[Advice Needed] Work refused time off to look after baby.

AbstruseAlan

Hi all,

Just a little predicament I'm in that I'm hoping someone can give me concrete advice on.

Basically, my girlfriend has recently gave birth and due to complications after, she requires physio treatment at the hospital. As my paternity leave is over and I'm back at work, any time she needs for things like these, her mum has minded the baby. However, this friday, her mum can't and I'm scheduled to be at work. I've called work today to request I leave just 2 hours early on friday to mind him whilst she goes and they've refused.

Can they do this?

If not, can you please provide me with some laws etc that I can hand to them?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

an9i77

You have the right to unpaid time off to arrange for the care of a dependent, so if your girlfriend and mum can't then you should legally be able to take this time off.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10026555

Sambucus_Nigra

an9i77 wrote: »

You have the right to unpaid time off to arrange for the emergency care of a dependent, so if your girlfriend and mum can't then you should legally be able to take this time off.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10026555

I've added your missing word in red.

OP - as you knew there was an issue, then it's not [technically] an emergency and thus they don't have to allow you the time off.

However, if you had got a call on the day and had to leave then and there then they should have allowed it.

Not letting you leave 2 hours early unpaid is ridiculous though - are there operational reasons why you can't leave early?

If you think you can argue that this IS an emergency then I'd take the above printed out and argue the case with them; in that it WAS an emergency as your babysitter cancelled and you have been unable to find someone to look after him.

Emmzi

yes, they can do this. A scheduled physio appointment is not an emergency.

The employer may well feel g/f should be making appointments when she has childcare available. You may want to pay for private physio to prevent this recurring again.

Oldernotwiser

Could she take the baby with her to the Physio appointment?

AbstruseAlan

What I should add is the physio dates were given, not requested or arranged by us.

It's because her stomach muscles separated in her tummy rather than went over the bump.

McKneff

Perhaps the hospital has a creche so she could take the baby with her.
Get her to ring and ask and to explain the situation, I'm sure they will be able to help

Becles

Can she take the baby with her? I had follow up appointments after pregnancy and just took the baby with me. I made sure she was fed and had a clean nappy and she was happy to sit in the car carry seat while I was busy being examined.

teajug

Well, it seems that we have gone back to dickens time, what if the baby was snatched while you were being examined. Anything could happen, but it seems that as long as the employer is able to hold control over the employee and keeps the manager happy than that is OK!!!

Sambucus_Nigra

teajug wrote: »

Well, it seems that we have gone back to dickens time, what if the baby was snatched while you were being examined. Anything could happen, but it seems that as long as the employer is able to hold control over the employee and keeps the manager happy than that is OK!!!

I imagine that the baby will be in the same room as the OP's OH.

tanith

I'd plump for taking the baby with her too its only for the one app after all... why do you think the baby would be 'snatched' while Mum was being examined for goodness sake? She's obviously going to take the babe into the examination room with her so it'll be Mum , baby and physio! Who is going to snatch the baby?