foHRsight
A podcast about making work better brought to you by future foHRward, hosted by Mark Edgar and Naomi Titleman Colla.
Do you ever dream of eavesdropping on the conversations of the most fascinating leaders and thinkers in the People space?
Each week, our co-hosts Naomi Titleman Colla and Mark Edgar discuss relevant topics (amongst themselves and with incredible guests) like employee engagement, retention, flexible work, and AI, that are impacting Human Resources and influencing the way we work.
No need to eavesdrop. This is your opportunity to join the forefront of the conversation.
foHRsight
Breaking Barriers to Parenthood: How Jackie Hanson and Sprout Family Are Transforming Fertility Support at Work
Jackie Hanson is CEO and Co-founder of Sprout Family, Canada's first end-to-end family building platform launched in 2024. Jackie was inspiried to build her mission based company following the experience of her own parents who went through IVF.
Having itnessed firsthand how fragmented and overwhelming the fertility space is, the mission of Sprout is to improve access to parenthood and support employees through challenging fertility journeys.
Current Industry Challenges
Rising Infertility Rates driven by:
- Later childbearing (average first-time mother age now almost 32)
- Same-sex couples forming families requiring donors/surrogacy
- Cost of living delays (student debt, housing costs)
- Legal frameworks haven't kept pace with demand
Workplace Impact Statistics
- 40% delay treatment due to financial reasons
- Average fertility patient spends 160+ hours navigating care
- 72% would stay longer at companies offering fertility benefits
- Average IVF round costs $25,000+ ($5K drugs, $18-20K treatment)
Current Canadian Coverage Landscape
- 45% of employers offer fertility drug coverage (average $3,000)
- Less than 5% offer comprehensive coverage (treatments, preservation, surrogacy, adoption)
- US comparison: 50%+ offer $30-100K lifetime coverage
Three-Pillar Support Framework
- Financial Assistance: Comprehensive coverage beyond just drugs
- Digital Health & Navigation: Nurse support, provider network, virtual care
- Leadership Culture: Creating safe spaces for employees to share needs
Business Case for Employers
- Retention: Replacing employee costs 1.5-2x their salary
- Productivity: Reduces distraction and unplanned time off
- Equity: Addresses barriers affecting women and LGBTQ+ individuals disproportionately
Future Vision
- Macro: More employer coverage creates demand, potentially driving down costs and expanding clinic infrastructure
- Sprout: Expanding to full family wellness platform (pregnancy, postpartum, parental leave, hormonal health)
Contact Information
- Website: www.sproutfamily.ca
- Signup for their newsletter signup available on website
- LinkedIn:
Sprout - https://www.linkedin.com/company/sproutfamily/
Jackie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-hanson/
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- Mark - www.linkedin.com/in/markedgarhr/
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