time off work for hospital appointment

SarEl

j.e.j. wrote: »

As a general rule a good manager will know which ones are likely to be wagging it and which ones are trustworthy.

And how do we know that this isn't a "good manager" by your definition? We don't. Perhaps they are. Perhaps they know exactly who pushes the line and who doesn't.

But we really do seem to be straying into the territory of the OP here, whose opinion is that they shouldn't be asked to prove they have a medical appointment. Opinion matters for nothing. Opinions don't change facts.

j.e.j.

SarEl wrote: »

And how do we know that this isn't a "good manager" by your definition? We don't. Perhaps they are. Perhaps they know exactly who pushes the line and who doesn't.

But we really do seem to be straying into the territory of the OP here, whose opinion is that they shouldn't be asked to prove they have a medical appointment. Opinion matters for nothing. Opinions don't change facts.

Agreed, and seeing as the manager in this particular case already knows about the hospital appointment, because OP has told them, it seems reasonable to provide documentation if it's asked for. It's how to go about it while still protecting OP's privacy, but that subject's been answered, in fact done to death already on this thread!

poet123

Where I work it used to be taken on trust if you said you had a medical appointment. Then one of the senior managers went for her own appointment and met another member of staff who had asked for the day off to attend the hospital. Senior manager had left work at 4pm to attend a 4.30pm appointment across the road from where we work, the other member of staff had taken all day off.

We now all have to provide the appointment letter, confirming both the appointment and the time.

heartbreak_star

Yep, I had to attend 2 hospitals, one was an hour's drive away, the other an hour and a half, both under the same Trust. I also made sure my manager knew which hospital I was attending.

HBS x

Acc72

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Yes. It does. Otherwise said manager ends up at the pointy end of a discrimination charge.

HBS x

The above may be what you think should happen.

What would be the "discrimination" ?

Have you ever known a manager to end up at the pointy end of such a charge ?

j.e.j.

poet123 wrote: »

Where I work it used to be taken on trust if you said you had a medical appointment. Then one of the senior managers went for her own appointment and met another member of staff who had asked for the day off to attend the hospital. Senior manager had left work at 4pm to attend a 4.30pm appointment across the road from where we work, the other member of staff had taken all day off.

We now all have to provide the appointment letter, confirming both the appointment and the time.

I bet that person's popular now.. :eek::rotfl:

I guess this is what happens is one person takes the proverbial!

miduck

Acc72 wrote: »

The above may be what you think should happen.

What would be the "discrimination" ?

Have you ever known a manager to end up at the pointy end of such a charge ?

Whilst I have not seen a discrimination case on this point, I have seen a constructive dismissal claim (settle before tribunal). If the manager treats staff differently according to how trustworthy he *thinks* they are, then (unless their reasoning is justified) they are on very dodgy ground.

miduck

closed wrote: »

the manager has been informed the employee needs to attend a hospital appointment at a certain time, presumably because they are sick, that's all the information they need to manage. Essentially they are calling the employee a liar by requesting paper proof. You dont get letters for doctors appointments, its no different

Since when did asking for evidence amount to calling someone a liar? If you take an item back to a shop you need a receipt, not because the shop thinks you are a thief, but because a small minority will abuse their goodwill.

Wellery82

I work in HR and think it is perfectly reasonable for the manager to wish to see a copy of the letter, if a company work on the basis of trust then it leaves them open to a workforce taking advantage of the rule. That said in my team i would be content to have a quiet word and trust the person if i am honest, it is always a judgement call on these things.

There have been a few good suggestions, and i don't think there is anything else to add. I would say that without giving any kind of proof however, then whilst the company may be sympathetic they are also likely to follow their disciplinary procedures, which would work on the basis you haven't complied with their absence reporting procedures.

These ideas have been put forward already -

• Ask a specific manager in HR to verify the letter for you and to notify your line manager
• Block out the aspects of the letter which reveal confidential information
• Rearrange the appointment for the next date on which you can get annual leave
• See if someone who has leave on that date is prepared to swap with you
• See if your GP will write you a letter confirming a medial appointment

Surely one of these will be an easier option for you?

SarEl

closed wrote: »

You dont get letters for GP appointments, its no different

But you do, if you ask for one, get an appointment card - and the employer is equally entitled to ask to see that! Or an appointment card from the dentist, the physiotherapist, or any other medical appointment.