LSU Associate Professor MICHAEL JOHNSON (photo courtesy of LSU)
A new series of studies led by a professor at LSU shows that the impact of infertility follows those who experience it to their jobs. Michael Johnson with LSU’s E.J. Ourso College of Business, says those who experience infertility can question their overall worth and view of themselves, and that can spill into the workplace.
“And then I started looking at my co-workers and wondering, ‘Are they judging me? Are they stigmatizing me?’ And what we find is that people take on that view that, even if it’s not true, they feel that their co-workers are viewing them negatively because of these infertility struggles,” Johnson explained.
Johnson says that can lead to counterproductive work behaviors.
“People that are struggling with this tend to be maybe a little bit more rude to their co-workers, put a little less effort in their tasks, and engage in behaviors like coming in late, maybe staying longer on a break; things like that,” Johnson noted.
Johnson says there are things that companies can do to help employees whose infertility may be affecting them in the workplace.
“Companies that are more supportive, specifically if they sponsor a climate where people feel comfortable talking about their family issues at work, then all these stats kind of wash out with it,” Johnson said.
Johnson notes that this is not an issue exclusive to women; men can struggle with infertility issues as well. The study is published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior.
More information on the study can be found at www.lsu.edu.
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