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Egg freezing as an employee benefit: Reproductive health theatre or a signal of genuine support?
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Egg freezing as an employee benefit: Reproductive health theatre or a signal of genuine support?

Ruth Abrams and Lilith Whiley
The Society of Occupational Medicine
25/09/2026

Abstract

The renewed Women’s health strategy acknowledges the need to strengthen support for women at work. Alongside the Employment Rights Act 2025, which enhanced support for pregnant women and new mothers, the Department of Education (2025) has expanded funding for early years childcare. These reforms, and more, contribute to addressing the structural conditions that might impede women’s equal participation in the workforce and, importantly, they place greater emphasis on employers to enhance their provisions via innovative and inclusive policies and practices. Another policy which has recently come to the fore is the offering of fertility services to employees, by their employers. Indeed, following in the footsteps of large corporations including Apple, Meta, and Google, Chelsea football club has offered to pay for their female footballers to freeze their eggs. More sports employers are set to follow, including the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
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