Time off for DS hospital appointments

[vala]

Hi,
does anyone out there know what the stance is when it comes to needing time off work for their children?s hospital appointments?
My boss insists I book a day?s holiday when ever I have to take DS for his checkups at the hospital (born with Neutropenia, so had blood tests every 4 months until recently. Now has been diagnosed with a hearing problem so more trips to the hospital )
Is this the norm, or is it one of those grey areas?s that have to be agreed between boss and employee?

I am due to have my ?Flexible working? request meeting later this week and want to get some facts right before I use this as a further ?special rule just for me?? example.

Thanks in advance.

[dinosaur]

I think it is up to you and your employer, I'm afraid.

When I had to take DS2 up to Sunderland (from London) every week for a while, I took a day a week as unpaid parental leave.

[Blu]

I had compassionate leave when DS was actually having operations. I now tend to work flexi-time around his regular appointments, but (I am the boss) I would allow staff members to have paid time off - tho' I would expect that appts would be covered alternatively by the other parent, too, if he/she was around, so that our generous family outlook did not bear the brunt! Both DP and I go to consultants appts (x2 a year) and his work give him paid time off for that. He works flexi round other appts, and we share them.

[Bozza]

I have always booked holiday (usually half a day) for DS's appts or (say it was only at local doctor) worked the time up on other days. When I have made DH take him he has always managed to be flexible because he basically manages his own time and works from home/car. DS has had two operations but fortunately one was on a Monday and one on a Friday which are both days I don't work. I booked the Tuesday off after the Monday am operation but when DS was bright as a button on the Tues am went into work and cancelled the holiday.

[Jennyb851]

You are entitled to so many weeks unpaid leave before your children are 5 or 6 i think, but im not sure on the hospital appointments. Ive had to have a lot of time off when ds was in hospital for days at a time, several times a year, and i always got paid for it. Would ACAS be able to tell you for definate?

[Bozza]

The unpaid leave issue always appears on the these kind of threads. But for me personally I don't see how I can afford to not be paid for work but pay out for DS's nursery so have always used some other method of getting the time. Actually the last two years he has been really healthy but did need time when he was a baby. And next year will have two to worry about!

[sis]

Vala, sorry your ds has to have regular hospital appointments - it must be hard for him and him. Unfortunately, you are not entitled to any time off for his hospital appointments and so you boss is technically correct in asking you to take a days holiday.

The entitlement for unpaid leave for 'dependents' is for unforseen emergencies and because you are aware beforehand of the hospital appointments, they are not 'unforseen'. There is also an entitlement to unpaid parental leave (4 weeks max per year and total of 13 weeks up to his fifth birthday - although this age limit is extend for children who receive disability living allowance and those born 15 dec 1994 and 15 dec 1999). But parental leave must be taken in blocks of a week at a time unless the employer agrees otherwise.

So, if you employer is not will to compromise, you may wish to take your holidays for hosp appointments and then book some unpaid parental leave for you actual family holiday as you will be spending the holiday with your ds!

Sorry, not to give more positive info but good luck with the negotiations on flexible working.

[vala]

Thanks to all for your input, as usual, sound concise advice.
Guess I should cross this one off the list of discussion then.

[Blu]

Vala, hope your negotiations go well.
Sorry, don't know what Neutropenia is - how is your little one?

[sis]

No, no no! it should be on the list as a point for negotiation! (maybe half -pay for hospital appointments?)

[vala]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I only get chance to dip in and out whenever the boss is not around.

Blu- Neutropenia is a condition where Neutropil antibodies are missing. This apparently was caused by me having a rare blood disorder. My Neutropil antibodies were able to cross the placenta and into DS?s blood system. Mine attacked his and left him with none. Apparently, the Neutropil antibody fights against upper respiratory infections, so it was imperative that any colds/sniffles were closely monitored and treat aggressively with antibiotics where necessary. Fortunately, this only happened the once where he was hospitalised and given intravenous antibiotics.
The condition normally resolves itself within about 3-4 months. My antibodies in DS should have died and allowed DS?s body to replenish his own. However, at 5 months, a routine blood check showed a lower Neutropil count than he had at 3 months. This brought about several more blood tests and was eventually pronounced fit and healthy at 12months. This is when he started at Nursery and got cold after cold after cold. At about 16 months old, our GP referred him back to the hospital for yet another battery of blood tests. All came out ok thankfully.
As a result of constant colds and ear infections, his hearing appears to be quite reduced. A chance comment by the Nursery led to him being referred for a hearing test, which he failed miserably. (It was the one with the dancing puppets in the light boxes for anyone who has had them too). This led to a referral to the ENT department at our local hospital?know it quite well now. His appointment is at the end of April.
Currently has a lovely bout of conjunctivitis.
Apart from this, he is really well and a lovely little lad (20 months)

[tanzie]

My DD has severe asthma and when she has ended up in hospital I have taken my annual leave. I used to work with someone who wouldn't take leave if her kids were sick (or if she was a bit tired), just didn't bother coming to work. This really peed off everyone else who had to cover, esp those without kids. So, bite the bullet, take leave, either paid or unpaid, make sure your work colleagues know this so they don't think you're skiving! Sorry you are having a basinful of it of late, and hope things improve for you.