Part timer and gp appointments

[dailystuck71]

We have a staff member who works part time. She isn't well but is continually making gp appointments for when she is at work. Her not being there causes us to be short staffed. Hospital appointments are different but can she be made to make gp appointments when she is not supposed to be at work? Thanks.

This is an HR issue so her manager needs to check with them. I think it's reasonable to ask her to make her appointments at the beginning of the day or the end of it. I don't know where she stands legally, but HR will know.

Yes, hospital appointments are different. We ask our part-time staff to make GP / dental appointments during their days off. Unless of course it's an emergency.

I work part time and make GP appointments mostly during work time (I work 4 days a week). Full time staff get to have GP and dentist appointments during work time I figure why should I have to use my own time. I don't go to loads of appointments and try to arrange at beginning or end of the day though sometimes that isn't possible. Also sometimes the person I need to see is only in on days I work.

In my place of work everyone is entitled to the same -2 house for a GP or dentist appointment regardless of working hours. It's on our handbook- have you checked the HR policy on this?

Does she make time up? You need to bear in mind that part timers should not be treated differently to full timers. What is the company policy on routine appointments or is she under occupational health and this may be a reasonable adjustment if appointments are more frequent than average.

Thanks everyone. Checked the staff handbook. Appointments outwith working hours unless hospital or an emergency.

I think it's really taking the piss to have routine appointments in work time when you're part time (apart from hospital obviously) and I wouldn't think highly of employees who did it.

Like MrsPeacock, I try to take them at the beginning and end of the day, but generally I take them when I can get them. Which might not necessarily be when I'n not supposed to be at work.

It can be hard enough to get an appointment without having to rule out the ones that are available.

Maybe she works p/t because she had commitments that make it difficult to get to a GP on the days she is not at work?

(I am not necessarily condoning this, I am p/t and try to make medical and dental appts outside my working hours as best I can).

I work full time and book GP appointments at the beginning of the day before work or towards the end, in order to avoid disruption.
Same for dentist.
It is different for hospital appointments but even these have some flexibility so she is taking the Michael.

When I worked part time I did sometimes make GP appointments when I should have been at work solely because if I wasn't working I was on the school run or looking after my children; there were some things I didn't want to undergo/discuss in front of my children. But I would always check first and make the time up.

i tend to make medical (or in my case usually dental) appointment during my contracted hours, as that's when I have childcare available. BUT I'm on flexitime and always have plenty of flexi banked for such eventualities.

Well I work part time and sometimes see doctor in work time. However I can just bring work home and it doesn't usually impact on anyone else. On my days off I look after my 2 dc so appointments are difficult. I do my best not to take the piss with work but I can't go for an eye test with 2 small children.

It isn't always possible to get GP appointments to coincide with beginning or end of the day. In my surgery you ring on the day at 8.30 wait 15 minutes to get through and you basically have to take whatever time your given or they just tell you to phone the next day at 8.30am. Bottom line is there is little choice

It might depend on availability, in some areas these days GP appointments are like hens teeth.

Don't think it's just a part time issue, we have a full timer who regularly books appointments in the middle of the day, and still takes her lunch break. She had 3 on different days the other week.

As someone else has mentioned you don't always know what the part-timer does when they aren't at work. They might have another job, they might be caring for someone, there may be genuine reasons why they can't use their unpaid time.

ha ha, I can't choose when i get a GP appointment. You get what you are given.

I'm part time and as much as possible i try to see the GP on my days off, but it's so difficult to get an appointment that sometimes i don't have any choice.

The part time bit is irrelevant. For these purposes, forget the person even exists on the days they aren't paid to be in your office.

The relevant bit are your expectation/rules about when staff book GP appointments as applied to all staff.

I'm amazed at the number of people who deliberately arrange appointments when they are supposed to be in work. As a teacher even FT members of staff are expected to arrange appointments out of work hours (yes I know we get long holidays too). It would go down badly if someone said they had to be out for a couple of hours to go to the GP. I always took kids when they were little as had no childcare unless in work. They found the whole thing quite entertaining.
YANBU to expect someone who is PT to book these appts on their day off.

It's down to overall attitude isn't it.
I work PT and wouldn't dream of making a GP or dental appt in work time, unless - as stated in your handbook - it were an emergency. I even feel bad if I've had to go to a hospital appt on a work day (sometimes clinics only work on one day).
Of course, it does depend on the job to some extent - if you are missing writing a report or answering e-mails and can do it at a different time, then it is different from someone who would then need someone to do their work whilst they weren't there.

Holidaysaregreat

I have quite serious MH problems which often involve me sobbing when I see my GP. I don't want my children to see that.