are they entitled to ask this?

spidereyes

I recently needed to take a half day from work which I took from my holiday. When I phoned my manager to request the time off I said it was for a doctors appointment (it was actually a job interview but as far as I was concerned it was none of their business.)

I had an email today from my manager requesting that I send them proof of my doctors appointment so they can 'update my personal record'.

As far as Im concerned I took the time off as holiday so what I did on that time off is none of their concern.

This has never been asked of anyone else before and Im under the impression that Im only being asked to provide this 'proof' as they suspect I attended an interview.

I emailed my manager back saying that all doctors appointments with my surgery are done over the phone and that I have never been given anything in writing to confirm an appointment.

I haven't yet had a response but I suspect that this is not the last I will hear of this.

Despite the fact I feel that I am being singled out, even if I was to have attend the doctors I fail to understand why it would be of thier concern and feel this breaches confidentiality between me and my doctor!


I would have been more than happy to have told them I took holiday for a job interview if the interview hadn't ended up being a total waste of time, hence Id rather not say anything at the moment.

Any suggestions?

timbo58

Basically I am guessing it depends on what your contract states:
Does it allow you to take 1/2 days?
Does it have a minimum notice period for request? (ie 7 days before the date requested)

if your answer is yes you can take 1/2 days, and you have fulfilled the notice period, have leave outstanding to take, had it approved by whomever has to do that then I agree: they have no right to ask what you do on a leave day off provided it doesn't breach anything else in your contract (i.e. go to work for a competitor etc).

If it was as per my contract where the only time you can take less than a full day or less than 7 days notice is required is for emergency doctors/dentists etc then they have a right to ask for a doctors note I think as this constitutes a breach of contract otherwise.

Sambucus_Nigra

What was the notice you gave for the holiday and what is the required notice that you gave? Is it usual to take a half day for an appt rather than just go and return to work afterwards?

yvonne13_2

If you asked for a half day holiday why did you say it was to see a doctor?

When my staff say they have a doctors appointment I ask to see the appointment letter/card or if the appoinment is over the phone to bring me in confirmation from the doctor after so I can give them the day off so they don't have to take it out of their holiday allowance or make the time up unless it is something that is ongoing.

Did you have to give a reason? I never ask my staff why they want time of as it is not my business.

Asking for proof of a doctors appoinment is not breaching anything as they are not asking to see medical report ect as far as I am aware but I am sure someone whom knows more about this will come along shortly

spidereyes

Thanks for the replies, I dont know if my contract states any formal notice required but its always been fairly flexible in my office. Informal rules are if more than 3 people are off then we can't have time off unless an emergency. In my case no-one else was off that day.

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

What was the notice you gave for the holiday and what is the required notice that you gave? Is it usual to take a half day for an appt rather than just go and return to work afterwards?

I gave notice on the Friday for the Monday afternoon - I did try to reschedule the interview but they wouldn't budge.
People in my office have asked for more time at much less notice in recent weeks.
People even just say at 5:30 they will be in late the following morning as they have a doctors appointment and then thats not even taken as holiday - they've never been asked for proof.

In terms of a half day, it wouldn't have been unusual for me, I don't drive and it takes me 1hr each way on public transport to get to/from work

InsideInsurance

Then it COULD be they simply want to not take it out your holiday as they dont for others that come in late for appointments but simply because yours was such a long time off they just want to make sure you arent pulling a fast one,.... which you are

MissSarah1972

I would say it was a personal matter and you can not prove you were there. If the holiday was approved, I don't see the problem.

DVardysShadow

Well, as you are down the road of telling porkies, you could say it was an appointment for a boob job and as such, you feel it should come from your holiday.

yvonne13_2

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Well, as you are down the road of telling porkies, you could say it was an appointment for a boob job and as such, you feel it should come from your holiday.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

geri1965_2

What proof can you provide them? I make appointments with my GP over the phone and have nothing in writing I can show anyone. I would be inclined to say you didn't need to go in the end as the problem resolved itself/you resolved it with a call to NHS Direct, and since you had the time booked you thought you would take it anyway.

dearlouise

No they can't ask for proof. It's a personal appointment.