Time Off For Antenatal Appointments Policy

  1. ABOUT THIS POLICY

    1. This policy outlines the statutory right to take time off to attend antenatal appointments.
    2. This policy applies to employees and agency workers. It does not apply to self-employed contractors.
    3. If you are an agency worker, the rights set out in this policy only apply to you once you have worked in the same role with us for at least 12 continuous weeks (which may include more than one assignment). For these purposes we will ignore any breaks due to holiday or other leave to which you are entitled, breaks due to workplace closure at Christmas, breaks due to industrial action, breaks of up to 28 weeks in cases of sickness or jury service, and breaks of up to six weeks for any other reason. We will treat breaks due to pregnancy or childbirth up to 26 weeks after birth, and any statutory maternity, paternity or adoption leave, as time worked.
    4. This policy does not form part of any employee’s or worker’s contract of employment or engagement and we may amend it at any time.

  2. TIME OFF IF YOU ARE PREGNANT

    1. If you are pregnant you may take reasonable paid time off during working hours for antenatal appointments. If you are pregnant you may take paid time off during working hours for antenatal appointments. This may include any relaxation or parenting classes that your doctor, midwife or health visitor has advised you to attend. You should try to give us as much notice as possible of the appointment. Unless it is your first appointment, we may ask to see a certificate confirming your pregnancy and an appointment card.

  3. TIME OFF FOR ACCOMPANYING A PREGNANT WOMAN: ELIGIBILITY

    1. You may take unpaid time off to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal appointment if you have a “qualifying relationship” with the woman or the child. This means that either:
      1. you are the baby’s father;
      2. you are the pregnant woman’s spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner; or
      3. you are one of the intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement and expect to obtain a parental order in respect of the child.

  4. TIME OFF FOR ACCOMPANYING A PREGNANT WOMAN: HOW TO BOOK TIME OFF

    1. Please give us as much notice of the appointment as possible. You must provide us with a signed statement providing the date and time of the appointment and confirming:
      1. that you meet one of the eligibility criteria in Paragraph 3;
      2. that the purpose of the time off is to accompany the pregnant woman to an antenatal appointment; and
      3. that the appointment has been made on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, registered midwife or registered nurse.

  5. TIME OFF FOR ACCOMPANYING A PREGNANT WOMAN: AMOUNT OF TIME OFF

    1. You may take time off to accompany a pregnant woman to up to two antenatal appointments in relation to each pregnancy.
    2. You must not take more than six and a half hours off for each appointment, including travel and waiting time.
    3. Time off to attend these appointments is unpaid.
    4. If you wish to take time off to attend further antenatal appointments you should request annual leave.