Key takeaways
- VodafoneThree employees undergoing fertility treatment can take up to 10 days of paid fertility leave each year, with up to two days available for partners.
- VodafoneThree’s Fertility Network gives colleagues a confidential space to share experiences of fertility treatment, miscarriage, baby loss and involuntary childlessness.
- VodafoneThree has brought together the best practises from both Vodafone and Three to provide wide-ranging support for employees during their fertility journey.
Both VodafoneThree and its Fertility Network chair were shortlisted at this year’s Fertility Friendly Employer Awards, recognising the comprehensive support available for employees on their fertility journey.
Infertility affects roughly one in every six or seven couples in the UK, equating to approximately 3.5 million people at any given time.
To support those colleagues who may be navigating fertility, VodafoneThree has a fertility policy, offering employees up to 10 days of leave (or two days for partners) each year for fertility treatment.
This fertility treatment policy sits alongside VodafoneThree’s Fertility Friends Network which provides a confidential space for employees to share their experiences of issues like IVF treatment, miscarriage, baby loss and involuntary childlessness.
Hannah’s story
Hannah Newby has been leading the Fertility Friends Network since March, alongside her full-time role as Senior Insight Specialist at VodafoneThree.
Having been diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency and Turner syndrome – a rare chromosome condition that can cause infertility – and exploring other potential routes, Hannah and her husband have since accepted that they will live without children.
“I couldn’t tell you where I wanted to be in the next five years in my career,” says Hannah, “because becoming a mum was always my main focus in life.
“It’s definitely grief. I never realised quite how much a person can grieve something they haven’t had. But it’s grief that I feel.”
Why fertility support at work matters
Today, Hannah helps colleagues on their own fertility journeys. As chair of VodafoneThree’s Fertility Friends Network, she shares lessons learnt through her own personal experiences, such as the importance of finding someone who is prepared to listen, rather than offer advice or solutions.
“I always say that I just wanted someone to ‘sit in the mud with me’,” she says. “It doesn’t require you to say anything, which I think a lot of people feel like they need to do…[but] just to be with them and listen.”
Another key aspect that Hannah tries to get across to others is that fertility challenges don’t simply disappear when somebody starts their working day.
“The whole process can be incredibly consuming, affecting focus, stress and wellbeing,” she adds, “while treatment can involve appointments, medication and time-sensitive injections alongside the emotional impact and uncertainty that someone may already be carrying.”
Hannah’s involvement in VodafoneThree’s Fertility Friends Network is, therefore, all about creating a culture where colleagues feel safe to have these conversations, should they wish to, with empathy, flexibility and confidentiality at its heart.
Fertility Friendly Employer Awards
This selfless work has led to Hannah being nominated for a ‘Fertility Champion’ award at the Fertility Friendly Employer Awards, hosted by Fertility Matters at Work.
The awards will take place on 3 November, as part of the F Word at Work Live Summit 2026 during Fertility Awareness Week, where VodafoneThree will also be in contention for ‘Fertility Friendly Employer of the Year’.
This follows Vodafone becoming the first ‘Fertility Friendly’ accredited employer in the UK telco sector in 2025, as recognition for its commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive workplace.
Frequently-asked questions
What fertility support does VodafoneThree offer employees?
VodafoneThree offers employees undergoing fertility treatment up to 10 days of paid fertility leave per calendar year, with up to two days for partners. Its wider support includes the Fertility Friends Network, a peer-support community, as well as resources, information and guidance in its Fertility Support Hub, and ‘Fertility Buddies’ with lived experience to help other colleagues navigate their own fertility journeys.
What is VodafoneThree’s Fertility Friends Network?
Launched in 2025, VodafoneThree’s Fertility Friends Network is an internal, online community that helps employees raise awareness, share experiences and provide support to colleagues at any stage of their fertility journey. It forms part of the wider Gender Equity Network, which is one of several employee-led networks at VodafoneThree. Each backed by an Executive Sponsor, these networks are deigned to create an inclusive environment that: celebrates diversity; amplifies the voices of our people; and reflects the communities and businesses we serve.
What does it mean to be a Fertility Friendly employer?
As the UK’s leading training provider for fertility support in the workplace, Fertility Matters’ ‘Fertility Friendly’ accreditation recognises a company’s commitment to supporting employees through their fertility journeys, by creating a more inclusive and supportive workplace. Vodafone became the first ‘Fertility Friendly’ accredited UK telco in 2025.
