To rearrange midwife/scan appointments for my day off?

[shuz1980]

I work part time and my first two midwife/scan appointments have been on my days I work. My work have said because i work part time i need to make sure these appointments are on my days off. I asked my midwife to rearrange my next appointment as it falls on a day im at work but she's said these are antenatal appointments and work shouldn't be asking me to arrange them for my days off. What would you do? Just keep the peace at work and rearrange?

My work have said because i work part time i need to make sure these appointments are on my days off.

They can ask you to do this but you can absolutely say no.

They can't legally refuse you antenatal care appointments if they fall on your working days.

I have just had a baby and had a part time job. I think one of my midwife appointments was during work hours which work had no problem with accommodating, but I did try to arrange the other appointments on my days off. It was no hardship to me as I was not in work anyway, and meant work didn’t have to find cover, or push workload onto my colleagues, which would have made me feel guilty (personality trait rather than suggesting anyone else should feel guilty about going to antenatal appointments). Unless you have huge issues with attending on your days off (childcare issues maybe) I would try and be flexible, as have found that a good relationship with your employer requires a bit of give and take

My midwives just give me appointments, I don't have much say about when they are!

You have the right to have time off from work for all medical appointments. Appointments are not easy to rearrange due to the high demand atm so it may not always be possible for you to get them on days off. Your work can't expect you to rearrange everything and should be more understanding.

In my area, midwives seems to only work on Tuesdays which is one of my working days unfortunately (and often tips colleagues off about pregnancies at work 🙈)

I never got a choice about when I had appointments. You've asked, midwife has no so you'll have to take paid leave from work.

My midwife does sometimes offer me a day so I do try and arrange for my day off. I managed to swap my diabetes test for a day off too, which I was glad about as it was such a long appointment.

But I've had some consultant appointments I can't change, and didn't get to choose my first scan date (although was given options for my 20 weeks and 36 weeks scans.)

I think it's reasonable to try and arrange appointments for days off when you work PT but your employers can't refuse you the time off.

Sometimes those are the only appts on offer some work have to suck it up. I worked FT but tried to fit them in either at the very start or end of the day to avoid disruption. So you can say to work you can try but it's not garaunteed.

Screenshot from the citizens advice website.

As others have said you are legally entitled to paid time off for all antenatal appointments throughout pregnancy including things like antenatal group sessions. It’s cheeky of them to ask tbh especially as most of the time you don’t get a choice of day/time!

I personally think if you can arrange them outside of work, you should. As being part time offers that flexibility.

If you are told point blank it is impossible to change date, then fair enough.

Legally they have to allow you the time off. However if you get the choice it would be thoughtful of you to arrange them on a day off, if it isn't an inconvenience to you. Especially if you work somewhere that they would have to get cover for you.

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

I had this argument with my employer. They lost when I referred them to the law.

@HyphenCobra

I personally think if you can arrange them outside of work, you should. As being part time offers that flexibility.

If you are told point blank it is impossible to change date, then fair enough.

Yeah I agree with this, I'd do the same.

@Noterook, @HyphenCobra that's what I did. Tried to get the appointments for convenient times so it minimised my time out of the office. But if it's not an option, the employer is required to accept it. They may ask to see an appointment card or something though.

Whilst legally yes they have to offer you the time off, I too work 2 days a week so when my first scan fell on a working day, I rang to rearrange the lady who I spoke to on antenatal reception didn’t ask why I wanted to rearrange I just said I couldn’t make that scan date can I do another day. I wasn’t ready to tell work I was pregnant either so I didn’t want to have to ask for time off for a pregnancy related appointment

I would try to rearrange or make up the time. I know I don't have to but it's what I've done so far.
I have a midwife appointment next week on a non-working day, she offered a few options. The consultant appointments I won't try to rearrange but may swap my working days or just work a bit later those days. I have a very flexible job and appreciate this is a great thing to have.