Time off work for appointments

thompnia

Summer is jam packed with vacations at my work. I am not going to be able to get guaranteed time off for OB appointments my ob has no appointments after 3:30 when I get out. Is anyone else running into this problem?

Zoebot

I believe FMLA can cover OB appointments - as in, guarantee that they have to give you off, because you NEED continuing care.  You'd have to get your doctor to fill out a portion of it, but I've had to help several of my staff through this process.  Worth looking into, at least!

Good luck.

jjbh1209

I schedule for the first appointment of the day. My OB has a 8:00 am appointment and my work is only 10 minutes from her office. I'm usually in and out withing 15 minutes. When I was pregnant with my DD they let me schedule out 2 months at a time. 

Christina_Diane

Can you get your appointment first thing in the AM and then just show up to work a little late?

AlfiesMOM

My work is really flexible, can you go during your lunch hour? Or maybe go first thing in the morning and stay a little later?? The appointments that don't have u/s are generally pretty quick and I think you only go once a month in the beginning so hopefully its not too many you would have to work around!

NatureLovers

Allowing you time off for appointments is not optional, and if they give you a hard time, I'd be talking to HR about discrimination. They just have to do without you.

Pips09

If you are eligible for FMLA, prenatal appointments are covered. Does your doctors office close at 3:30? How strange.

Lanatir

Zoebot said:

I believe FMLA can cover OB appointments - as in, guarantee that they have to give you off, because you NEED continuing care.  You'd have to get your doctor to fill out a portion of it, but I've had to help several of my staff through this process.  Worth looking into, at least!

Good luck.

This.

Due to low progesterone levels (which my OB has long thought were low), I had just blood work done Monday and in every room I was in (waiting room, bathroom, exam room, blood draw room), there was a paper saying "Let us know if we need to fill out forms for your employer to ensure you get time for appts and leave when needed or doctor's notes for sickness, pregnancy related or not."

WillCMyInk

A few things (from the HR professional...), #1) she is not guaranteed FMLA (company size and time with the company determine if this is an option) and #2) the work place is not REQUIRED to give her time off for these appointments, as long as they would treat another disabled worker in the same way.

Like others have said, I would be looking to early morning appointments or lunch time appointments. Go to your manager with a solution rather than the problem - it usually helps.

Personally, my work is fairly flexible with me needing time off randomly so I don't really have this problem, but I'm sure many women face the same challenges and find a way to make it work. Good luck!

Lanatir

@WillCMyInk-- you're right.  I often forget how many companies are small.    I SHOULD remember since I worked for one out of college that offered no health care...

ImJessesGirl

I'm a teacher, so luckily I get off at 2:30, so I can make it to appointments in the afternoon. I'm about to be off for the summer, so those two appointments will be no problem at all.

LooneyLife

Right now I just use my sick leave, which they can't limit. Once summer comes I'll be off Fridays and hope to schedule any appointments then. I guess it remains to be seen if that'll actually work out.

thompnia

I work in surgery from 7 - 3:30. I get my half hour lunch whenever they are able, but I would never have time to make an appointment then. My OB makes appointments after 3:30, but they are booked way in advance.

They said I do not qualify for FMLA because I am not disabled; these are regular check ups I spoke to the office manager at the ob and she is going to talk to my ob and see if she will give me special appointments. Otherwise I will be switching obs

newguardwife

Here is some info on FMLA:

https://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/finalrule/NonMilitaryFAQs.htm

Prenatal care is covered as long as you are eligible as pregnancy is considered a serious medical condition. A lot of places have different paperwork that needs to be completed for intermittent leave which is what you would be doing. I dealt with this during my last pregnancy and it wasn't fun, but once I told HR they basically had to let me go to my appointments. That said I tried to schedule them as best I could.

NatureLovers

They are wrong that you do not qualify for FMLA. Please do your own research and don't rely on what they say. It sounds like they're trying to create a bad situation for you. Jobs do discriminate against pregnant women although they're not supposed to.

mellie86041

FMLA has nothing to do with disability status. Please do not let them tell you otherwise!

thompnia

newguardwife said:

Here is some info on FMLA:

https://www.dol.gov/whd/fmla/finalrule/NonMilitaryFAQs.htm

Prenatal care is covered as long as you are eligible as pregnancy is considered a serious medical condition. A lot of places have different paperwork that needs to be completed for intermittent leave which is what you would be doing. I dealt with this during my last pregnancy and it wasn't fun, but once I told HR they basically had to let me go to my appointments. That said I tried to schedule them as best I could.

Thank you for this link! I just left a snarky voicemail for the woman who told me I did not qualify. Basically saying that the US DOL website says that pregnancy is a qualifying medical condition and that I could even take time off for morning sickness. I also told her to get back to me ASAP.

Pissed off pregnant woman was awake and growling tonight.

TiffanyJill

I am having similar issue. I work construction and am mostly out of town. Not sure how to make an appt work with this schedule! Obviously I know I need to, but I haven't been at this job long and don't want to drop the pregger bomb yet

mreinertsonrn

I have the same issue but my work is flexible where I leave 2 hours early one day and take 1/2 hr lunch (instead of 1 hr) on the other 4 days to make up the time. If they cannot be flexible then as long as you qualify for FMLA (usually 1 year working full time at that job) then they HAVE to give it to you off. It is called intermittent FMLA. Contact your HR department or manager. You will have to tell them you are pregnant if you have not already. Good luck!