Leeds-based law firm Clarion Solicitors has committed to becoming a fertility-friendly organisation in order to enhance the support available to its 300 employees.
The accreditation, from Fertility Matters at Work, was awarded to the firm as a result of its dedicated policy focused on fertility. Through this, Clarion hopes to ensure its employees feel recognised, safe and supported.
The aim of the accreditation process and fertility-focused initiatives is to improve employee relationships throughout the organisation and ensure they can bring their authentic selves to work, be vulnerable and feel confident that they will receive the required and necessary support.
The policy sits as part of Clarion’s BeingOne strategy, through which it encourages peer support groups so that staff who have shared lived experiences can help each other. It has already created a dedicated menopause group and aims to replicate this with a fertility one.
Clarion decided to work with Fertility Matters at Work after its head of people, Helen Saunders, attended one of its events and was inspired by the work in other UK organisations. She wanted to enrich the support currently available to employees and do more to raise awareness of fertility and parenthood journeys within the business.
“By going through the accreditation process, we hope to be able to help and guide and support our managers so they are in a more informed position to support the individuals in their teams,” said Saunders. “We hope this comes through greater awareness of the subject and the importance of language when talking and listening to employees.
“Overall, we hope we maintain our reputation as a caring and supportive employer as we do the right thing by our people. We meaningfully support our team going through fertility treatment or other parenthood journeys and, therefore, we hope to retain them so they have a long and fulfilling career with us.”