Why Monzo implemented reproductive health benefits to ensure its people are happier, healthier and more productive

After securing its banking license less than 7 years ago, Monzo Bank is now the UK’s seventh largest bank with nearly 8 million customers and still the fastest-growing bank in the UK. Known for its progressive employee policies (e.g., It was the first bank to introduce a pregnancy loss policy) we, at Fertifa, are proud to be working with the Monzo team to support its employees through reproductive health challenges.  

Monzo has proven that by creating a working environment that's inclusive and recognises the (many) challenges people can face when going through fertility, family-forming or menopause journeys, its people (“Monzonauts”) are happier, healthier and work better. Here’s how we’re working with Monzo.

The Monzo challenge: Finding a comprehensive reproductive health care provider, that offered more than just education

Through one of its private medical insurance (PMI) providers, Monzo had the opportunity to offer its employees some limited access to menopause educational resources. However, the Monzo People team wanted a more comprehensive offering for menopause care – including giving people access to the clinical treatment that menopause sometimes needs – in line with its level of support for other areas of employee wellbeing.  

Furthermore, Monzo wanted to extend support beyond menopause, to also include personalised wellbeing support, advice and treatment for other reproductive health concerns, such as fertility, endometriosis and PCOS, and men’s reproductive health issues too.  

In addition to an education suite, Monzo wanted a provider that could offer a medically-led approach with easy access to doctors and nurses and one that could offer support for every stage of life and all reproductive health concerns.  

After exploring the options available to them, Monzo recognised Fertifa as the provider that could offer the most comprehensive and fully inclusive package for their employees:

• A tech-powered solution via mobile app
• Dedicated advisor for every employee, available to chat with and video call for every employee
• A medically-led approach with access to doctors, nurses, treatment and prescriptions  
• Access to educational resources, webinars, Q&A sessions with an in-house clinical team
• A benefit that is relevant to all Monzonauts, with support through every stage of life and all reproductive health concerns

Fertifa supports Monzo’s wider workplace culture and DEI commitment

Monzo is working hard to create a diverse team and workplace that’s as inclusive as it can be. One of the company’s aims is to increase representation of women in technical roles and senior leadership. To do this in an authentic and impactful way, Monzo recognised how important it is to offer women the necessary support they might need through significant life events, such as menopause. Working with Fertifa has meant they have been able to offer tangible support to those who really need it.  

The company also wanted to make sure that every employee could access fertility support and clinical care through the Fertifa team, if needed. Recognising that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to parenthood, Fertifa is available for Monzonauts from day one of employment. And employees only need to have worked at Monzo for 13 weeks in order to qualify for paid fertility leave.  

Tara Ryan, VP of People Experience, said the company did this because it’s important that people don’t feel trapped in their careers because they’re choosing to have a family.  

We're proud to be featured in Monzo Bank's Diversity & Inclusion Report 2022 and to have Monzo as part of our Fertifa family 🤗

The impact and results

So far, Tara has reported an incredible response.  

“I've had people sending me DMs saying how much they appreciate the fact that we've thought about this. It's been super successful.”  

• 7% of Monzonauts registered with the Fertifa app after the launch announcement
• 23% of Monzo employees or their partners were engaged within the first month
• 2.5% of users are in a same sex relationship
• 19.5% of registered users are men

From fertility support to menopause to men’s reproductive health, there is something for everyone.  

“I’d like to say thank you for my menopause support, I feel like I get so much more than I do from my GP” - Monzo employee and Fertifa Patient

Want to learn more about how Fertifa could help your company? We’d love to talk 💜