If you worked full time and had Tuesdays off, but was pregnant and your midwife appointments are always on a wed, and your boss wanted to swap your day off to wed because of this, would you ?

[Getmystuffsorted]

Or is that illegal to even ask

thats the only day the midwife is at that drs surgery so all routine check ups would be on wed

So you work compressed hours? Like normal FT hours but over 4 days?

Why wouldn't you swap days? It makes sense- you probably make other appointments on your day off.

I would because it makes sense. Why wouldn’t you?

I wouldn't, your allowed paid time off so it makes no sense to go on a day off

No because you are legally entitled to attend prenatal appointments and your workplace must facilitate them. Laws like these were hard fought for and are there to protect women during pregnancy.

As far as I'm aware op it's fine for them to ask you but it would be your choice if you facilitate that or not. I don't think it would be legal for them to enforce it or make things difficult for you as you are legally entitled to paid time off for maternity appointments.

So basically if it's a would you mind, that's fine by if it's a we need you to then it's not fine.

Do you have a union rep you can link in with if you decide to decline and they become difficult?

Presumably you are working compressed hours for a reason so you're still doing full time work.

I wouldn’t, I’m entitled to paid time off and I would be taking it.

If the five-day workers get to have their medical appointments in work time, so should you.

Absolutely.

Also, you will be pregnant for such a short time. It’s such a big upheaval to have to change your whole week / routine and then change it back again after May leave.

your boss was entitled to ask, but you are entitled to decline and still be entitled to time off for the appointments.

dont forget people work on Saturdays too

so mon to say

the workplace are making things difficult saying stuff like when there’s an appointment due at the midwife appointment don’t know if we can spare you ….

why do you have to do to see the midwife
it’s to do with high blood pressure
which they are not helping

I’ve already said no to the day off swap as I really need the rest due to extreme sickness all day
yet they keep on asking
and making obvious they are pissed off

when I told my boss the news she acted pretty weird and said oh at least x (male member of staff)
won’t be getitng pregnant and leaving
didn’t even pretend to say congrats or anything

midwife has always sent a letter to my boss supporting me sayi no I need this appointments
but they still choose to make things difficult
by saying oh well don’t think we can spare you
which isn’t really a flat out no

Our policy says you’re entitled to time off but should arrange on non work days as much as possible if part time. For standard pregnancy, there’s not that many midwife checks but high risk could be fortnightly.

Is it a big company or small? You need to see the policy or print out maternity rights to “help them” to support you. Sorry some employers suck.

Pregnancy and maternity are a protected characteristic…I’d remind them of this, and as such you can take time off for appointments.

It’s a big company, they know it’s my rights
I know it’s my rights

but they can still make my life really stressful for no reason other than I’m inconveniencing them

Op join a union and ask for a meeting with your manager and your union rep because that's unacceptable.

Seems reasonable to me.

Such treatment is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010, which protects pregnant employees and those on maternity leave @Getmystuffsorted

Would you point her to this site?

If it's a big company, you could also approach HR.

Don't change your day, you are protected from pregnancy discrimination, fortunately, by UK law.

I’ll end up going off. Sick as I just can’t face it anymore, making me unwell

this happened to the previous pregnant person before me too

they know full well they are wrong but they wanna push and see what they can get away with and I just can’t advocate for myself atm or take on fights
my heads not there and I’m sick and tired

Ask the manager to put it to you in writing. See if her attitude changes.

Get pregnancy is an inconvenience to the employer but women have babies … it’s how the world carries on going ….

previous person got treated even worse then me

Said if the previous person one their sick pay runs out they’ll be back
to everyone ….

@Getmystuffsorted

This site may be useful for you

It is illegal in the UK to fire you or treat you unfavorably because of a pregnancy-related illness. Pregnancy is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, meaning you are legally protected regardless of how long you have worked there

Presumably those people who think it's reasonable also think that it would be reasonable for pregnant women who work 5 days a week to have their day off on a Wednesday and work Saturdays instead?