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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you use your annual leave/make the time up?

48 replies

OlivesAreGod · 19/08/2019 09:10

Currently pregnant after lots of miscarriages and as such I'm having to be seen by the hospital regularly (sometimes twice a week). This obviously means I'm having to be in and out of work for the appointments which I don't get to choose.

I am using some annual leave for this but haven't used all (only have a couple of days left).

I know pregnancy is a 'protected characteristic' but would you use all your annual leave and lunch hours etc... To make this up in my situation?

I do try where I can but sometimes I feel very ill and take the hour at lunch to sit in the bog trying too cool down!

OP posts:
Hollywhiskey · 19/08/2019 09:13

You should be able to put it down to antenatal appointments, as long as they're official appointments I think you get the time off on full pay.
My company expects you to have your appointments first or last thing if possible or on your day off if you're part time but they understand it's not always possible. You certainly shouldn't be using your annual leave!
Speak to your HR department, they should have a policy for maternity leave.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/08/2019 09:14

No. Its a protected characteristic and work are obliged to give you the time off.

Yes of course book first thing / last thing / over lunch where necessary but I wouldn't be booking AL.

Have work been snippy about it?

apostropheuse · 19/08/2019 09:16

You're entitled to time off for maternity apppointments, so take it. Don't use your leave.

adaline · 19/08/2019 09:16

You're entitled to paid time off for all pregnancy related appointments.

Original poster
OlivesAreGod · 19/08/2019 09:17

Yes they are always official appointments. It's a pain because I have to go to a large city centre hospital due to the issues in my previous pregnancies so it's about an hour drive away which means having to leave earlier than my appointment actually is and not getting back until way later!

OP posts:
Original poster
OlivesAreGod · 19/08/2019 09:17

Have work been snippy about it?

No but I feel really guilty!

OP posts:
CycleWoman · 19/08/2019 09:20

Please don’t feel guilty about it. You can’t help the fact that you need these appointments for your wellbeing and that of your baby.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/08/2019 09:20

Thing is op what happens when you've used up all your Al? If you're struggling in your pregnancy you may want to use it to go off a little earlier.

Essentially you have a medical need for appts and the law says that is covered by work. That's it.

Original poster
OlivesAreGod · 19/08/2019 09:21

I have an appointment on Friday which I've booked time off for. I won't use anymore after that. Don't feel like I can cancel the holiday now though!

You've made me feel better though thank you!

OP posts:
DanielRicciardosSmile · 19/08/2019 09:21

I didn't use AL or make up the time when I was pregnant and work were OK about it. By the end I used to miss half a day every Monday because my health issues meant I either had a hospital appointment or a community midwife appointment every week. If work aren't giving you grief, try not to worry about it.

kierenthecommunity · 19/08/2019 09:23

Would I fuckers like use my annual leave. You pay tax and NI right? This is the payback!

I rarely feel any work guilt for stuff like this. No one is going to award you any medals for this.

Original poster
OlivesAreGod · 19/08/2019 09:25

It's more my colleagues I feel guilty towards really. We are extremely busy and there is a lot of stress (and general unhappiness!) At work at the min so I do feel bad when I leave twice a week (often for the majority of the day!).

OP posts:
ChrisPrattsFace · 19/08/2019 09:28

I had to travel 1hr30 to each of my appointments - it absolutely would not cross my mind to use AL or make it as time back.
I’m entitled to it - I’m taking it, you should too.

You should also cancel the holiday for Friday, take it as the appointment it is.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/08/2019 09:31

I do get you OP. I'm only on fortnightly hospital visits with this pregnancy but if I was still at work it would be at least 3 hours out of work, if not more and may go up to weekly later on. However it isn't your fault

Can you talk to your boss if you're going to be on twice weekly visits all the way through and see if thry can shift workload if you're falling behind?or speak to your midwife at the hospital and ask if there's anyway thry can get you in first thing or last thing? Not always possible but at least you're trying

Zebraaa · 19/08/2019 09:32

Didn’t you post this exact same thing the other day???

RedPanda2 · 19/08/2019 09:38

You've already posted about this!

RedPanda2 · 19/08/2019 09:40

If i was your colleague I would be pissed off to be honest, these appointments aren't relatdd to a pregnancy. I'll never be able to take 'payback' as a PP said as I'm not having children. I wouldn't do your work for you

ZenNudist · 19/08/2019 09:42

Id make up time in lunch break or overtime but thats the nature of my reasonably well paid job. Not take AL.

SleepingStandingUp · 19/08/2019 09:44

these appointments aren't relatdd to a pregnancy
Eh?

No one said her comemagues have to be happy for her, and if she's struggling with workload she needs to speak to her boss. But she's still entitled to take the time.

Original poster
OlivesAreGod · 19/08/2019 09:45

*these appointments aren't relatdd to a pregnancy

Erm yes they are. I am currently pregnant. These appointments are for weekly scans and other antenatal clinics.

OP posts:
Rarfy · 19/08/2019 09:48

Hell no. I had a very difficult pregnancy with consultant appointments every four weeks on top of the usual midwife appointments.

Work never took it easy on me, never accounted for the fact that I was dealing with a very difficult pregnancy and never started a maternity handover. I had a very busy specialist role I was stressed about handing over so much so that my midwife told me to go on sick at 20wks. I didn't but ended up in hospital from 32 weeks due to bleeding from placenta previa. Nothing to do with work stress but a part of me wish I took some time of sick now. I literally went home from work one day, bled, went to hospital and never left until my daughter was born four weeks later.

I never made any time up and never intended to. I wasn't taking the piss, it was my health and more importantly my babys health and all of those appointments ensured she got here safely.

Please don't worry about work.

adaline · 19/08/2019 09:48

If i was your colleague I would be pissed off to be honest, these appointments aren't relatdd to a pregnancy

Yes they are - OP is pregnant and entitled to paid time off to attend appointments.

You can be as pissed off as you like, it won't change the law though Hmm

RedPanda2 · 19/08/2019 09:49

Apologies i didn't read the OP properly. In that case yes take the time as paid!

montenuit · 19/08/2019 09:51

honestly - if your dept is really busy and workload is high then it is tough on your colleagues. BUT that's just how it is.
As long as you do your best to minimise your absence with appointment times, work hard when you are at work, just develop a thick skin and don't worry about it.
You'll be off for a year soon anyway! When (if) you return this won't matter / be remembered unless you completely take advantage (which the fact that you care enough to use AL means you're not that type of person).

AJPTaylor · 19/08/2019 10:03

Just hand in the appt cards or letters.