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Original poster

Awkward over antenatal appointments

22 replies

p1annie · 05/02/2012 17:23

Has anyone else had to deal with an awkward manager at work. I'm a teacher and our 'Business Manager' (AKA glorified secretary) has been making me feel awkward about antenatal appointments. I live 1 hour drive away from my school, my local hospital is just around the corner from my house and is a different health authority to where I work.
As I need consultant led care my appointments have been during the day so far. Last week she said that I might be expected to come in to school for an hour drive home for my appointment, then drive back again, for what could be less than an hour. This seems incredibly stupid as supply staff are paid by half days, so they would need to pay for a full day even if they didn't do the first and last hour.
She also hasn't done the risk assessment on me yet even though she has known since the start of term in January.
Am I just being hyper-sensitive about my pregnancy?

Any advice or similar experiences? Thanks x

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 05/02/2012 17:29

Could you ask for appointments at either end of the day? Are you expecting a whole day off for the appointments? Sorry if I have misinterpreted.

StillSquiffy · 05/02/2012 17:45

my commute to work was around 2 hours when I was pg. When I explained this to my consultant's secretary they arranged all my appointments for 9am so that I could get out and off to work quickly. It is only reasonable that you try to make an effort to do the same. It seems a bit to think it absolutely fine to arrange appointments for the middle of the day and then swan round for the rest of the day rather than make the effort to go back (for however short a time)

callmemrs · 05/02/2012 17:55

Agree. A typical antenatal appointment doesn't take long, not a routine one. In most jobs the expectation would be that you only take the time out needed and are in work the rest of the day. I don't see the relevance of them having to pay someone for a whole day. Once you're back at work, they can redeploy the cover staff to do something else. I would imagine that there is always a use for staff in a school- eg they could get the cover staff to cover another teachers lesson once you're back In, which means they could do some development work, or extra mentoring or something. The school is effectively

callmemrs · 05/02/2012 17:56

Posted too soon
The school is paying 2 of you for that period of time so they should be able to use the 2 of you for any time that you're not actually at the appointment IYSWIM

ShhhhhGoBackToSleep · 05/02/2012 19:15

Hmmm, I think you are being a bit cheeky to be honest, you expect them to pay you for 2 hours before your appointment and two hours afterwards but don't want to make the effort to actually go in?

It's worth making a bit of effort to show willing, particularly at the beginning. You can ring to ask for earlier appointments you know? I generally tell my work that I was given an appointment at x o'clock on y day but will try to rearrange to 9am/2pm and which is betters for them? They then appreciate that I am trying my best to fit in and don't get annoyed when I have to go in more often later on in the pregnancy or I have to spend most of the day at the hospital.

In the situation you are in I would have tried to get an earlier or later appointment, or offered to take the two hours I could have made it in for as holiday.

I know you are entitled to reasonable time off for antenatal appointments and you can push it to make it mean any and all appointments and classes and yoga (!!) but if you are planning to go back afterwards and ask for flexible working etc it pays to show you are being flexible and making the effort when you can.

flowery · 05/02/2012 20:06

I have to agree, I can't see where they are being awkward about your appointments.

They are not refusing to allow the time off
They are not refusing to pay you
They are not even making a fuss about you having appointments in the middle of the day

They are making a perfectly reasonable request that you come in before and after the appointments, which it is perfectly possible for you to do. You just don't want to. Expecting a whole day off for each appointment when it's perfectly possible to go into work before and afterwards is a bit much really.

Original poster

p1annie · 07/02/2012 20:57

So far, the appointments were sent through the post and I didn't make them. I told my school this and yet they were still being awkward. Think they like being difficult. I got an appointment today and it's after lunch so I will see what they have to say about that.
I spoke to the Union about it and they seem to think that they're trying to scare me and to keep notes on anything else that is said.

OP posts:

whostolemyname · 07/02/2012 21:02

Have you asked the hospital if they can make the appointments and easier time for you? They may well send out appointments in the post but i am sure you can change them if necessary?

catsareevil · 07/02/2012 21:05

Even if the appointment has come in the post you can phone up and ask for a different time. Your employer doesnt sound difficult from the informaton given in this thread.

pointythings · 07/02/2012 21:46

With both my pregnancies I made every effort to have my appointments either first thing or last thing - with consultant led care this may not be possible but I do think you should at least ask. With DD1 I did see a consultant once about the possibility of my back problems impacting my having an epidural if I needed one, and asked for a late afternoon or early morning slot, they were great about it.

If you try and the hospital says no, you at least have a leg to stand on.

LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite · 07/02/2012 21:51

OP, you are entitled to time off for appointments and reasonable travel time. Just because you are needing a couple of hours off in the afternoon does not mean they should just give you the whole afternoon off.

Ive done round trips before, when I couldnt schedule them at the start or end of the day

nalubeadsgirl · 07/02/2012 21:52

You can definitely change appointment times. Even if they come in the post. You will have a ref number on your letter and you can go to 'you choose' on the NHS bookings system.

IMO I don't think school are being unreasonable. You should be showing you are making every effort to change the appointment to a more convenient time (ie first thing, straight after lunch, or after school, which is what, 4pm you could make in your own time?)

I think just because you are entitled to it, doesn't mean you should take the mickey. Just my opinion. :)

whoknowsme · 07/02/2012 21:56

Have you even tried to get the ante-natal appointments moved to a convenient time ?

Pregnancy is not a trump card to be played to have an easier life for 9 months.

Work with your employer not against them and they may hopefully remember your flexibility in the future.

Casmama · 07/02/2012 22:04

I think you sound like the awkward one to be honest.
Ask about risk assessment and make what attempts you can to get appointments at more convenient times.

flowery · 07/02/2012 22:06

How exactly are they being 'awkward' and 'difficult'?

hopenglory · 07/02/2012 22:12

struggling to see where your employer is being awkward

mnistooaddictive · 07/02/2012 22:16

I arranged most of my antenatal appointments in my ppa time which was at the end of the day. Consequently when I did need time off, they were only too happy to sign it off. A bit of give and take on both sides is important. You want them to pay the very high cost of a supply teacher for a whole day every time you have an appointment? This is probably the whole years supply budget!

careergirl · 12/02/2012 17:53

As a Business Manager I think this person will be more than a "glorified secretary" - that's a bit rude to be honest. Not that there is any shame in being a secretary!

BackforGood · 12/02/2012 18:05

I would automatically have phoned the hospital and asked if there were any possibility of having the appts either first or last thing, or when the PPA time is. It's what 99% of many colleagues I'd have worked with over the years would do too. Why do you honestly think you should be given a day off for short regular appts ?

PotteringAlong · 12/02/2012 18:09

The only time I couldn't rearrange was my 20 week scan and I went in and taught first and last period.

You cannot expect to have the whole day off - I don't think school are being unreasonable here.

Uglymush · 12/02/2012 18:19

They are not being awkward they have a school to run and pupils education to consider. Supply teachers don't normally deliver as well as regular teachers and therefore every lesson you miss your students miss out on 'good' teaching. Buck up and give a shit about the kids in your care! As for going to your union - why do teachers think they are special and everyone has to bend over backwards for you? Your union will tell you anything you want to hear to make you pay their fees!!

BrianButterfield · 12/02/2012 18:20

I had a lot of 8.30 or 4.30 antenatal appointments so missed as little teaching time as possible. They were happy to give me those appointments if they could.

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