Triona Ferriter

Following a government announcement of a new publicly-funded IVF treatment scheme, the law firm has introduced a new fertility leave policy entitling employees undergoing fertility treatment in a given year to 10 days of fully paid leave in that calendar year.

Employees whose partner is undergoing fertility treatment will also be entitled to 10 days of fully paid leave on the same basis.

Fertility leave can be taken as half-days, full days, and multiple days at a time. There will be no impact to either salary or bonus for any employee who has availed of fertility leave.

Triona Ferriter, Arthur Cox’s chief people officer, said: “We are conscious that reproductive health issues are complex and can present emotional and physical challenges, and we are committed to providing our people with the support they need during this time.

“This new policy is a really important addition to our full suite of family-friendly policies, which underpin our culture of fostering diversity, understanding and support.”

The firm already has a paternity leave policy of 12 weeks’ paid leave, and an enhanced maternity leave policy which is applicable from the date of joining the firm and includes coaching before, during and after the period of leave to help employees manage the maternity transition.

There is also a childcare sourcing service available to new parents as they return to work.

The firm provides a progressive surrogacy leave policy of 26 weeks’ paid leave and also offers shared parenting leave, which allows a partner to use untaken weeks of maternity leave should the primary caregiver return to work early. A parenting “buddy programme” is also in place to help new parents with advice and support as they adjust to life as a working parent.

Ms Ferriter said: “Our family-friendly policies are part of our wider focus on creating a supportive workplace where our people feel they can bring their whole selves to work, and feel fulfilled both personally and professionally.

“Overall employee wellbeing is hugely important to us, and we run annual wellness programmes for our people to help equip them with the tools they need to put their health and wellbeing first.

“We also have an employee assistance programme, which provides counselling and information services whenever our people need it.

“We were one of the first law firms to officially launch a hybrid working policy, which has been really popular with employees as they embrace these new agile ways of working.”