Time off for partner's medical appointments?

[HettyMeg]

I manage someone who is asking for time off to accompany their partner to medical appointments - not antenatal. Has anyone any experience of this? Our company doesn't have any policy relating to time off for medical appointments. I have always managed my own by working around it - ie making up the time later - as have colleagues. Bit worried this could become an issue if they start asking for more time and it's not even their own appointment.

I would expect to take annual leave or make time up. Is this likely to be ongoing?

Wonder how the child free employees feel.

My DH/partner's manager has told him to manage his time so he can take me to appointments. She's empathetic as she also has caring commitments which helps a lot.

Parents aren't usually classed as dependents.

Taking parents to appointments wouldn't be classed as emergency dependents leave.

I would like to think most managers would authorise the time off to take relatives/spouses to appointments, but wouldn't expect it to be necessarily granted as paid or additional leave.

OP, when going for a consultation on cancer or a number of other serious issues, the patient is advised to take someone with them because the scale and the detail of the news can be hard to take in, and they need someone to write it down for them.

Some people do not want to share the news with anyone other than their partner at that stage. So it may be that is the reason.

Those aren't emergencies though...

Some employers still think family friendly policies only means kids

A cancer appointment isnt an emergency? Would you have said the same if the cancer appointment was for a child.

I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a little more detail, not the exact illness but whether it is potentially a long term condition, so you can decide on the best approach.

As a one off I'd just ask them to make the time up. For a recurring need, even if they aren't formally registered as a carer, where I work it would probably be handled as carer's leave (unpaid special leave). I wouldn't expect paid leave to be granted unless in an emergency.

If there is no company policy it would be down to the discretion of the Manager/HR. If there are going to be lots of appointments I would suggest that they take a half day for each one or they make up the time by coming in early, not having a lunch break or working late. At my company I would be expected to take holiday, unpaid leave or to make up the time if it was for my DC.

No, they’re two separate points. Employers must allow time off for dependent emergencies. A decent employer will also make provision for serious issues too. We accept such crumbs in this country.

They are if they depend on you 🫡

Again from ACAS;

Who counts as a dependant
An employee's dependants can include:

• their husband, wife, civil partner or partner
• their child
• their parent
• a person who lives in their household (not tenants, lodgers or employees)
• a person who relies on them, such as an elderly neighbour

https://www.acas.org.uk/time-off-for-dependants

I have had many half days off over the last 4 years to hold my mother’s hand through investigations, cancer diagnosis, MRIs and follow up appts; bone density scans, x rays and shortly, hip replacement. She’s a widow and her hip pain prevents her from driving.

In your colleague’s case, I’d allow them to go if their role was such that it could be uncovered, or covered by someone else, for the duration, and they were able to make up the hours elsewhere within a reasonable time. If their absence is going to cause someone difficulties or notably increased workload, then I’d sit down with them and work out what to do. I’d set expectations too, and want to know the size of the ask - is this going to be a frequent need? A one off? Once a month? I would try and make it work for the business as well as the employee.

My role is fairly flexible though and not “front line”. We work flexitime and I always make up my time within a week. I have a “passport” that allows me “no quibble” to flex as much as I need to for dependents (my teenage DS was also being investigated for a heart condition) - I can take this with me to any other job within the organisation. It is essentially an agreement between me, saying what I need, and my line manager, saying what he wants. This is a fantastic, cost neutral perk. I have never taken the piss. It’s hard enough looking after two generations as it is, I’m not going to jeopardise my freedom to do it.

You could break down a day of their annual leave into hours so they've say, 8 hours, to use for this purpose.
As people are not taking work time for their own appointments I dont think you can just give them the time.
Ive always been lucky and been given any time I've needed ... I'm sure I paid it back over the years though, without counting.

My husband took me to my hospital appointment this morning and I'm a competent adult. I had shoulder surgery 3 weeks ago so still cannot drive. Public transport would require 2 buses and 2 trains, and because my appointment was so early, 7.40, I'd have to leave at 6.30 yesterday evening and spend 7 hours in the waiting room.

An appointment is just that... and appointment. A preset time.
An emergency is a sudden event or something requiring immediate action.

It doesn't matter the age of the person, the definition doesn't change.

Speak for yourself. My DH has been to all my cancer appointments with me and has been essential since I lost the ability to walk far. Thankfully he had already taken early retirement; it would be much harder if he were still working.

Depends what the appointment is for. Something routine or a gp appointment for a minor illness I would expect someone to go alone as long as they have means of getting there. A hospital appointment for a serious or more complex condition it’s very usual for partners to go for support.

Surely it's compassionate leave? And there's either a number of days of it woven into contract or it must be taken unpaid?
It's not sick leave as it's not the employee who's ill.

How fortunate you are to have never known anyone to need an emergency appointment. Long may that continue for you and your loved ones.

I think if an employee is asking for paid time off, without having to make the time up or use any of their annual leave, they should be prepared to give a bit more detail. Otherwise it's a recipe for disaster and everyone will want to accompany their spouses for appts that are routine. So context would be needed. If they don't want to share any information, annual leave or unpaid?

Our company doesn't have any policy relating to time off for medical appointments. I have always managed my own by working around it - ie making up the time later

Do you mean there is no policy relating to your own medical appointments? That's very poor.

With respect to your colleague - either it can be compassionate leave or they will need to make the time up. I don't think it's normal for staff to be granted time off to accompany people to medical appointments except for exceptional circumstances.

They can book leave but shouldn't get paid time off.

No, there is nothing. Generally you take the time you need without taking the p* and that usually involves making the time up elsewhere to catch up on work. But there is no set policy so my experience is based on managers' understanding

Some of the responses on here are shocking, I’m so lucky that me and my partner work for the same company. He’s had to take me to numerous appointments with my medical condition and hospital etc as when they flare up I can’t drive, move or think straight due to the pain . Our company is bloody amazing and doesn’t say a peep.