Antenatal time off.

[WonkeyDonkey]

Quick question,

According to the government website if your partner is pregnant with your child you are entitled to 2 days (6.5 hours each) off for any antenatal appointments on the run up to your child being born.

So far I have managed to avoid any appointments clashing with work.

Unfortunately my next appointment is in the middle of the day when I'm on night shift that week.

My employers are rejecting my claim for an unpaid day off due to it not directly clashing with work time. I argue that I will not get sufficient rest between shifts as my job involves driving.

Do I have a legal right for some (unpaid) time off or should I just suck it up?

[deckster]

Not sure if serious.

Should I be asking for next Friday off work because I have to attend parents' evening on the Thursday?

[anonymous-user]

Suck it up. Or phone in sick

[TartanPaint]

You're going to be a parent, and yet you're worried about not getting enough sleep... for one night?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Consider it good practice for the thousands of nights to follow.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need coffee.

[C0ffin D0dger]

TartanPaint said:

You're going to be a parent, and yet you're worried about not getting enough sleep... for one night?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Consider it good practice for the thousands of nights to follow.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need coffee.

(Also tired (permanently).)

[Countdown]

I nenver knew this...

ACAS said:

Fathers and partners
Fathers, partners and civil partners of a pregnant woman are entitled to unpaid time off during working hours to accompany her to 2 ante-natal appointments.

There is no legal right to paid time off for antenatal appointments. However, employers may allow this time off with pay under the terms and conditions of employment, or allow employees to take annual leave, swap shifts or make up time.

OP - as with most things in life compromise is your friend. Would your employer not be amenable to you

(i) taking annual leave?
(ii) Swapping shifts with a colleague?

[WonkeyDonkey]

Swapping shifts is not a possibility unfortunately. I will take this as annual leave instead as I don't know the duration of the appointment.

The last few appointments we have been in the hospital for around 4 hours which honestly wouldn't really leave me any time either side to get anything other than a cat nap between shifts.

I just thought I'd ask as the government website states it as a legal right, but only during working hours.

[WonkeyDonkey]

deckster said:

Not sure if serious.

Should I be asking for next Friday off work because I have to attend parents' evening on the Thursday?

No because there are no legal guidelines to workers rights regarding parents evenings. Whereas there is for antenatal and paternity.

[essayer]

C0ffin D0dger said:

(Also tired (permanently).)

My children both slept through the night for the first time last night

They are 3 and 1

Good luck!!

[SantaBarbara]

WonkeyDonkey said:

Quick question,

According to the government website if your partner is pregnant with your child you are entitled to 2 days (6.5 hours each) off for any antenatal appointments on the run up to your child being born.

So far I have managed to avoid any appointments clashing with work.

Unfortunately my next appointment is in the middle of the day when I'm on night shift that week.

My employers are rejecting my claim for an unpaid day off due to it not directly clashing with work time. I argue that I will not get sufficient rest between shifts as my job involves driving.

Do I have a legal right for some (unpaid) time off or should I just suck it up?

Ask your trade union to support you.

[TartanPaint]

WonkeyDonkey said:

Swapping shifts is not a possibility unfortunately. I will take this as annual leave instead as I don't know the duration of the appointment.

The last few appointments we have been in the hospital for around 4 hours which honestly wouldn't really leave me any time either side to get anything other than a cat nap between shifts.

I just thought I'd ask as the government website states it as a legal right, but only during working hours.

One sleepless night (day) and you need a shift off to recover.

Please save this thread, then come back in a year and share a laugh with us.

[C0ffin D0dger]

essayer said:

C0ffin D0dger said:

(Also tired (permanently).)

My children both slept through the night for the first time last night

They are 3 and 1

Good luck!!

My two are actually pretty good with sleeping now at ages 4 & 6 however last night the eldest was complaining of stomach ache before going to be which I just wrote off as him moaning, gave him a cup of milk, tucked him in and went off for my evening run. By the time I'd got back from the run he'd puked everywhere This seemed to sort him out until about 02:30 when he puked again. My missus spent the rest of the night on the sofa with him. My sleep was patchy after that.

Good luck too, it does get easier!

[WonkeyDonkey]

TartanPaint said:

One sleepless night (day) and you need a shift off to recover.

Please save this thread, then come back in a year and share a laugh with us.

I was asking as it was a legal right that father's are allowed 2 days for antenatal appointments.

Thanks for the myriad of rather helpful posts.