Photo/Illutration An embryologist monitors the condition of fertilized eggs during in vitro fertilization. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

More than 70 percent of 100 major companies in Japan have implemented systems that facilitate employees taking leave for fertility treatments, an Asahi Shimbun survey showed.

As insurance coverage for such treatments expands, more businesses are taking the initiative to support their employees, but there are still challenges such as protecting employees’ privacy.

“While we need to share information among team members to some extent out of consideration, we must balance that with privacy protection,” said Masaaki Yajima, the president of Wacoal Corp.

The Asahi Shimbun conducted the survey of the 100 major businesses from various industries in July asking how they are supporting employees undergoing fertility treatments.

The companies were permitted multiple answers.

The most selected option, among 75 companies, was having “systems or initiatives in place to make it easier for employees to take leave for treatments.”

That was followed by having “systems or initiatives that allow flexible working hours and break hours” at 64 companies.

Nomura Holdings Inc. in 2020 revamped its policy to allow up to 50 days of medical leave for fertility treatments. It also introduced a maximum of one-year leave for such treatments to provide long-term support.

Osaka Gas Co. has a system in place that allows employees to reduce their daily work hours by up to four hours and 40 minutes if they require outpatient treatment, though this is not limited to fertility treatments.

Twenty-five companies responded that they are providing “subsidies for fertility treatment costs.”

Kokuyo Co. offers subsidies of up to 300,000 yen ($2,048) over two years to cover the cost of the treatments. The employees can apply to a mutual aid association without reporting it to their bosses.

When asked about challenges to supporting employees seeking treatment, the most selected option was “privacy protection” with 52 companies, followed by “a lack of understanding about fertility treatments within the company” from 42 respondents.

Infertility “is a problem that’s hard to bring to light because it is difficult for companies to recognize employees having such concerns,” said Koki Sato, the head of the nonprofit organization Forecia, which supports employees balancing work and fertility treatments.

He emphasized the importance of an easily accessible leave system for workers and having a way to share information within the company while protecting privacy.

Sato added that employees may hesitate to give the reasons for their leave to their bosses.

“Companies can introduce a system where employees don’t have to specify a reason for needing to take leave by offering leave or shortened working hours for a variety of purposes, such as a child suddenly falling ill or caregiving,” he said.

“When employees report (fertility treatments) to their bosses, it is important both sides confirm who should be informed and how much they should know,” Sato added. “Bosses should also have basic knowledge about treatments as much as possible.”

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