Help coming up with reason for day off work for scan!

[MyFirstBaby93]

It's is as the title suggests. No one but my husband and I know about my pregnancy. It's our first child and we've got our dating scan the week after next. Exciting stuff!

I'm the manager of a team and I'm working from home at the moment.

The appointment is smack dab in the middle of the day, and we're a looooong was from the hospital - over a 2 hour round trip. So, it's not like I can sneak off early from work, and I'll have to take the day off.

I know I don't owe anyone a reason for taking a day off, but I've literally only just had a whole week off to move house. So taking a random mid-week day off so soon would seem a little odd - even to me? Otherwise I could pass it off as needing to chill for a day.

I also had a day off a few weeks back suffering with my pregnancy symptoms pretty nastily, obviously kept the real reason quiet. So I'm not sure I get get away with another sick day.

My team will therefore be a little suspicious with me having the day off, and I just wondered if you could help me come up with a simple reason for the day off? Lockdown complicates things somewhat or else it would be easy!

I'm not a fan of telling porkies, but I really want to keep the reason for my day off quiet until my husband and I know all is OK, and can then bring our close friends and family in on the news. Any suggestion would be appreciated :)

Couldn’t you book a day’s annual leave?
Or say you have a medical appointment that you need to attend?

I’d just say you had a medical appointment, I doubt anyone would ask any follow on questions if you don’t volunteer any more info

Just say that you need a day's leave to get something sorted in the new house, if you need an excuse to book a day off.

Alternatively, just request a day without explaining what you need it for?

In my experience being vague after telling someone it's a hospital appt just adds to people's curiosity or gossip etc.
Can you say you have to go to the solicitors due to a house move issue?

You're having some urgent electrical work done on the house and WiFi will be off so you're booking the day off?

Great suggestions ladies! Thank you.
I agree with @Rosieredapples in that it will leave people wondering and gossiping if I said it was a medical appointment. So keen to avoid that.

I think @fellyjish has cracked it! It's a totally plausible reason, especially having recently moved home. No one will bat an eyelid at that one! Thanks so much for all you help.

Having a builder/plumber come over to do something and it will be noisy and disruptive?

Slightly different as my line manager knew, but I just booked the time out in my calendar as Appointment and told my colleagues I was having a routine check up if they asked, no one asked follow up questions.

That electric "thing" is genuis nothing to peak any interest .

Yeah annual leave for something dull on the house like the boiler not working properly! They can only give you a random time slot and you don't know how long it'll take.

Is anyone else on here wondering what will happen if their employee rings in with an issue about the WiFi in their new house tomorrow? 😂

@TimeWastingButFun my team are all men so it certainly would be a surprise!!

I was thinking this today! I am only 4 weeks and have booked in for early scan in few weeks..be first thing in morning so be in a couple of hours late.
If am still working from home no problem but maybe back then so need to tell lady I work with who am very close too and she will know something wrong so want to email tomorrow what can I say?
She will know it's not doctors etc if not something serious as you cant get appointment here at the moment

Also thinking something like boiler/ electrics and you can't be in the house an hour either side of visit due to social distance rules?

Because of course you can't be IN the house while they are in too.....

If its 2 hrs in the middle of day, couldn't you either work the morning, work the afternoon if not both? Seems excessive to take an entire day off? It also sits better with a few hours offline for- internet disruption, noise at neighbours etc

Does your own boss know you are pregnant? Companies are supposed to allow you time off for scans, without it counting towards 'sick leave' or coming out of annual leave etc.

My boss doesnt am only 4 weeks now, but if I say boiler and need to be out they may say come in here if you want out the way dont live far from work

Can't understand the neurosis frankly. Just say it's a medical appt. Your team sounds bizarre if it gets 'suspicious'.

I'm hoping dh is still working from home for our scan but he'll take the morning off as holiday otherwise (either to come or stay with dd at home)

Considering most things like general go appointments or dentists are not face to face at the moment (in my area at least) I would think that may add suspicion..

I would say emergency house issue like a leak/electrics etc. Though that would be a porky.. Same with family reason/emergency but again that depends on lockdown etc.

Good luck with your scan! Hope all goes well

I wouldn’t worry that people would be suspicious, they can be suspicious all they like. They still have no right to know.

Weird. Just tell your boss that you're pregnant and attending a scan. That way you'll get leave without needing to deduct it from your annual leave or sick leave allowance. If colleagues ask later, you needed the day to sort out house stuff.

I personally think you should tell your boss , and your boss should keep it quiet anyway as it’s confidential. Because god forbid something awful happens you would want their support. And they’ll give you time off for the scan without having to use annual leave or telling fibs. It’s always better to tell the truth and they will support you if needed. Huge congratulations though and good luck! I hope all goes well xx

Why wouldn’t you just tell your line manager/HR? You are entitled to time off for this without using annual leave.

As pp said if you get bad news (god forbid but I myself have found myself on that side of the coin) you will welcome the support x