An open culture at HSBC allowed Chantelle to build her career and navigate her fertility journey

Chantelle’s 17-year career at HSBC is very important to her – she started as a cashier at the Belgravia branch and worked her way up, before changing track to become internal communications manager at the bank’s London headquarters. Alongside this she has navigated the roller-coaster journey of infertility.

Career not penalised by family

Chantelle and her husband James had tried to conceive for two-and-a-half years before, much to their delight, their beautiful daughter Dulcie was born following IVF at Bourn Hall. They were then surprised when Chantelle miraculously fell pregnant again naturally, and Olivia arrived just 13 months later. Sadly, the couple were devastated by the loss of a third pregnancy a few years later.

Chantelle says she doesn’t feel her career progress has been penalised by her dream of having a family. “I was always very open; if I was asked ‘where do you see yourself in five years’ I would always admit I wanted to be a mum along with my career aspirations.”

HSBC supports Fertility in the Workplace

Chantelle with Dulcie

Infertility is a form of grief that can damage relationships with family, friends and at work. To help those impacted, HSBC has just announced it will join Bourn Hall as a sponsor of ‘Fertility in the Workplace’ (FiTW) an initiative delivered by Fertility Network UK to encourage a more open and supportive workplace culture for those struggling with infertility.

Chantelle and her colleague Kim Stubbs, Head of Supported Journeys, will be discussing the benefits to business at an FiTW event in Chelmsford on 20 November.

Guilt-free appointments

Chantelle met her future husband as a teenager whilst she was working on a checkout at Tesco, and the couple were married when she was 25.

After coming off the pill her monthly cycles became erratic, up to 72 days apart. A scan of her ovaries revealed bumps that showed she wasn’t releasing eggs – a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Further tests were clear, but the couple still weren’t conceiving. It was only belatedly then suggested that James also undergo tests, which found his sperm count was low.

They were told that subfertility on both sides would make a natural conception very unlikely, so they were referred for NHS-funded IVF treatment and chose to go to Bourn Hall.

“I was so fortunate to have a supportive manager,” says Chantelle. “He let me leave early every day for a few weeks so that I could be home at the same time to do my injections. By giving me permission to attend other appointments, I was freed of guilt and could manage my time effectively.

“This openness also enabled me to let some of the wider team know, just in case the treatment made me more hormonal or emotional than normal and they were aware of the context.”

Supported journeys

Since Chantelle had treatment, HSBC has introduced a network of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to provide mutual support between colleagues with similar interests and challenges. The ERGs include groups for different faiths, LGBTQ, miscarriage, and parenthood through adoption. These groups create a safe space to talk to others with shared experiences.

Chantelle says that this initiative has created a culture where people feel comfortable to be open with each other, creating a better working environment.

“One senior manager told us that he was in an important executive board meeting after his wife had just lost their baby. He said: ‘I’m sitting in that meeting and thinking I shouldn’t be there. I explained and left, and that was OK’.”

Support for employers through FiTW

The company also has a special leave policy which includes a Fertility Policy that gives the right to take additional leave for fertility treatments, as well as for bereavement following the loss of a pregnancy to allow time to process that loss.

Chantelle previously worked in the UK Financial Wellbeing and there were some sessions around family planning and the impact this can have. “Many people take out a loan for treatment and if that is ultimately unsuccessful, that loan repayment is a monthly reminder that you didn’t have a baby. It can be so hard.”

FiTW provides training for staff to help build emotional intelligence and create awareness of the help that is available for both employers and employees to build a more open and supportive environment.

Clinic pledge

Communication is important and Bourn Hall has been working with Fertility Network UK to develop best practice guidelines for clinics as well. This includes asking patients about their work pressures and providing explanatory letters for them to give to employers.

Dulcie at Bourn Hall

Chantelle remembers vividly the care she got at Bourn Hall: “The team was so supportive throughout. The nurses answered all of our questions and we were signposted very clearly to who we could speak to if we had additional questions.

“I remember using a little squidgy pad to practise my injection and being given a personal treatment plan.

“The first time I did my injection, I took a photo and emailed the clinic, and said ‘have I done it in the right place?’ They came back, ‘you’ve done it perfectly, spot on, that’s great’. So, they were really reassuring the whole time.”

“It was very personal to me, the whole journey. We watched on the screen the moment that the embryo was transferred; it is just like a ‘test-tube’ baby.

“We took Dulcie back to Bourn Hall and the team was so delighted to see us and the baby. It was really very special.”

The free event ‘Fertility in the Workplace: ‘The business case for employer action’’ is taking place on Wednesday 20 November at Chelmsford Cricket Ground. Find out more at: https://bit.ly/FiTW-EssexEvent.