My boss has asked me to make up the hours I use for my ante-natal classes

[le27]

I am due to go on Mat leave 7/6/2019
I have always re-arranged my midwife checks and so on, out of working hours to suit the needs of my employer.
I work half days and so this has been manageable up until now.

I have received the dates regarding antenatal classes and understand how important it is that my partner and I attend the classes as it's our first child.

I am employed as a nanny, I told my employer the dates of the classes on the same day I received them and so have given over a months noticed as to when I will be needing the time off.

My employer has asked me to make up the hours elsewhere in the week!
I have already cut my hours as I'm feeling the strain on my body a lot and have to do a lot of walking and being on my feet. I said ok when asked but I'm sure I have read somewhere that it's my right to paid time off for these classes and that I do not have to make up the hours!?

If this is the case, how do I approach my employer about this as they have already decided I will need to make up the hours.

Thanks

Apart from anything else, you chose to get pregnant - why should she effectively pay for you to do the classes? It isn't like she's a company who can get tax breaks for this.

This is one of the factors that anyone considering hiring a nanny is told to bear in mind- if you aren’t prepared to shoulder the responsibility of being an employer, then don’t. But don’t expect an employee to accept less than they're entitled to or go above and beyond because they aren’t working for “a company”.

16 hours is a lot for an antenatal class that's bing taken during the week, most people take these on the weekend (usually so they can be joined by a birth partner).

Yes, you're legally entitled to it. And I've been perfectly happy for our nannies to take time off for appointments or when ill with morning sickness. But this does feel slightly like you're taking the piss. Of course it's the risk you take on with an employee but not all of us have an option of reliable local childcare - and unlike other users of childcare, we don't get childcare benefits, but also don't get the tax breaks that a small business employer would get (ridiculously, I could get tax breaks for a chauffeur to enable me to do my job, but not for a nanny). Covering all your extra hours, plus all of this, might well be having a major financial impact on your employer, or risking their job(s) too. If you are able to, some give and take might be in order. Why can't you find a weekend antenatal course instead of expecting to get paid for it?

What is your long term plan with the job? Are you likely to want to go back?

I think what you mean is your midwife told you the classes are available and offered to book you in. I was a first time mum under 22 and I was told about the classes but also told they aren't compulsory and are just available if I chose to go. I didn't because I didn't need them; waste of time.

Unless you're under social worker care and have been prescribed these classes because they have decided that you need to be told what to do then they aren't part of your antenatal care. You've already reduced your hours so you should be doing everything possible to get your appointments and classes outside of your reduced working hours. If you get an appointment then that can't be avoided and you just have time off but an extra 16 hours for a class which isn't necessary is taking advantage.

Antenatal doctor/ nurse/ midwife appoitnments - sure. Classes? Aren’t day in an evening though when people can attend after work or at the weekend? Ours were.

Poor employer. I'd be looking for a nanny as you've already reduced working hours so they have already had to make alternative childcare arrangements. I relied on childcare for years and I would have lost my job if my mine had been a awkward a you tbh. I didn't have family to rely on for work so if they couldn't do their job I'd have been out of one

I think some people on this thread are being really patronising and dismissive to you OP. Especially as you have already moved other antenatal care to fit around your employer, you are absolutely entitled to take the time for the classes. When someone employs a Nanny they are made aware they are taking on certain responsibilities as an employer. Hope yours is understanding.

Mumsnet really surprises me sometimes. Yeah so women have all these hard fought for rights, but naaaah fuck em

OP, 'antenatal care' specially includes classes so you are entitled to paid time off. Whether anyone else felt the classes were pointless is completely irrelevant, as is the fact that some people choose to pay hundreds to attend private classes at a weekend instead of NHS classes.

I'm glad I stumbled on this post. I have been looking at employing a nanny, but this has made me totally rethink. I don't expect paid time off as I don't work fulltime.

I was 22 when I had my first baby. I never bothered with classes as I didn't need them at all.

I was only aware you got paid for class only when it's been advised by a doctor