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

I would be happy to swap my days - it makes perfect sense to me. Honestly, some people on here seem to be rather on the entitled side, what difference does it make?

No way. I also work full time and a 4 day week. My first pregnancy I tried to have my appointments on my weekday off. I also realised that literally no one thanked me for it or cared. Second pregnancy I kept the appointments on my days working. They didn't quibble, everything I needed I was given without question, which as you know is your right. And I'm in a job where no one can easily cover me.

Would the people saying to swap have every single appointment in the middle of the day on Saturday if available to avoid inconveniencing their work? I doubt it. It's not easy working long days and the extra rest is needed when pregnant.

If this is a big company I would speak to HR directly about this as I doubt they would be pleased. Also how do they know you don't have other commitments on your day off that can't be easily moved? What if you had other children and no childcare on Tuesdays for example?

You need to have a chat with the HR department and tell them that you will be taking legal advice if the pressure not to attend appointments in work time continues. Discrimination cases are not a good look for companies.

If my employer was collaborative and helpful in other ways I would probably agree to swap the day off. It could be more convenient to not have to leave work and get back after the appointments.
However if they are jerks, as they seem to be, I would be reluctant to help them out.
You mention stress quite a few times which option would be less stressful for you? Sticking it to the man or going with the flow?

Stand strong op. Absolutely do not change your day off. Do not engage and write everything up.

People might not like it, but its the law.

you surely dont even have that many midwife appointments?

however i guess to ask you shouldnt cause offence
it does surely go both ways
normally the midwife should be able to fit you in on your day off?

I work compressed hours (full-time over 4 days) I don't work Mondays. My midwife appointments are on a Weds (this is also the only day the clinic is held at my GPs so there is no option for a different day) and so far not a single extra appointment or scan has fallen on a Monday. I have extra scans booked in towards the end too, all on a Thursday. I have never been asked if the date or time works by the hospital I am just sent a text and a letter with the appointment.

My boss has never once questioned a single appointment, she has never required proof and she has been nothing but supportive. When I told her I was pregnant I said I was worried this would have an impact on my career progression/access to training in the coming months and that I held off telling her a little as I wanted to attend xyz, she said I'm saddened you'd think that I'd behave that way but if I did you would have a case to go directly to hr and report me and I would deserve to be disciplined. I will add I work in public health and my boss is a medical professional (doctor) and a mother of 3, she has a good grasp of maternity care and also my rights as an employee. The fact my normal midwife appointments are on a weds and my non-working day is a Monday has never come up, in fact when I told my boss she said you are entitled to all appointments off paid, don't worry about needing to attend them. The people I work with are happy to move meetings and have been very accommodating.

Work can't make you switch days and must pay you for your appointments. If you feel you are being discriminated against because of pregnancy I would report it to HR. Hopefully they have been asking over email so you have a paper chain. Don't switch your day off, they have no right to even ask, like others have said do people working Monday to Friday have to work on Saturdays because appointmentd fall mid-week, of course not!

No because it would stop me doing things on my day off

They don't sound a good company to work for

Did you have a good relationship with your line manager before this

Every time they ask say "we've had this conversation, you can't change my working hours or days because I'm pregnant. I'm not changing my day off. Do not ask me again."
Any time they say "we don't know if we can spare you." You say "you're not doing me a favour, you're legally required to facilitate my appointments."

You need to do as much as possible over email or texts as you need this in writing. If they say something to you, ask them to confirm the request via email and if they don't follow it up yourself over email. "As discussed at 10am today, I have an appointment at 2pm Wednesday, I understand you stated that you "cannot spare me" but as explained these are necessary prenatal appointments you are required to facilitate. Thank you for understanding." Or whatever.

I was going to say, if they’d been otherwise really supportive then tbh I probably would, as maintaining a good relationship esp as you go off on maternity leave is important if you want to go back (we all know they shouldn’t discriminate but in reality…) BUT given your update, absolutely no way would I be doing anything out of goodwill. Stick to your guns, make sure everything is in writing, and if you feel you need to use some sick leave because you feel so awful, then do so.

Agree. First opportunity I would be looking for a new job.

Yikes a lot of completely ignorant answers on here!

You are entitled to attend all maternity appointments whenever they may occur. Your employer must accommodate this.

Your day off is your day off, don’t change it for your employers convenience.

I’m so sorry you’re being treated like this, it’s so stressful to be made to feel that you’re being unreasonable when you’re not. The company you work for has flown a lot of red flags during your pregnancy and as others have mentioned, I’d look into joining a union, or looking for another job after Mat leave. You deserve respect.

Take care and look after yourself during this pregnancy. Put yourself and your baby first and don’t feel for one second that you are unreasonable for doing so.

It depends on a lot of things. You don't have to agree, but I would, to demonstrate flexibility and good will. Presumably you won't be seeing your midwife every single Wednesday? How often does one see a midwife before the actual birth? It also depends on how much my refusal would have a negative impact on my colleagues, making more work for them.

What is entitled about expecting an employer to comply with their legal requirements regarding pregnancy?

No I wouldn’t swop days but would take the minimum time out for my appt , ie if my appt is at 10.30 and it takes 30 mins to get there , would work to 9.50 and leave and straight back afterwards. Are you asking for the whole day off ? As that would piss me right off as an employer

The whole situation seems to be stressing you out so much you are considering going on the sick.

Why not change your day, purely to avoid that stress?

Doesn't going off sick trigger early maternity, meaning you will have less time off once baby is born? Worth looking into your work policy before you go the sick route

OP already works Saturday, that's how she has Tuesday off.

A part time colleague always had her appointments on the days she worked. Comments were made. I assumed,rightly so, she was entitled to this.

Honestly then I would just go off sick. Look into the policy so your mat leave doesn't start but it's 2026 and I would not be fucking about putting up with discrimination and bullying. I would go off sick with the stress of the comments. They have no right to ask you why you are at the midwife and they know it. Gone are the days when people worked to keep the employer happy.

This!

You are suggesting that rather than expect her employer to comply with their legal requirements OP gives into their bullying?
OP isn't the first employee they have treated badly during pregnancy. By not standing up for her rights OP would be giving them the green light to continue to bully pregnant workers.

https://www.acas.org.uk/pregnancy-at-work/antenatal-appointments

you are entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments. You can always call Acas for advice, you know your work are being unreasonable, Acas might have some information on how to handle them. But I would also be looking for a way out of there.