Time off for treatment
Hi everyone - how have you managed to get time off work for your planned treatments? Have you been able to take this as paid sick leave or have you had to use annual leave/unpaid leave for this? I’ve been told I have to have further treatment but my employer is saying that it would come under our ‘absence for appointments’ policy, which says that hospital treatments and appointments should be booked within annual leave, unpaid or TOIL. Just a bit concerned as it would be 5 consecutive days, a day off every 4 weeks or a day off every 6 months depending on my choice of treatment. That doesn’t feel right given that I’m not exactly choosing this for the fun of it! And ironically it’s the NHS I work for!
I would check this with citizens advice or your union rep if you are part of one as that doesn't sound right at all. I was under the impression that you should be given the time for medical appointments, not take holidays for them or have wages reduced as thats what my employer told me when i was still working. Sounds very discriminatory to me. I would definitely seek advice as I don't think you are being fairly treated, this is not appointments for elective treatments were talking about here.
This was the case for me before they sacked me for ill health. Had to use annual leave for all appointments, or unpaid. It ends up using a chunk of your AL. One plus is shifts as you can sometimes swap and change with colleagues so you don't lose your holidays. Also, factoring a day off after the treatment incase it affects you, so don't have to go off sick. You have to be careful how much time off sick you have with NHS aswell, or they get rid, you are probably well aware of this. Make sure that you have been given the extra allowance due to disability, it meant I was allowed 2 long term instead of only 3 short term. Have a good read of the policy in your workplace to make sure, it will stop you being given a warning after that 3rd episode. It is not a caring profession at all. Speak to your union rep, they'll advise you