just over 100 in 2011. Up to half of these journeys involve a surrogate based overseas, which brings the complexity of international aspects.

Rose-Marie added: “The rules around legal parentage vary significantly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. It is not unusual for someone to be a parent in one country but not be recognised as a legal parent in another even where they have an order from an overseas court or birth certificate. This has a huge range of implications from practical day-to-day issues like parental responsibility to immigration and wealth planning. It’s important that anyone advising individuals understands the different routes to parentage and the impact these can have on their advice.”