Appointments during work time

[user7889099]

I work in retail and after a cancer diagnosis have regular hospital appointments. I try and make most of them for my day off but sometimes they do fall on my working day. I was told that any appointments won't be paid and I either have to work the time back, use holiday or take unpaid. I usually work the time back or sometimes take unpaid.

This past 2 weeks the manager is off and 3 members of staff have had appointments. One staff member had a 2 hour appointment that she suddenly needed to attend. Another had a non urgent appointment after 2 days off (weekdays).They are not taking it unpaid or working the time back. The assistant manager is just letting them go.

AIBU to think this is really unfair?

Look at the absence policy and see if disability related appointments are covered as paid. Potentially they are discriminating against you. Cancer is covered under DDA.

Yea don't think they can do that with cancer it's a protected disibility. Most firms are really supportive and kind and helpful to staff with cancer.

Has anyone at your work actually DONE anything kind for you?

Agree with PP, cancer is classed as a disability and your company needs to consider reasonable adjustments. My colleague is having chemo every week and there’s no way she’s taking this as annual leave. She needs her leave to recover and do the things she enjoys. She has adaptations to help her as well given the chemo effects. Could you benefit from these with an Access to Work assessment?
Your employee should support you better and you have a clear justification if they can do this with staff who aren’t going through what you are. Hope your treatment goes well.

Do you know they aren't taking it unpaid/holiday?

Macmillan might be helpful with advice re rights.

I'd complain to HR immediately and say that cancer is a disability and you want them to explain why they are treating you this way and others (listing examples) are being allowed to come and go. Then ask for all the money you have been deducted back in your next pay.

There are two issues here - the rights you have under your contract/with your diagnosis, and then the different treatment from your colleagues.

Look at your contract and policies but also put in a complaint about the different treatment.

Sorry to hear you have all this to deal with

I don't know about cancer appointments being treated differently but otherwise surely it is normal to have to use leave or flexi time if you have it or I guess be unpaid.

You are not legally entitled to get paid time off for medical appointments, including cancer, unless your absence policy/contracts specify that you are.

However, if the company is letting other people get paid time for appointments and not you, it could be discriminatory depending on the reason. Is the company big enough to have a central HR function? You might want to arm yourself with info annd your annsence policy/contract/details of being treated differently and speak to macmillan for advice.

good luck with your treatment.

This.

it sounds 💯 discriminatory to me…

do you work for a high street brand?

Put everything in writing. Submit a formal grievance that you are being discriminated against. My gut instinct is they should allow x number of hours paid and the rest unpaid/to be worked back.