Study warns of ‘inadequate’ fertility policies in vet workplaces
Multiple respondents were under pressure to work even while actively miscarrying.
A new study has explored veterinary professionals’ workplace experiences with miscarriage, infertility and assisted fertility (MIAF).
In a cross-sectional survey, results revealed that over a fifth of respondents had left or considered leaving their job due to its approach to MIAF issues.
The online study saw 525 veterinary professionals describe 671 self-defined MIAF experiences from workplaces. It sought to investigate how their working environments and employers had impacted their experiences with MIAF.
Many of the responses to the survey described significant challenges with taking leave for MIAF-related situations.
Under practice policy, staff undergoing fertility treatments are typically permitted a maximum of three days leave for fertility appointments. This was not considered sufficient to complete investigations and treatments.
There also appeared to be a lack of transparency, with some respondents unaware whether their pay would be docked when they attended hospital appointments or that they would have to use sick leave.
Multiple respondents said they felt under pressure to remain at work in clinical practice, even while they were actively miscarrying.
Some did not even ask permission to leave work, due to concern for their job security and the workload they would leave behind. Meanwhile others had been told by managers that they could not leave until a coworker relieved them, or even that their time off was unnecessary.
Working during pregnancy loss was particularly common in cases of lone working, working out of hours, or ambulatory calls.
Where respondents were able to take leave after pregnancy loss, there was an absence of procedural policy. This meant that some respondents received daily messages from their workplace asking when they would be back.
Those who did work while pregnant found different challenges in avoiding anaesthetic drugs, radiation exposure, cytotoxic drugs and other physical hazards. Working only risk-assessed activities was particularly difficult for those lone working, short-staffed or working in large animal practice.
Researchers reflect that these experiences, and others, have had a profound impact on the mental health, wellbeing and workforce retention of veterinary practices. They have called for urgent action against inadequate policy, insufficient leave, and insensitive workplace communication.
The full study can be found in the journal VetRecord.
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