Paid Time Off for Antenatal Appointments
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Just to add to what Kirsty said, it includes reasonable travel time too, so if you need to set off 30 minutes before your appointment then that should be paid too. You can't be forced to use any part of your travel or appointment time as extra "breaks". It's based off of your usual working hours, so I normally finish at 3 but often my appointments last until 6pm so I just put 3pm as my finish time on those days as that's when I would normally finish.
So essentially you inform them with as much notice as possible about your appointment and you have to be granted the time off. And it should not come out of your accrued holiday allowance - it is separate. It’s reasonable time off to travel to and from, and of course attend the appointment, so you wouldn’t get the whole day off. But say your appointment was at 12pm, depending on travel time, you’d be able to clock off from like 11am-2pm or something, then return to work
They have you give you the time off paid its law.
As everyone has said, you're legally entitled to paid time off to attend. I always schedule mine as early as possible to avoid taking time off and work from home so I don't miss much (as it would take me almost an hour to drive in after) but my work are also super understanding.
I always tried to get afternoon appointments then didn’t have to worry about coming back to work etc
I go first thing in the morning so they aren’t running late (inevitable it seems!) and then generally wfh as quicker to get there than into my work. My boss has been insanely supportive, but regardless you have a legal right.
Thank you all so much for this insight - it really helps 🤍
Basically, if its an antenatal appointment, you are allowed to take time off to attend without being penalised either by needing to work the time back or take it unpaid. Most places will word it in a way that you should try to make appointments outside of work hours, but where it isnt possible you will not be penalised for it. For instance, my midwife appointments always fall on a Friday, my day off, but i have two hospital appointments on a tuesday which i have no control over, so i am having those times off from work.