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?

Either ask for appointment to be moved or work a different day and arrange childcare. I work pt and would have felt

I work part time and so far managed to arrange all my appointments for days off. That may change later as I’m high risk so lots of appointments from 30wks. I would feel cheeky taking time off when I have 4 days off a week

A day off? I would just take time off for the appt and then go back.

But if changing days is difficult with childcare then I wouldn’t do it. You are entitled to time off for antenatal appts.

I remember being lucky that my MW appts fell on a non working day. Although it meant DD had to come to all appts.

I do try and make up time where possible and swap things about it it’s not always possible.

I took a maternity leave cover job many moons ago and got to keep the job because the lady I was covering for came back part time. She then became pregnant again and I remember thinking she was really cheeky to have her appointments on working days.

Until. I became pregnant myself, and as the OP says, discovered that the appointments are when the midwives say they are and they were always on the same day.

I would probably swap my days round if I worked PT.

Take the time off. Where I could, I did my appointments on my non-working days but for many people it’s impossible to have any choice about scans or consultant appointments. Don’t feel any guilt. You’re legally entitled to that time off.

If they cant let you move the appointment then theres no question really. You have to go to the appointment and your work legally have to let you go.

I think if you've arranged all midwife appts outside of work then a one off scan where you can't take your child is reasonable considering the extra you've put in for them.

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

No, but they don't take a third of their working week to go to an appointment that sounds like it should be a couple of hours out of work at most, or have 3 non working weekdays that they could have the appointment in.

Obviously the NHS system is not fit for purpose if they don't give you any choice of day for the appointment, but it really is a bit of a piss take to have the appointment during working time if you only work 2 days a week.

You don’t need the day off just time for the appt plus travel

I work 3 days per week and happily attended appointments on those days if that’s when they fell. I wouldn’t have switched days and paid for extra childcare. That is ridiculous. It worked out that about half my appointments fell on work days. No one batted an eyelid.

Just take the hours you need OP. Not sure why you need the whole day?

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
OP hasn’t said she would take the whole day off.