Time off for antenatal appointments?

[Jach]

Hi wonder if anyone could offer advice/help? My daughter is 24 weeks pregnant and needs to attend a booked ante natal appointment with her community midwife. However having informed her employer that she had an ante natal appointment and would therefore need to finish work a few hours early she was asked '...do you want to make up the hours another time or take it as unpaid leave?'

I understood that this should be taken as paid leave? I know their is legislation re pregnancy and discrimination within the workplace but have no idea of the details.

Any advice/help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[MrShed]

"Pregnant mothers who have made an appointment to receive ante-natal care on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, registered midwife or registered health visitor, have the right (having first obtained the employer's consent) to take time off with pay to keep the appointment. "

 

How far in advance did your daughter let them know?

[Jach]

"Pregnant mothers who have made an appointment to receive ante-natal care on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, registered midwife or registered health visitor, have the right (having first obtained the employer's consent) to take time off with pay to keep the appointment. "

 

How far in advance did your daughter let them know?

 

Thanks for the above info and your prompt reply. She recieved the appointment end of last week,and informed them today (first time she had been back into work since recieving the appointment.) , the appointment is end of this week. Guess that is not a lot of notice though they are aware of her pregnancy and I would expect them to anticipate appointments for ante natal care and any pregnancy related illness. This btw is a big company (leading supermarket), thus my daughters job could easily be covered for the few hours she is unable to be there.

[rebeccas78]

Hi,

As a HR Manager, I would say that your daughters employer is being unreasonable.

 

I have attached a great link to the business link web-site page about an employees right to paid time off for ante-natal appointments.

This is a great source of information and answers all questions you have (it is written for the employer so read it from the opposite perspective!).

 

All pregnant employees have the right to paid time off to attend antenatal care appointments. Antenatal care covers not only medical examinations but also, for example, relaxation classes and parentcraft classes.

However, the right to time off only applies if the appointment is advised by a midwife, health visitor or registered medical practitioner (eg a doctor).

Therefore, the employer is entitled to ask for evidence of antenatal appointments - except in the case of the very first appointment.

 

The employer can request that the employee shows:

• written documentation from a registered medical practitioner, a midwife or a health visitor confirming that she is pregnant
  
• an appointment card or some other document showing that an appointment has been made
  

As I said they appear to be being unreasonable in the circumstances. If they continue your daughter may want to compile a grievance based on being unlawfully discriminated against in the process of asserting a statutory right (asking for time off for an antenatal appointment), she may alternatively just want to 'informally' drop this into a conversation with her Manager or HR Manager!

It may be the case, as it sometimes is in this type of situation that the person who is being difficult with her has no understanding of the employees rights in this situation. I am sure if she went to HR they would advise her properly (I hope it wasn't HR who have mis-lead her originally, if it is then that's a worry!)

 

Please let me know how she gets on!

 

Employees' right to paid time off for antenatal care | Business Link

[Jach]

Hi,

As a HR Manager, I would say that your daughters employer is being unreasonable.

 

I have attached a great link to the business link web-site page about an employees right to paid time off for ante-natal appointments.

This is a great source of information and answers all questions you have (it is written for the employer so read it from the opposite perspective!).

 

All pregnant employees have the right to paid time off to attend antenatal care appointments. Antenatal care covers not only medical examinations but also, for example, relaxation classes and parentcraft classes.

However, the right to time off only applies if the appointment is advised by a midwife, health visitor or registered medical practitioner (eg a doctor).

Therefore, the employer is entitled to ask for evidence of antenatal appointments - except in the case of the very first appointment.

 

The employer can request that the employee shows:

• written documentation from a registered medical practitioner, a midwife or a health visitor confirming that she is pregnant
  
• an appointment card or some other document showing that an appointment has been made
  

As I said they appear to be being unreasonable in the circumstances. If they continue your daughter may want to compile a grievance based on being unlawfully discriminated against in the process of asserting a statutory right (asking for time off for an antenatal appointment), she may alternatively just want to 'informally' drop this into a conversation with her Manager or HR Manager!

It may be the case, as it sometimes is in this type of situation that the person who is being difficult with her has no understanding of the employees rights in this situation. I am sure if she went to HR they would advise her properly (I hope it wasn't HR who have mis-lead her originally, if it is then that's a worry!)

 

Please let me know how she gets on!

 

Employees' right to paid time off for antenatal care | Business Link

 

 

Many thanks, excellent advice. I suspect you are correct in your assumption that it was an employee who was responsible for the misinformation, i.e unaware of company policy or current legislation. This is a BIG company whose HR department would be , I expect 'on the ball!'

However, my daughter was worried enough to call me and ask my advice on this, thus it demonstates how naive people are re employment rights. She called me because I'm a midwife and she expected me to know all about maternity rights!!! Well I know a lot more now than I did a few hours ago. Again, many thanks.

[rebeccas78]

It is scary that some people don't know about their employment rights but to be honest most people understandably expect their employers to treat them with respect and not abuse their rights, this would be great in an ideal world but is not always the case!

 

I hope it all works out well - please let me know if they don't play ball!

[Jach]

It is scary that some people don't know about their employment rights but to be honest most people understandably expect their employers to treat them with respect and not abuse their rights, this would be great in an ideal world but is not always the case!

 

I hope it all works out well - please let me know if they don't play ball!

 

 

Will do,although to be honest I cannot see such a big company refusing her the right to attend. In the event that they say its without pay or she has to make her time up another day I shall be straight back on here asap!

 

And yes it is scary that some people do not have any knowledge of their rights, employment or otherwise. I have recently had a bad time with bailiffs, (hence finding this wonderful forum), and I had absolutely no idea what I should do. I am currently recieving excellent advice/help with this.

 

It is a sad reflection on our society that we have to rely on generous people offering help, rather than from the source that initially created the problem. Sorry for the rant.......I hate injustice or discrimination of any type!

[Jach]

It is scary that some people don't know about their employment rights but to be honest most people understandably expect their employers to treat them with respect and not abuse their rights, this would be great in an ideal world but is not always the case!

 

I hope it all works out well - please let me know if they don't play ball!

 

They played ball when my daughter 'advised' her employer re her rights! Thanks for your interest