Different paths to parenthood: Celebrating Organon families

When David, lead for Organon’s Integrated Production System, based in the UK, and his husband wanted to start a family, a local charity matched them with a surrogate. They were blessed with daughter Isla three years ago.

David says MSD – and now Organon – have been fully supportive. A great example is their willingness to update the company’s parental leave policy to ensure it’s inclusive of gay parents.

“I started with the company and Isla was due to be born just a few months later,” he states. “I could feel it was a very family-oriented company, but the parental leave policy didn’t have language related to gay fathers and surrogacy.”

David wanted to make sure he could take time with Isla, so he spoke to HR to clarify the guidelines. Within weeks, the entire policy was rewritten. “The new policy had complete equality for different types of parents and their varied journeys to parenthood,” he notes. As word of the updated policy spread, many company affiliates globally updated their policy language, too.​​​​​​​

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Learning about infertility

David and his husband had an easy journey to welcoming Isla but trying for a sibling was tough. After numerous attempts with their surrogate, they weren’t able to conceive again. David adds they are learning more about the “eye-opening” journey of infertility.

He says he and his partner have been lucky to build a genuine friendship with their surrogate: “We get on really well. She’s brilliant and we have a fantastic relationship.”  He explains there are many preconceptions about surrogacy, but they’ve found it to be a wonderful option – even if it doesn’t work out a second time.

Today, David is proud to be working at Organon and is a member of the company’s Organon Pride Network employee resource group for the LGBTQ+ community where he helps work on education around inclusive language, like saying “partner” instead of assuming someone has a husband or wife. He says that as father to a daughter, he’s more conscious of what it means to work for a company dedicated to her health – and one focused on infertility, too.

“I thought being a parent would be impossible for me,” he says. “It’s wonderful to know I’m supported in having a family, and that my company has a role in helping it happen for others, too.”