Employers and Time off for Hospital Apointments

SarEl

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I used to work for a housing association who followed local authority conditions fairly closely, and hospital appointments were granted without having to take leave or work the time up or take sick leave.

Obviously some time ago? Local authority conditions generally aren't that good any more. Most grant unpaid leave for hospital appointments now.

Savvy_Sue

Yes, it was some time ago now. Maybe it's no longer as generous: the deal was that if it was an appointment at hospital, you got the time off, as it was assumed you had no (or little) control over the timing. Dentist, GP, optician etc were supposed to be made out of your 'core hours' or on a flexi-day.

sharkie

I had this problem. I learned if i asked then the answer was always 'no', and take annual leave. I quickly learned not to ask, but to tell them I will be off, as then they do not have the option to refuse.

Fleago

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Yes, it was some time ago now. Maybe it's no longer as generous: the deal was that if it was an appointment at hospital, you got the time off, as it was assumed you had no (or little) control over the timing. Dentist, GP, optician etc were supposed to be made out of your 'core hours' or on a flexi-day.

The local authority in the area I live in has the same arrangement as you describe, Savvy, so the generosity remains in place in at least one area.

Savvy_Sue

Actually I don't think of it as generosity so much as common sense, as long as people don't take the p. More and more I find one DOES get a choice about the timing of hospital appointments, so I would always go for the beginning or end of the day as long as that didn't mean extending the wait.

terra_ferma

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Actually I don't think of it as generosity so much as common sense, as long as people don't take the p. More and more I find one DOES get a choice about the timing of hospital appointments, so I would always go for the beginning or end of the day as long as that didn't mean extending the wait.

Why would an employer pay you to attend a hospital appointment?
I think the OP case is one extreme of employer's behaviour, and paying you to attend your hospital appointment is the other...
Common sense somewhere in between....

joanne_d_3

Well , this thread highlights to me just how good my employers are !

I get PAID time off to attend ALL hospital appointments without any questions asked !

I also get PAID time off to take any of my children to a hospital appointment.

I get 1 hour of PAID leave if i have to visit the doctor or dentist during the working day.

I also get PAID "exeptional leave" of up to three days at a time if there is an unforseen emergency involving my husband / children / mum or dad.

Theres no limit on how many times tthis exeptional leave can be taken (within reason i woul imagine).

Im sure theres not many employers like mine...

oscar52

I seem to have heard all this before regards hospital appointments andnot being able to change shifts, take time off etc. Just a random guess, but you dont happen to work for a large American credit card provider??



Joanne d

I believe that leave for "exceptional" circumstances is now written into employment law and ALL employers have to grant this - but only if it involves a close relative like you have stated.