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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Time off for antenatal classes?

26 replies

Tea1Sugar · 22/12/2013 13:53

Are you legally entitled to time off work for these or just medical appointments?

I've booked my NCT course and all the sessions are Monday evenings and two Sunday afternoons. There is one Friday 9.30-1 session on breast feeding which I feel gutted to miss. A friend told me I can get paid time off work for it. Really?!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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thehouseoflego · 22/12/2013 14:08

Yes this is correct. Your employer is legally obliged to allow you i'm off work for antenatal classes and appointments!

natwebb79 · 22/12/2013 14:26

Really? I figured that was only for recommended or necessary appointments whereas NCT is something you voluntarily pay up for?

thehouseoflego · 22/12/2013 14:49

Mmm don't know about that, it's a good point. But I'm sure if you told your boss it was breast feeding class he won't start asking questions!

cogitosum · 22/12/2013 14:51

I think you are. When I signed up for yoga they sent me something tasting you're entitled to pay time off for classes that help with preparation and wellbeing. I'll see if I can dig it out.

Casmama · 22/12/2013 14:51

I don't think it covers classes- medical appointments yes but if you could get time off for classes can we just take up an aquanatal class or something- I don't think so.

Sausagesaurus · 22/12/2013 14:53

My work give me paid time off for any and all antenatal appointments. I do think it's a legal obligation. You wouldn't be going to the appointments if you were not pregnant. I think all employers just ask that the classes doesn't mean you have to take the whole day off.

cogitosum · 22/12/2013 14:55

www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights

"‘Antenatal care’ isn’t just medical appointments - it can also include antenatal or parenting classes if they’ve been recommended by a doctor or midwife."

Hope this works as I'm on phone. I think Nct classes will count as midwives do recommend antenatal classes and you can't do nhs ones if you do the Nct ones.

thehouseoflego · 22/12/2013 14:55

I do know plenty of people who have attended NCT classes, myself included during working hours. I think it really does depend on your employer.

Original poster

Tea1Sugar · 22/12/2013 14:55

It's not a regular thing. As I said all the others are evenings or weekends, it's one session 9.30-1! Hmm I don't want to miss it :-(

OP posts:

thehouseoflego · 22/12/2013 14:57

In my experience I was rarely asked details about my pregnancy appointments. Mainly because my boss couldn't give a toss and all that women stuff totally grossed him out

Casmama · 22/12/2013 15:01

My apologies, it seems im wrong- must look into the aquanatal classes after all ;-)

natwebb79 · 22/12/2013 15:11

Really? So if I fancied booking a bit of pregnancy yoga that happened to be in work time then I'd be entitled to do it?? Doesn't sound right to me... I can understand midwife appointments/hospital checks etc.

Writerwannabe83 · 22/12/2013 15:18

Does his legal entitlement extend to the fathers too???

RVPisnomore · 22/12/2013 15:19

Take a half day holiday

Geneticsreindeer · 22/12/2013 15:20

I had time off for aqua natal and Pilates but I had problems with a flexible pelvis and lower back pain. If I had not gone I would have had to stop work much earlier so it was in their interests really.

Rockchick1984 · 22/12/2013 15:43

If midwife or GP recommends you do antenatal fitness classes eg to ease SPD then yes you are entitled to time off for them. Writer it's just for the mum-to-be not fathers.

I know you're entitled to time off for NHS antenatal / parenting classes, I just wouldn't mention it is NCT personally I would just say its a breast feeding antenatal class unless they ask for more info!

PenguinsDontEatStollen · 22/12/2013 15:44

The legal entitlement is to time off for ante natal care. This means that the actual legislation is slightly wooly and, in theory, ante natal classes don't necessarily count. However, all that needs to happen to render them 'ante natal care' is that your midwife recommends you attend. So if work kick up a stink, get a note from your midwife recommending your attendance. A very basic link is here at gov.uk

Natwebb - No, you couldn't just choose to do some pregnancy yoga. However, if the midwife recommended yoga to help deal with and manage a pregnancy joint problem and wrote you a note with that recommendation, they would be covered.

Writer - No, because it is effectively a right for medical treatment, it doesn't extend to fathers. That is why the NCT often schedule classes the way the OP describes as the main breastfeeding class is often women only, with an additional part of another class for both parents. Or my area did the one daytime class as covering post natal recovery and discussing all the lovely bits like piles and bleeding!

PenguinsDontEatStollen · 22/12/2013 15:45

Sorry, cross post there with RockChick.

thehouseoflego · 22/12/2013 16:06

I think it really depends you work for, they just need to check.

Friend who's due tomorrow and works for local government was allowed to leave from work to go to pilates and physio sessions. That surprise me!

PenguinsDontEatStollen · 22/12/2013 16:18

Legally it doesn't depend who you work for, the summary above is the legal position.

However, you are right that some employers will have very generous policies on time off during pregnancy which go above and beyond the legal minimum (physio would always be covered as ante natal care, and potentially pilates too if linked in with the same underlying health issue)

VJONES1985 · 22/12/2013 16:44

Are the NHS ones free of charge?

Writerwannabe83 · 22/12/2013 16:47

No, mine are £14 each - that includes the birthing partner coming along too.

VJONES1985 · 22/12/2013 16:53

Ah right. And how many months do you need to be to start them?

Original poster

Tea1Sugar · 22/12/2013 17:02

NCT is around £300 for 16/18 hours with partner and mainly (aside from the session mentioned in my op) are evenings and weekends. When I had dd1 (3.5 years ago) NHS were free I think they are now around £20 per session.

OP posts:

Writerwannabe83 · 22/12/2013 17:17

The leaflets I have been given said to book sessions at 25 weeks gestation. There are only 4 sessions offered (on different topics) and you book on the ones you want to go to.

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