Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

I don't want to use a days holiday for this hospital appointment!

65 replies

TwentyCups · 05/09/2016 20:34

Ok, just wondering what other people think here/situations in your workplace.
I've posted on here previously about my contraceptive implant which was inserted too deep into my arm. My local GUM are unable to remove it (ouch!) and have said I need referring by GP to have it out at sbother hospital. My nearest city hospital does not take referrals for this, the nearest hospital that does is 1 1/2 hour drive away.
I don't get to choose when the appointment will be, as they are very busy I've been told. It cannot be done evenings or weekends. Normally for appointments we are allowed to leave early/start late and make the time up (work through lunch or similar). However, as I will need realistically at the very minimum four hours (potentially longer) away I cant do this. I know I can't use sick here. Is my only option to use a days holiday? I would really rather not. Is it unreasonable?

OP posts:

SarfEast1cated · 05/09/2016 21:11

I would get a paid day off too. If you paid a private clinic to do it, would it cost more that your days wage?

Original poster

TwentyCups · 05/09/2016 21:16

I don't know how I would go about doing it privately actually. They would need to be able to ultrasound my arm so I don't know if any could? I think it would be considerably more than a days pay for me (I'm on a low wage) so don't think I could consider it anyway.

OP posts:

daisypond · 05/09/2016 21:21

It's normal to use your annual leave for hospital appointments or unpaid leave. Some generous companies may offer it to you as sick leave, though. Can you swap shifts with someone? One and a half hours away isn't that far, in my opinion. I regularly take one of my DC to hospital several times a year, and my commute to hospital is nearly two hours one way. The appointments all come out of my annual leave, and I sometimes have very little annual leave left in a year. Do you work full time? Because if so, 21 days is below the statutory minimum. You're entitled to 28 paid days a year, including bank holidays.

Original poster

TwentyCups · 05/09/2016 21:26

Thanks daisy. Im now feeling grateful this is a one off for me, it must be very hard to arrange this multiple times a year and use so much leave for it.
It just be 22 days then, apologies!

OP posts:

Dixiechickonhols · 05/09/2016 21:29

Check your employee handbook. My workplace is same - unpaid but option to make time up. Can you work overtime to bank time to cover the appointment eg 30 mins extra a day for a few weeks?

I attend NHS appointments 200 miles away which mean a full day off work. I usually try and work extra in advance but if not unpaid.

When you get your apt call and see if there is any flexibility - I've found them willing to move things as I cannot physically get to a 9am apt in London.

Original poster

TwentyCups · 05/09/2016 21:33

Thanks for the advice to call, definitely worth doing if it means i can work a half day!
Thanks everyone for your help, this has been most friendly for AIBU

OP posts:

PikachuSayBoo · 05/09/2016 21:42

I'm now part time so wouldn't be an issue but previous ft job (private sector) it would be paid time off/sick leave for a necessary medical proceedure.

MrsSchadenfreude · 05/09/2016 21:43

Mine would give me paid time off for this as sick leave - it's surgery, for goodness sake!

PuppyMonkey · 05/09/2016 21:58

Another one here a little at these responses. I've worked at numerous places and at all of them would have simply informed boss of essential hospital appointment and taken it as sick leave. Isn't having to go to hospital the very epitome of being... sick?

peasandquiet · 05/09/2016 22:02

Company policy at my work is that if you cannot control the time of the appointment then it can be taken as paid with reasonable travel time. Check with your manager as this may be your policy too. You will need to provide the appt letter as proof in this scenario so won't work if you don't want your manager to know what it is your going for.

Dixiechickonhols · 05/09/2016 22:07

Sick leave is unpaid though for first 4? days until ssp kicks in so even if taken as sick it would be unpaid unless you work somewhere which pays sick pay.

HeddaLettuce · 05/09/2016 22:09

Isn't having to go to hospital the very epitome of being... sick?

No. How is needing a contraceptive implant removing being sick? She's not ill!
It still needs doing but no, its the very opposite of the epitome of being sick.

Freshprincess · 05/09/2016 22:10

I'm really surprised at most of these responses. It would be sick leave at my place no questions asked, well apart from 'everything alright?'

Original poster

TwentyCups · 05/09/2016 22:12

Sick pay is discretionary (normally paid but not always - I think it's to stop anyone taking the piss). I don't really mind my manager knowing so long as they understand about it being an unusual removal due to incorrect insertion. Ordinarily I wouldn't expect this to be treated much differently to a dental appointment, but as a PP said it is surgery, although minor.

OP posts:

INeedANameChange · 05/09/2016 22:15

You know you have the legal right to self certify your absence if it's sickness related, right?

I suppose they could theoretically discipline you for it if you hit a trigger point or they thought it wasn't genuine (but if you have an appointment card then they'd probably struggle to do so fairly)...

I'd explain it to HR honestly and ask what your options are!

steff13 · 05/09/2016 22:16

I'd be able to take sick leave or personal leave for this.

T0ddlerSlave · 05/09/2016 22:17

I'd be interested to see if ACAS thought you had any additional protection because it is a female/pregnancy only issue. Talking myself out of this being a remote possibility but perhaps worth checking?

user1470771898 · 05/09/2016 22:17

Another one who'd have to use leave. Our line manager called a meeting to tell us how wonderful the management were in allowing a member of staff to carry forward a week's leave from one year to tag onto the following year's leave because she was going to need two weeks in hospital. We work in the NHS.

lionsleepstonight · 05/09/2016 22:27

I would ask for sick leave on the basis you'll need a local anaesthetic for the removal. So it is a medical proceedure and you will have a sore arm and would not be able to drive home yourself. Also, if they can't access it easily it may be a general anesthetic with a overnight stay. But that is rare, but worth being aware it could happen.

Lorelei76 · 05/09/2016 22:31

Ive only worked in private organisations
All bar one - where I only stayed three weeks as they were awful - would just give this as medical leave
On top of your low holiday days you don't get this? Let me guess, sick pay is non existent or discretionary?

Lorelei76 · 05/09/2016 22:32

Sorry just saw your other post

maisiejones · 05/09/2016 23:26

Toddler. Really? You think she should involve ACAS? Firstly, it isn't pregnancy related. Secondly, what a bloody hoo-ha for a half day off. And thirdly, if people really think it's ok to make this much fuss over something so minor it's no wonder some companies avoid employing women of child-bearing age.

RunningLulu · 06/09/2016 00:00

I just have to let my mgr know & she'll let me wfh. I usually work the time back anyway with all the unpaid overtime I do - she needs that too much to cause a stink over appointments. But you are legally entitled to use sick leave for your appointments. Some GPs will even sign you off for them if needed.

daisypond · 09/09/2016 11:45

You are not legally entitled to use sick leave for appointments, not in the UK anyway, unless pregnancy related. It all comes down to your employer's company policy.

"Employers are not required by law to allow workers to attend medical appointments in work time.

This means that an employer is perfectly within their rights to take the time for attending medical appointments out of an employee's holiday allowance. This is true of hospital appointments, doctors' appointments and even trips to the dentist."
www.workingrights.co.uk/what-are-rights-regarding-hospital-appointments.html

RhiWrites · 09/09/2016 11:46

I work in the public sector and we don't need to take leave for this. It counts as sickness absence.

Flip

1 2 3