boss refused to give me half day for DD hosp app

loopy_lass

does anyone know where i stand with this, my DD has recently been in hosp for 3 days with acute tonsilitus, Dr said if she had any more problems to go straight back.

well 3 weeks on and her tonsils are up again and she cant swallow, so off to drs today who said, consultant at hosp can see her tomorrow at 10.30, i asked boss for half a day and he said no...... he reckons no staff to cover, yet he gets agency staff in today to cover holidays....

so what do i do? try and change DD app and go to work, or take her to hosp. His argument is she is 16, my argument is im her mom!!!

loops

WestonDave

He may be within his rights to refuse you holiday if your terms require you to give say a weeks notice of leave (so for example he can arrange agency cover), but you do have a right to unpaid dependancy leave which can be taken at no notice. Basically if you go to the hospital as I see it the worst he can do is dock you half a days pay to make it unpaid leave.

Its a fairly unenlightened approach - my firm gets you to phone in as if you were sick and when you return you can either opt for unpaid leave or to have the day taken from your holiday entitlement.

dmg24

Unfortunately the right to parental leave, or to time off for dependents, does not apply in this situation.

Parental leave only applies to children under five (or disabled children under eighteen), and time off for dependents only applies to situations where no notice is available (you have been given notice of tomorrow's appt, albeit very short notice).

Conor_3

She's basically not far off being an adult and at 16 is quite capable of taking herself to the doctors so I can see where your boss is coming from.

iceicebaby

When I first started to read the OP I thought it was a very young child!

I would have been mortified at 16 if my mother came to a medical appointment with me!

Sunny2

I have an 18 year old and as we live out in the sticks and DD still hasn't passed her driving test, I have to drive her to our nearest doctor (15 mins car - good hour's walk, uphill, down down dale and along narrow windie roads). The nearest hospital is 30 mins away by car. No local transport to speak of and the bus stop is opposite the doctor! so, whilst I don't go into the appointment with her, I still have to chauffeur her. Perhaps, it's unfair to assume 16 year old can get herself to doctor/hospital? Otherwise, I think whilst the boss may be well within his rights, he seems rather unflexible.

daveboy

I feel extremely sorry for this girl....no independence of her own at the age of 16.

Sunny2

I think you are being a little unfair to the OP. You don't know the full details, how far the 16 yr old has to travel and whether there is public transport to get her there. Also she's seeing a consultant who may well recommend an operation or treatment other than pills for this recurring problem - afterall she's already been hospitalised once, which would suggest the problem is serious. I would want to be there too - not to make decisions for my daughter, but to support and ask questions, where relevant. When my 76 year old mother was diagnosed with cancer and after with glucoma, I attended the conultant appointments with her, at her request, as an extra pair of ears.

foxybabe

daveboy wrote: »

I feel extremely sorry for this girl....no independence of her own at the age of 16.

Thats a bit harsh. I personally think that she is very lucky to have a mum who cares. I would not dream of sending a 16 year old to a hospital appointment. Drs appointment yes but as a parent I would want to hear what the consultant said as I don't think a 16 year old is always mature enough to bring back all the information. I would take the time off unpaid. Family should always come first imho.

burnsguitarman

I totally agree with the OP. As long as her daughter or son for that matter! wants her mum with her, I would be at her side no matter what age she was! If it had to be unpaid then so be it.

floss2

Apart from anything else, she would not be able to give consent for any treatment / operation if she's only 16 - the consultant will want to speak to her parent/s