If you work part time should you arrange all doctors/dentist/hospital appointments in your day off?

[iwouldgoouttonight]

Just wondering really. I work four full days a week and on my day off I look after my two DCs. I've recently found I have to take medication which requires me to go to the doctors to get a check up and another prescription about once a month. My line manager said I have to make my doctors appointments on my day off or take annual leave. Do you think this is right? On the day I don't work I usually take DS to playschool, go with DD to a baby group, fetch DS from playschool, sort out lunch, then they both have naps in the afternoon so if I have to go to the doctor every month I'm going to have to give up DD's baby group which is a shame, or try and rush to fit it in between things which will be a struggle.

Just wondered if I'm being unreasonable or if my work is being unreasonable. If you work full time you're allowed time off for medical appointments.

They have to give you time off 2old4thislark but they don't have to pay you.

...unless you are pregnant of course.

I work pt, and there have been times when I need to go to appts during work time, purely because I couldn't go to them trailing kids with me (ever tried to get a filling with a 1 yr old & 3yr old watching / destroying the dentist surgery?).

But . . although it is done in work time, I always work on late to make up for the time spent. Unreasonable for your employer to have to foot the bill.

I had a pt member of staff who always made her (numerous) appointments in work time. I put a stop to it, and we agreed that the only appointments she could go to in work time was if it was a hospital / clinic appt which couldn't be organised for her day off.

I think that even for ft employees, appointments should be out of work hours, or they should make up the hours.

Oh - I presumed that they had to pay you too. Don't think many companies would dock you for an appointment though or I guess people would call in sick?

I thought whether you were paid was discretionary. Obviously could be wrong ut in 25 years of orking I've never had time docked for appointments

My surgery does appointments after 6pm one night a week or Satruday mornings - you should ring your GP and ask. Perhaps change GP if necessary? If not possible, then book the appointment for FIRST THING on the day off, then you will have the day free for nice things too.

Agree that even full-time employees should make appointments out of work time TBH

this is hard. you should be entitled to reasonable time off for this sort of thing which doesnt have to be paid. When working part time myself i tried to get everything in on day off but its not always possible - can you offer to make up the time? And as a boss it did piss me off when some staff always did this and others were never did.

dont forget the working families act for time off for parents/carers

Well lots of people only get SSP 2old, which only kicks in after 3 days so calling in sick wouldn't do any good.

Dh gets paid only for the hours he works.

I disagree with most people on here. When you are not working and not being paid it is up to you what you do with your time. If FT employees get an allowance for dr's appointments then you should get a pro rated allowance. We get paid time off of approx an hour I think, but are encouraged to try and go early or late in the day. But I work for the civil service and there may be a lot of things wrong with it but they have a good grasp of the concept of work life balance.

Just out of interest what is your medical problem. I only ask as I have hypothyroidism and found out that it is covered under the disabilities discrimination act. Obviously there are things that this allows me to do that I would never take advantage of (e.g. I'm sure there is something about being guaranteed an interview when going for a job) but it does mean my work have to make reasonable allowances for the symptoms of my illness and the side effects of the medication.

I work 3 days and always ensure any appointments are booked for my days off unless a rare emergency. If needed, i'd simply switch days if an appointment couldnt be arranged on my usual day off.

I think its pretty unfair on the employer to book them on a working day if you are not full time. Most doctors and dentists do a late night so even full time staff can get appointments out of work hours.

Gosh most employers out there really don't want to take responsibility for their staff's wellbeing do they? How crap.

i'm amazed some of u have gps who offer late apts. Our first apt ts 9.15 and last is 5.40 and i assume that's so they can do other, just as important stuff. When i worked for an employer ( now s/e) i left home for work at 7.15 and got back at 6.40 at the earliest ad usually later. When govt let u have a dual registration for gp at work address and home address that'd be wonderful!

Actually having thought about it more, if I were you I would have one appointment on my day off for every four appointments in working time. Then you'd kind of match what a FT employee would do. Does that make sense?