Annual Leave, Sick or Unpaid Leave?

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I have a number of new health conditions, which has resulted in lots of appointments, blood tests, scans etc, so that the consultants can work out the extent of the problems and treatment plans etc.
Understandably, I want to have the outcomes from all the blood tests etc as soon as possible so that I can make informed choices, take whatever measures I am advised etc.

I work full-time in accounts. No annual leave permitted in the first week of the month.

I have 2 appointments that are booked for the same day during the time where annual leave is not permitted.

The two appointments are at 2 different hospitals on the same morning.

Usually, I am permitted to attend medical appointments and I make up time owed.

However, since the two appointments are at different hospitals I thought it would be best if I rrequested a half a day of annual leave so that I could make both appointments and not worry about making up the time from work.

My boss has not signed off my annual leave request. The issue is that annual leave is not permitted during a busy time.

(Everyone else in the team will be in work on the morning I have my appointments). No one does my work in my absence.

I don't really want to get into a discussion with my boss my medical issues, the different consultants I am under for investigation etc and their appointment systems.

I am very reluctant to reschedule the appointments because I want to find out what's wrong and what happens next. I don't like the uncertainty of not knowing what's possibly wrong etc.

To my mind my health is more important than work and it is only half a day.

My question is do you think it is acceptable to take the half a day as sick or unpaid leave so that I can make my appointments?

YABU - reschedule the appointments.

YANBU - take half a day sick leave and go to both appointments.

Should I speak with my boss about my intention to attend the appointments before I do so?

if your allowed to take the appointments anyway does that not auto give you permission to do both ?

I think you can reasonably say you have a medical appt that will take up the morning and so require AL for that .. you don’t have to go into the ins and outs of where they are or anything?

I think you should speak to your boss, you don't have to share details that are private, but they can't support you effectively if they don't know that you have medical issues.

If you're not comfortable with your boss, then speak to HR.

So your boss doesn't know why you've requested leave, only that you've put in a request at a time that you aren't normally permitted to take leave? If so, no wonder they've rejected it. You need to talk to them. No need to go into loads of medical detail if you don't want to but this is definitely something you should be raising with them so they understand and with the aim of coming to an agreement over how best they can facilitate you attending the appointments

I wouldn't reschedule or take half a day sick leave. I'd let your line manager know about the appointments and ask them how they want you to take the time off.

But requesting annual leave, being rejected, and then calling in sick without explanation will look terrible.

Don’t reschedule the appointments. You need to prioritise your health.

what will happen to the work if you don’t do it. Will you just need to catch up the next day?

you’ve already asked your boss for holiday so I don’t think calling in sick on the day is a good plan as they’ll work out It was planned. I’d probably put it on your boss (or HR). Make it clear the appointments are for health reasons and cannot be moved. No need to go into details but ask if he’d prefer you to take holiday or sick leave for them. Do you have a work policy on sick leave as it should cover appointments I’d have thought.

I work in HR and would be granting you a half day sick leave for this.

Hosp app=sick leave

This. If you’re not comfortable talking to your boss about this talk to HR. You don’t need to give them the details.

I have told her that my request for annual leave is to enable me to attend medical appointments which are scheduled on the same day but at different hospitals

It's for your boss to decide what type of leave they note you down as but for them to do this they need to be aware that you have medical appointments on that day.
Just booking leave at a time it isn't permitted won't get you anywhere.
You absolutely must attend these appointments so I'd have a conversation with your boss letting them know - you don't need to go into detail.

Thank you for your swift responses.

I have drafted an email telling my boss of my intentions etc.

It's been a while since I have been in this kind of role, so I needed a little guidance.

Also remote working can make simple conversations tricky

It doesn't have to. Just phone her to discuss. If the culture in your workplace is to ask before phoning, just send a Teams message asking if she's free for a quick chat.

It's often way more efficient than doing it this way than putting it in writing and having to make sure your email is clear about what you're asking, then playing email tennis with the inevitable questions.

Your company either needs to make an exception to the 'no AL during the first week of the month' rule or it goes down as sick leave, you're not going to be in work that day due to the appointments either way.

It's also probably good that both your line manager and HR are aware that you're having tests for health issues, just in case they think there might be any performance concerns.

If your health conditions are long-term you might be covered by disability discrimination policies - if you have an HR department asked for an OH referral - your medical appointment absences can be worked into a reasonable adjustment plan.

You need to talk to your boss. It'll be flagged up as a performance issue if you don't and take that much leave.

I am glad I posted, all useful points, and I will make use good advice.

Fingers crossed all's well for me.

Thank you