Antenatal hospital appointment, working part time ...

[TheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter]

I work 2 days a week, expecting dc2. I work in a very small company, have definitely gone above and beyond for them over past 6 years. Just been given 20 week scan date and unfortunately it's on a work day, so I'd only be able to do a couple of hours in the morning.

Now, previously I worked FT and didnt blink at time off for appts, but I feel that doing this (rather than working two different days that week) would make me a bit of a CF.

Granted, NHS appts are relatively limited, and to move work days would mean arranging for 2.5-3 days of childcare that week instead of usual 2.....

But it didnt even cross my mind for a second to just take that day off work, despite being legally entitled, until boss basically said it was up to me how I wanted to plan that week.

What would you do?

Just take the day off.

I would move the appointment to one of my three days off.

Can’t you change the date? To a day you don’t work?

I’d swap your non working days around so you work a different day instead, and take the hit on childcare costs if that’s an option.

Just take the time you need for your appointment during your work day. Unless you deliberately scheduled it for a day you were working I don't see the big deal. The NHS can't swap appointments at the drop of a hat and you're perfectly entitled to the time. Your boss has OKed it. There's no problem.

Stop feeling guilty about being a human and taking what you're reasonably entitled to!

Moving appt not possible, i asked for non working day appt but not available...

I'll most likely move working days unless majority think otherwise! But I must say I dont feel indebted to company, given how much blood sweat and tears they've extracted from me over the years!!

Advice to move the appointment must be a joke surely? Good luck with that.

I've arranged all mine for my days off but I am in a training role currently so I feel I benefit from the 2.5 days at work - if I was in a different job I'd probably just go on a working day.

If you can rearrange childcare then i’d swap your work day that week. If you can’t do that then try and change the scan date to one of your non work days.

You are legally entitled to paid time off for these appointments, like everyone else. Don't move the appointment or pay for more childcare - really not necessary!

I’d move working days. I quite often have hospital appointments and shuffle my days round to accommodate them.
It would have been nice for them to give you the time off though.

I would move working day if feasible. Yes, you have given a lot to the company, but having a part-time job can be very hard to come by at a certain level.

You are supposed to have appointments outside work hours if If you can’t get childcare at all (single mum, special needs, ...) and nothing else is available, you are in your rights to take the hours off, but you need to make an efford

Thanks all!

If you work fixed days, I would just go to the appt, can't really change hospital appts. If you change your work days every week I would feel a bit cheeky. I would book my GP visits for my days off if I could.

I work part time and wherever possible did my appointments on non working days. However I didn’t have any childcare on those days for my toddler and so it wasn’t always possible.

You are entitled to “reasonable time off”, not to “time off”. so if you work (very) parttime you need to make a case for the “reasonable” element (childcare costing a fortune could be one if you are on a lowish salary, or kids with special needs where childcare isn’t readily available,...)

Go in for the morning and then go to appointment.

Its a twenty week scan. Its not like you're going every week. I have taken time for antenatal appointments off with no dilemma at all when part time. Part time means you get part time pay, its not a charity case!

Do people who work full time offer to come in on a saturday or make up the hours in the evening? What nonsense.

I would keep the appointment but for ones you can book yourself book them on non working dats

Take the time off- you are entitled to it. Do full timers have to make the time up???

Could you not do the couple of hours in the morning and then return to work after? Why do you need the full day?

I moved mine to when I wasn't working, no problems. Yes, you are entitled to time off for appointments but surely it would just easier to book it for when you're off?

Not if when you are off is also when you have other dc at home, and you are not supposed to bring them to the scan with you..