Councillor for Bangor West, Barry McKee has welcomed the unanimous support of Ards & North Down's Corporate Committee for a motion seeking to improve the support for Council workers undergoing fertility treatment. 

"Undergoing fertilitytreatmentcan be emotionalandstressful process especiallywhentrying to navigate it while in employment and without a statutory right to pre-conception absences."

"Workers experiencing fertility problems are reluctant to speak to their employer about it because they fear it may affect their career and so they may end up reducing their hours or leaving employment entirely as a result."

"As a council that wants to be a great place to work, one that wants to retain and attract people to work for us, increasing the support for staff in this circumstance makes great sense."
"I hope to see a speedy introduction of increased support for workers undergoing fertility treatment once the report has been compiled by Officers."

ENDS