Paid salary - wages docked for dentist appointment?

krustylouise

Hi all,

Just a quick question, I am paid salary (and have been for the last year) recently went for a dentists appointment and received my wage slip today and I've been docked 2hours. Nothing is mentioned in my contract about this, so I'm wondering whether this is right or wrong. Obviously 2 hours isn't alot but if they shouldn't have taken it, then I'd rather it were in my bank than theirs at this time of year!

Thanks in advance.

nimbo

it depends what your contract says about medical appointments - when i worked for the NHS it was stipulated that reasonable amounts of time would be granted if an appointment couldn't be booked outside of work hours...

if your contract says nothing it may well be that of you weren't there - they don't pay you... what has happened in the past for you, or others in the office?

krustylouise

Hi,

Thanks for your quick response. In my previous employment I wasn't paid salary so was paid by the hour, so I was only paid for what I worked. However in this employment I have never been docked, for neither days off to look after DD, when I've been ill, if I've been late for whatever reason.

Hence why I'm slightly surprised and wondering what to do. If they're in the right then I won't question it at all.

ERICS_MUM

krustylouise wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for your quick response. In my previous employment I wasn't paid salary so was paid by the hour, so I was only paid for what I worked. However in this employment I have never been docked, for neither days off to look after DD, when I've been ill, if I've been late for whatever reason.

Hence why I'm slightly surprised and wondering what to do. If they're in the right then I won't question it at all.

there's no right or wrong - it is down to your terms of employment. If it's not specified in your contract it might be in your Staff Handbook which must be made available to you. Most larger companies have an on-line version. If not there either, you need to clarify with your hr - you have a right to be formally advised of their policy on things like this.

krustylouise

Thanks Eric's Mum. No I haven't had a staff handbook an my contract only comments on SSP when off sick, however our contracts, I believe, are generic throughout the company and some employees (like myself) are paid salary, and others hourly.

ceh209

Did you ask for the time off for the appointment? Presumably you didn't just not turn up for work.

You say you've been docked 2 hours - were you actually absent for 2 hours? I presume so but you don't make this clear.

In your case I would have a word with the boss/HR, friendly question just saying 'I didn't realise when we agreed I could have time off for this appointment it would be unpaid, can you check if this is correct for me?'

cazziebo

krustylouise wrote: »

Hi,

However in this employment I have never been docked, for neither days off to look after DD, when I've been ill, if I've been late for whatever reason.

Perhaps you have exhausted the "discretionary" paid leave?

I would go with CEH's suggestion.

Takeaway_Addict

I'm surprised you expect to be paid for a dentist appointment at all to be honest. Its not illness, its not looking after dependants, it is a pre planned event that you knew what happening and should have made alternative arrangements (ie holiday)

krustylouise

Sorry I didn't make it clear, yes I was away for the 2 hours, and did ask for the time off in advance (however I need to stress it wasn't a routine apt, I had an abscess on my tooth so was an emergency). I also should have mentioned that this was ok'd with the director (as is the apt required for the root filling I require - a follow on from the original apt)

My contract and handbook don't mention anything about apts, though I do know some other staff's absences get overlooked, depending on who they are.

Thanks for your comment takeaway addict - when I was tupe transferred over to this company they asked me to go to their terms and conditions, one being that I would be paid salary, so if I had to be off work, I would still be paid (a "perk" for reducing my holidays) so I'm not assuming I would be paid through sheer greed or ignorance, I guess I didn't differentiate between types of absences.

ERICS_MUM

in my previous existence as a manager of 30 salaried staff, appointments were at my discretion and as long as i was happy that liberties weren't being taken i would always pay for the "lost" time. In return, most staff quite happily made up the time - voluntarily not at my instigation. In OP's case perhaps management has decided that he/she has used up any discretionary time off on previous appointments ? Either way I hope you can get a proper explanation for this and future appointments.

Sympathy for the abcess, the pain is the devil's work !

krustylouise

Thanks Eric's Mum - I haven't used any time for previous apts, as there haven't been any, bar 1. It seems my bosses aren't too bothered about me working over for free, but have decided I clamp down on any time I may need.

Yes abscess in front tooth was awful! Luckily antibiotics have stopped the pain and root filling on the 3rd will be delightful!