Work Rant: Time off for doctors

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frakker said:
there is zero reference in my contract that mentions about making up time that has been taken to go to the dentist/doctors. Surely it’s against some set of rules not to be given a lunch break anyway?
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More to the point, is there anything in your contract to say you are allowed time off to go to the doctors without prior permission?
 
i'm fairly sure that they can't take your lunch break away OR punish you for taking time off work for medical visits.

they definitely can't do both!
 
Do you work as a full-time employee. If you're a contractor or part-timer I think they can get away with treeting you pretty poorly. If I remember correctly full-timers have a number of rights which should prevent this kind of thing.

However if my work treated me that poorly then I'd find work somewhere they have an environment more condusive to my style of employement.
 
I would have laughed at your line manager and carried on off to get some food.

They sound like an undesirable workplace, I would look for a new job.
 
What a *****.

If I'm ever late for anything I make up for it, and they certainly can't deny me lunch, if anyone did that i'd tell them to take a hike.


NO SWEARING - ZEFAN.
 
AcidHell2 said:
by law they have to give you the time of for doctors, but it doesn't have to be paid.
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Yeah, pretty sure this is true. We had someone take the pee and literally having 2 or 3 medical appointments a week. The only thing they could do is ask for a copy of the booking slip.
 
What law?

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/go/feature/feature_360.html?pkgid=35

What about if I need to see the Doctor or a Dentist?
Your employer doesn't have to give you time off for this, check your employment contract. You might have to go outside work hours, take annual leave or make the time up later.

But if you have a medical appointment in relation to your pregnancy or a disability you have, you should get time off.
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Does someone have a contradicting link, or is this another "common belief" law?

TUC link confirms

http://www.worksmart.org.uk/rights/am_i_allowed_time_off_work_to

There isn't a general legal requirement for your employer to give time off for medical appointments. Whatever entitlement you have to time to visit the doctor will be governed by your individual employment contract.

You should check your contract and staff handbook, as this may specify what the regulations are in your workplace. Some employers may require you to take annual leave, or take the time unpaid. On the other hand, many employers will be flexible on this, and it may be worth asking your employer if you can make up the time later.

If you have a disability which requires you to make regular medical visits, and you work for a firm employing 15 or more staff, then the Disability Discrimination Act may also apply here. This states that employers need to make 'reasonable adjustments' to prevent disadvantage to disabled employees. 'Reasonable adjustments' are not well defined in relation to this issue (so it would be a good idea to seek individual legal advice from your union or solicitor), but they could include greater flexibility in your hours to cover gaps, or availablity of time off (paid or unpaid) when needed.
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As per other people have said, I do believe there is some sort of legal entitlement for doctors appointments. You do however definately have a legal entitlement for a break. Granted, your working day might not have been long enough for a full hour, but you were at least entitled 15 minutes I would imagine.

If I was you i'd tell your boss you want overtime for the time you should have had for your breaks, or time off in lieu.

If you are truely stable enough financially, hand in your notice if its as poorly managed as it sounds there. Subject to you working your notice period, no future employer would have an issue at all.
 
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/e_time_off_work.pdf

Time off to visit the doctor or dentist
Your employer may allow you time off work to visit the doctor or dentist but they are not legally required to do so unless your contract of employment says they are. Your employer can, for example, insist that you make these visits outside work hours, that you take holiday leave or that you make the time up later on. You should check your contract of employment to see what rights you have to take time off for doctors or dental appointments.
Pregnant women, however, are allowed reasonable paid time off work for ante-natal care. This time does not need to be made up later on.
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http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment.htm
great source for employment information and law.

The stuff on redundancy has just helped me out.
 
AcidHell2 said:
You appear to be right, it's stupid. If your a parent or a dependable. Then they have to give you time of for emergencies which include doctor visits. But not when it's for yourself. Crazy.

especially as most GPs close at 4.
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The vast majority of employers will be more flexible IME, however I would say the OP's was flexible, in that (from how it reads) he was allowed to take his lunch early and only has to make up the time difference (which is fair if he's being paid for it). The problem comes with the OP assuming that he gets all his normal breaks plus the time off for the doctors.

I don't think it's too stupid, it would be far to easy for some employees to abuse if they had the legal right for time off. Much better to allow businesses the flexibility to manage their people appropriately. Most good employers will have no problem with time off of some sort for dr's visits if necessary, but they need a mechanism to prevent people taking the mick.
 
jumpy said:
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/e_time_off_work.pdf



http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment.htm
great source for employment information and law.

The stuff on redundancy has just helped me out.
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Have you got any idea if there aloud to count un-rostered days of as sick days?

There trying to tell us if where rostered Monday-Wednesday and have thur/fri of as un-rostered leave.

And we phone in sick Monday-Wednesday. When we come back on the saturday that is counted as 5 days regardless if we phone up on Thursday morning saying we're fit to return to work. Or if we came back on the monday that would be regarded as 7 sick days.

It smells really dodgy to me.
 
AcidHell2 said:
Have you got any idea if there aloud to count un-rostered days of as sick days?

There trying to tell us if where rostered Monday-Wednesday and have thur/fri of as un-rostered leave.

And we phone in sick Monday-Wednesday. When we come back on the saturday that is counted as 5 days regardless if we phone up on Thursday morning saying we're fit to return to work. Or if we came back on the monday that would be regarded as 7 sick days.

It smells really dodgy to me.
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That sounds pretty dodgy to me too, but I can't find anything specific on it.
 
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