time off for dr's appointment...

WolfSong2000

Just wanted to get some clarification on employees rights to take time off to attend a doctors appointment.

I asked my manager this morning if I could leave 15 minutes early today to attend a last-minute doctors appointment. The manager refused as it would mean she would have to stay until 5pm to cover me (she normally leaves early).

I calmly explained that the only other option was a mid-morning appointment next week and that would mean I would lose an entire morning. She then told me I would have to come in early and work through lunch to make up the time. She also suggested that I leave on time (appointment was 10 mins later, surgery is 30 mins away) and claim I had got stuck in traffic.

Some of the things that came out of her mouth were staggering. I had to explain what my appointment was for (it's personal, so not happy about that) and I can't believe how much of a fuss she kicked up about having to stay an extra 15 mins later than she normally does.

She's also done the same to my colleague, who has complained to HR. My situation is complicated due to the fact that I am a temp, but would I still be able to complain to the company I am working for? The temp agency wont do anything as they're looking for more work from this employer.

elsien

I don't think there is an legal right for time off for appointments unless specified in your contract. The only exceptions are time off for antenatal care for pregnant women, or if you are disabled and the appt is connected to your disability.
Otherwise unless your contract says otherwise, the employer can say no. If they do agree to let you go, then they can ask you to use holiday entitlement or make the time up later.

AP007

you have no rights to leave early to go to a doctors appt. You can book holiday instead.

Takeaway_Addict

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

Just wanted to get some clarification on employees rights to take time off to attend a doctors appointment.

I asked my manager this morning if I could leave 15 minutes early today to attend a last-minute doctors appointment. The manager refused as it would mean she would have to stay until 5pm to cover me (she normally leaves early).

I calmly explained that the only other option was a mid-morning appointment next week and that would mean I would lose an entire morning. She then told me I would have to come in early and work through lunch to make up the time. She also suggested that I leave on time (appointment was 10 mins later, surgery is 30 mins away) and claim I had got stuck in traffic.

Some of the things that came out of her mouth were staggering. I had to explain what my appointment was for (it's personal, so not happy about that) and I can't believe how much of a fuss she kicked up about having to stay an extra 15 mins later than she normally does.

She's also done the same to my colleague, who has complained to HR. My situation is complicated due to the fact that I am a temp, but would I still be able to complain to the company I am working for? The temp agency wont do anything as they're looking for more work from this employer.

Unless its something protected under the equality act where a reasonable adjustment maybe the allowance of appointments during work time then no, there is no right to appointments to be allowed.

marybelle01

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

I can't believe how much of a fuss she kicked up about having to stay an extra 15 mins later than she normally does.
.

But on the other hand, she has finished her working hours (not "leaving early" - finished her hours!), and you are also kicking up something of a fuss about not being allowed to leave early (so not finished your working hours). You aren't entitled to time off for doctors appointments except in very specific circumstances - and even then you are expected to give notice of appointments. The same day isn't a lot of notice. Going complaining to the company about not being given a right that you don't have in the first place would, I suggest, not be conducive towards your continued placement in that company. Temps are easy to replace.

zzzLazyDaisy

You might also want to consider that if you have been employed by this company for less than two years, they can dismiss you without any reason and you will have no right of redress (there are exceptions such as pregnancy and disability related dismissals, but that doesn't seem to apply here).

WolfSong2000

thanks guys...interesting to note that one doesn't automatically have a right to time off, so I will bear that in mind. I think my bugbear was that if I had done as she had suggested and had the appointment next week I would have wasted a great deal of petrol, plus had a lot more time to make up in her opinion which I saw as unfair as most mornings I am in at least 10-15 mins early (I got told off by said manager for doing this as it showed her up).

I know I'm "only" a temp, and the assignment is due to end either the end of this month or next month anyhow (should have ended beginning of this month but they liked me and kept me on). For the most part I get along fine with management. I am good at what I do and I always try to be flexible to help them out (I am going in extra early this morning to help someone out - I wont get paid as I don't get any overtime, but I like to be as helpful as I can).

My manager regularly takes extended lunch breaks, leaves early, etc, which is fine (her perogative), but considering all the extra effort I put in with them I didn't expect (rightly or wrongly) for 15 mins to be such a big deal.

Anyhow...as I said, this is a temporary assignment. They're turning the role into an apprenticeship (good luck with that) and the pay will be appalling as a result. So I am just hanging on until they find someone and/or I find a better job, and they know that and seem happy with the arrangement.

There is a lot of workplace bullying from said manager, but at the moment it is directed largely at my colleague and not at myself.

BillJones

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

I saw as unfair as most mornings I am in at least 10-15 mins early (I got told off by said manager for doing this as it showed her up)...

...For the most part I get along fine with management...


..(I am going in extra early this morning to help someone out..

So you have been told off for doing something, and are going to do it again?

Is that sensible?

Nicki

You have no idea why it was a big deal for your manager though.

There are lots of reasons why even staying 15 minutes later than usual might cause someone a problem especially with no notice. She could have young children which need to be picked up from nursery before it closes (some nurseries charge £100 per every 15 minutes late you are to pick up after they close), she could be caring for an elderly relative and need to be back to catch up with a professional, she could play a team sport after work and be letting down a whole team if late, or be due to perform in a choir or orchestra or amdram production. Or she could not like being taken for granted by a temp who has only been there a short while and who told her rather than asked her to put herself out. Anything is possible.

WolfSong2000

BillJones wrote: »

So you have been told off for doing something, and are going to do it again?

Is that sensible?

The person who needed help was going to be available pre 9am and my colleague who usually works from 8am wasn't working so yes, I went in early. It's not like my manager was able to help the person as she knows next to nothing about the work that my colleague and I do.

I don't object to being told off if there is a good reason for it - if I have done something wrong I appreciate being told so I can rectify it, but coming in early so I can help out someone doesn't (in my mind) constitute a valid reason for objection.