Do employers have to give time off to dads for appointments?

[dinomumm]

Just that really. Partner has said he can't come to our 20 week scan because he's too busy at work. Is he not entitled to time off to come? Hopefully someone knows, I was a bit confused by google as some say employers don't have to.

I don't think they do, and my local hospital is not allowing partners to attends scans at the moment anyway.

Not that I'm aware of. My husband has been told to take a sick day if he really wants time off, can't use a holiday because there's too many people off.

Of course not. Medical appointments are necessary for the health of the pregnant woman and foetus. They aren’t necessary for the father.

Mine is allowing one other person to attend scans and appointments. It's just wether my partner has a right with his employer or not.

Well I found this... but I did also see other places say otherwise so I'm not sure

PP are not correct. Fathers are entitled to unpaid leave to attend two antenatal appointments. Each period of absence can be a maximum of 6.5 hours including travel and waiting time.

maternityaction.org.uk/advice/rights-at-work-for-fathers-and-partners/

Legally it's up to 2 appointments unpaid, (we re very lucky my DHs work is happy to pay them for that time, I think that's rare) . It's at the bottom of this page :)
www.gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave/leave

@EmilySpinach thank you, I kept getting conflicting advice on google, obviously wanted to make sure he really did have the right to it before saying so with his boss!

Im pretty certain Fathers are entitled to 2 appointments.
I would check the GOVwebsite or ask hubby to ask his employer for a copy of their policies.

Yes they are entitled

I would check the hospital will let him in anyway before he insists at work.

@MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously my hospital are now allowing partners to appointments 😊

Thank you all for your help

Yes, they get two unpaid

Yup 2 unpaid, we prioritised scans as most people would.

2 unpaid appointments, doesn't specify which ones though so it would be up to your DP to discuss with his employers.

@Disappointedkoala this is the only one we want him to attend. He didn't go to my first scan because of COVID restrictions, I am under consultant care but I'm happy to go to those appointments alone, would be nice to have him at our anomaly scan that's all.

Yes, fathers are entitled to two appointments off, up to 6.5 hours per appointment and they have a legal right to take this as unpaid leave. It's at the employers discretion if they choose to pay them for these days.

maternityaction.org.uk/advice/time-off-for-antenatal-care/

This is also on the government website.

No. Dads don't usually need medical appointments.

Why are people continuing to post completely wrong information when multiple pp have provided reliable sources?

They don't legally have to no as it's not his medical appointment, are partners even allowed to attend scans now anyway? Mines not been allowed to xx

Aaaaaaargh.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-right-for-fathers-and-partners-to-attend-antenatal-appointments
www.acas.org.uk/your-maternity-leave-pay-and-other-rights/time-off-for-pregnancy-appointments
maternityaction.org.uk/advice/rights-at-work-for-fathers-and-partners/

@EmilySpinach 🤣. People don't like to read the full thread do they.

@sarahc336 yes my hospital are allowing partners now.

@emilyspinach ... dont waste your time lol! 😂

Ok. Loads of people got it wrong. Including me. But yes partners are allowed to attend two appointments as unpaid leave.

My understanding is employers are obliged to give expectant partners time off for up to two antenatal appointments (so usually they'd pick the two scans).