21 episodes

Welcome to season 2 of Baby Steps, a podcast about the intersection of work and fertility health. Where we work has the power to make the pursuit of parenthood smoother, more challenging, or in some cases, possible at all. This season, we talk to HR leaders, fertility advocates, and individuals who have pursued parenthood about the myriad ways the workplace shapes employees' family-forming experiences — and how to create a better environment for everyone.

Baby Steps Carrot Fertility

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 19 Ratings

Welcome to season 2 of Baby Steps, a podcast about the intersection of work and fertility health. Where we work has the power to make the pursuit of parenthood smoother, more challenging, or in some cases, possible at all. This season, we talk to HR leaders, fertility advocates, and individuals who have pursued parenthood about the myriad ways the workplace shapes employees' family-forming experiences — and how to create a better environment for everyone.

    Baby Steps Season 2: Trailer

    Baby Steps Season 2: Trailer

    Welcome to season 2 of Baby Steps. Where we work has the power to make the pursuit of parenthood smoother, more challenging, or in some cases, possible at all. This season, we talk to HR leaders, fertility advocates, and individuals who have pursued parenthood about the myriad ways the workplace shapes employees' family-forming experiences — and how to create a better environment for everyone.

    • 2 min
    Solving the global fertility benefits puzzle, with Momentive

    Solving the global fertility benefits puzzle, with Momentive

    Every country handles rules and regulations around fertility care a little differently — or, in many cases, very differently. Cultural nuances play a powerful role, too. These differences create a challenge for companies looking to provide fertility benefits that meet the needs of all of their employees. 
    We talked with Julie Fernandez of Momentive, the creators of SurveyMonkey, about how her company chose fertility benefits for their global employees. We also touched on benefits communications strategies for employees outside the U.S., a personal story from a Momentive employee, and how Momentive uses fertility benefits to win over job candidates globally.
    Show notes:
    Find more tips on finding fertility benefits for a global workforce from Carrot’s Global Solutions team.
    Read more about Momentive’s experience with Carrot in our case study.

    • 31 min
    The fertility at work conversation: Advice for HR leaders

    The fertility at work conversation: Advice for HR leaders

    If an employee approached you about how their fertility journey might impact their work schedule, how would you respond? Even for those with years of experience in HR, it can be challenging to know exactly what to say about something so personal. In this episode of Baby Steps, we talk with a clinical psychologist and a fertility at work coach about how compassion, curiosity, and flexibility can make these conversations as supportive as possible.
    Show notes:
    If you're interested in developing a better understanding of what employees might be going through when pursuing parenthood, download Fertility in the Workplace: A guide to being a supportive manager.
    Learn more about the impact infertility can have on mental health.

    • 29 min
    What you think about fertility benefits is probably wrong, with Snap

    What you think about fertility benefits is probably wrong, with Snap

    If you’ve had a conversation about fertility or fertility benefits in the past, chances are it was primarily focused on female infertility or IVF. And while that is a critical piece of the puzzle, it’s just one piece. In this episode, Rahab Hammad, Senior Benefits Manager at Snap, talks about how her understanding of fertility benefits changed during her research process — and how much more support her company could offer than she first realized. You’ll also hear from a couple who went on two gestational carrier (GC) journeys, which were so complicated that they ultimately created their own agency to support others pursuing it. 
    Resources:
    Employer guide to LGBTQ+-inclusive fertility benefits
    5 signs a fertility benefit isn’t actually inclusive 
    My Surrogacy Journey

    • 37 min
    "I left my job for fertility benefits"

    "I left my job for fertility benefits"

    There’s a story behind every resignation. In this episode of our podcast, we talk to someone who left her job, not because of her boss or her workload, but because her benefits didn’t support her goal of becoming a single-intending parent — even after she advocated for coverage.
    Show notes:
    Carrot's 2021 Fertility at Work survey
    Aden's Plan A podcast

    • 35 min
    What balancing work and IVF really looks like, with Fertility Matters at Work

    What balancing work and IVF really looks like, with Fertility Matters at Work

    While infertility and fertility care are common, not everyone has direct experience with them. This can make it harder for decision makers to understand why something like fertility benefits can be so impactful. That’s one reason this week’s guests founded Fertility Matters at Work: to educate employers on the emotional, physical, and logistical realities of fertility journeys — and what support employees need. On Baby Steps, co-founders Becky and Natalie share their personal experiences balancing work and fertility treatments and discuss the work they do to raise awareness of these journeys in the workplace. 
    Learn more:
    Fertility Matters at Work 
    How to create a supportive environment for aspiring parents

    • 29 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
19 Ratings

19 Ratings

commallama26 ,

Inclusive and informative

I learned so much from this podcast! It was a good crash course in all things in/fertility and parenthood planning. As a trans person, I deeply appreciated the host's use of inclusive and scientifically accurate language- Baby Steps is the only podcast on this topic I didn't abandon due to generalizing language, stereotypes, or assumptions about the bodies/genders/goals of intended parents.

The guests were greatly diverse in their life experiences, and I appreciate their candor and vulnerability.

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