E.ON backs call for fairer fertility rights at work and signs the Fertility Support Pledge

E.ON has underlined its support for fairer workplace rights for people undergoing fertility treatment by signing the Fertility Support Pledge—a business‑led commitment urging employers to provide clearer, kinder and more consistent support for colleagues navigating through fertility journeys.

The move follows the presentation to Parliament of the Fertility Treatment (Right to Time Off) Bill under the Ten Minute Rule by Alice Macdonald MP (Norwich North), seeking a statutory right to paid time off for fertility treatment appointments.

Backed by leading charities and employer groups, the campaign encourages organisations across the UK to act now and help end the stigma and inconsistency many people face while navigating treatment and work.

Helen Bradbury, Chief People Officer at E.ON UK, said: “Growing a family should never mean having to choose between your career and the physical, emotional and financial realities of fertility treatment. We’re proud to sign the Fertility Support Pledge and to support efforts in Parliament to better recognise the impact fertility treatment can have at work. Our approach is simple: clear policy, compassionate flexibility and peer support, creating an environment where colleagues can focus on their wellbeing and feel genuinely supported throughout their journey.”

Alice Macdonald MP said: "I’m so pleased that E.ON has signed the Fertility Support Pledge, sending a powerful message to their employees and other businesses across the country. There is so much that needs to be done to overcome existing taboos around infertility and secure a change in the law but with the support of more businesses like E.ON we have an opportunity to make a really big difference for thousands of people."  

What the Fertility Support Pledge asks employers to do

1. Offer time off for fertility appointments – through flexible working and/or paid time off, to accommodate unpredictable, clinically‑timed appointments.
2. Clear policy and guidance – publish accessible policy so employees and managers understand entitlements and support from the outset.
3. Awareness and peer support – appoint a Fertility Ambassador/Champion to foster open conversations, reduce stigma and help colleagues access support.
4. Education and training for managers – equip line managers with practical training on the physical, emotional and financial impact of fertility treatment.

Fertility support at E.ON

As a long-standing, family-friendly employer, E.ON already provides a comprehensive, gender-neutral support package for colleagues of all genders and sexual orientations, inclusive of LGBT+ families and surrogacy journeys, including:

• Unlimited paid fertility leave for both partners, alongside flexible working principles to support appointments, recovery and wellbeing.
• A Fertility Journey Guide for individuals and line managers—co‑created with colleagues with lived experience—covering IVF cycles, practical adjustments and support planning.
• The Fertility Forum (employee inclusion network) and Fertility Friends (colleagues with lived experience to listen and signpost further support) to share stories, signpost resources and reduce isolation.
• Partnership with Fertility Matters at Work; in 2024 E.ON was accredited as a Fertility Friendly Employer, and in 2025 was named Fertility Friendly Employer of the Year.
• The launch of a digital learning programme, created with E.ON’s Fertility Forum colleague network, that shares real fertility journeys to help colleagues understand the impacts and offer meaningful support.

E.ON colleague, Laura said: “Last year, I underwent an IVF treatment cycle in Spain and being able to use fertility leave to cover my absence from work, rather than relying on my limited annual leave, lifted a huge weight off my mind. Having access to fertility leave meant I could focus fully on my treatment without worrying about my inbox or trying to hold myself together on calls during what was an incredibly emotional and stressful time.

I felt genuinely grateful to work for such a flexible employer and to know that the fertility challenges I was facing were recognised by E.ON for what they are- complex and difficult, rather than something I was simply choosing to do”.

E.ON is encouraging employers across the UK to sign the Pledge and help create workplaces where fertility is understood and supported. Employers can find out more and sign up here:  https://alicemacdonald.org/campaigns/fertility-rights/.

E.ON’s commitment to the Fertility Support Pledge builds on the progress outlined in our 2025 Inclusion Report: Powering Belonging, reinforcing the promise to create a workplace where every colleague feels supported, included and able to succeed.