Supermarket retailer Lidl Northern Ireland has updated its benefits package by adding enhanced fertility support for any of its 1,300 employees undergoing IVF, regardless of their length of service.
The retailer will enable staff to take two days of paid leave per IVF cycle, for an unlimited number of IVF cycles. Assistance will also be offered for staff undergoing egg freezing.
According to Lidl NI, the policy, which is part of a relaunch of its benefits package, aims to support staff throughout all stages of their lives, ensuring they can achieve their potential while balancing the demands life and family outside of work. The business also said it hopes to encourage a national conversation to help destigmatise fertility challenges, which can feel isolating and traumatic.
The enhanced employee benefits package also includes other supportive leave policies, including compassionate leave for employees affected by early pregnancy loss or miscarriage, menopause resources for employees and line managers, maternity, paternity and adoptive leave, as well as parental, fostering and carers' leave.
Conor Boyle, regional managing director at Lidl NI, said: “At Lidl Northern Ireland, we recognise that the needs of our employees are evolving all the time as they progress though different stages of their lives. As a family retailer and major local employer, we know that our people do their best work when they are valued and supported in a workplace that is inclusive, so it’s critical for us to take into account that not every family’s path to parenthood is the same.
“Our new fertility paid leave support is the latest enhanced paid leave package which we’re very proud to offer all of our employees, at all levels from day one. We’re committed to ensuring that we remain an employer of choice and one that is key to fostering a positive environment for working parents.”
