Hi all
Just wondering if anyone has experience of this (especially any lawyers / people who work with billable hour targets) - I’ve just started a new job in a law firm at 20 weeks pregnant. I understand I’m entitled to reasonable paid time off for antenatal appointments. My line manager has been fine about me taking the time off.
The issue is that I have a billable hours target to meet, as part of my job I have to bill a certain number of hours a day/month.
I briefly asked my HR department if my billable hours target will get adjusted to take into account my antenatal appointments, and they said no.
Realistically, if they don’t adjust hours target then I have to make up the time outside of my normal working day, which is exactly what I thought they were not allowed to do?
I’m usually away from my desk for 2 to 3 hours for each appointment, and because of some risks I’m having appointments a bit more frequently than usual. Making up the time won’t be awful, but the principle of it is worrying me a bit (partly because I think it says a lot about their attitude and is making me wonder how returning to work will be after mat leave)
given I’m so new to the role I probably won’t kick up much of a fuss, but I’m just interested to know if what they are doing is right?