Work asking me to make time up for maternity appointments

[cindylawless]

I'm going in at the moment, every week. Luckily they're all in the morning but they say 9.30am and I won't get seen for example until closer to 10.30. Then the appointment takes 1.5 hours

Then once or twice a month, I have another specialist to see and that'll be for a full day sometimes

What can I do here? They have asked me to make up time or swap days. I don't want to/can't. Both really

Who can I contact to support me?

Are they asking you to try and move your weekly appointment to a weekend? Is it at the same time every week?

I would ask for it in writing and then email back to them with the links to the government website which states you are entitled to time off for antenatal appts at full pay.

From Gov.uk

Pregnant employees have 4 main legal rights:

paid time off for antenatal care
maternity leave
maternity pay or maternity allowance
protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal
‘Antenatal care’ is not just medical appointments - it can also include antenatal or parenting classes if they’ve been recommended by a doctor or midwife.

Employers cannot change a pregnant employee’s contract terms and conditions without agreement - if they do they are in breach of contract.

Employers must give pregnant employees time off for antenatal care and pay their normal rate for this time off.

Thank you

I thought pregnancy related appts were protected?

Exactly

No different time every week, different day etc

As above you're allowed paid time off, but I'd send whoever is asking a link to the above. I found my managers were generally ignorant and assumed it was like other medical appointments (which we do have to make time up for/take off).

Thank you

I think they're just annoyed because I'm essentially working less than 4 days a week a lot of the time

Just say you can move appointments to the weekend as they’re unavailable then. I’ve never heard of a company asking you to shift any appointments to the weekend - a lot of places are closed!!

I meant ‘can’t move to the weekend’.

I agree with PP- get in writing first, so that if there are further problems you have evidence of completely inappropriate behaviour. Then respond with why your answer is no. Make sure your HR is aware of the issue.

Consider joining a union.

This. Get everything in writing and protect yourself.

I'm not surprised they're annoyed. They don't have any legal standing though.

Print out the information in this link and show it to your employer.

www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights/time-off-for-pregnancy-appointments

If that does not work then call ACAS for advice on how to handle the situation and what to do next.

I had a colleague put in a tough place by an employer who tried to bully and manipulate her. Get everything in writing. You have the right to these appointments! If they say anything to colleagues, also make sure you get a written statement from them too! A colleague had an issue where staff and parents (this person is a teacher) were told private information. Many parents came forward and gave a statement because they were appalled at how their child's teacher was treated when trying to do what's best for her own baby.