Compulsory holiday
Question
My boss wants me to take a half day as holiday so I can attend a hospital appointment. Am I legally obliged to agree, or should I be given the time off without penalty?
Answer
The way the law stands at the moment, you have no right to take paid time off to attend a hospital appointment. The only exception would be if you are pregnant. So, unless youre expecting a baby, your boss is right to say that you must take this half day as holiday (unless you take it without pay).
You may want to investigate whether or not all employees are treated in the same way. If you can find evidence that other employees have attended appointments, and been paid without taking holiday, then you could have an argument to raise a grievance. This is because there may have been a breach of the implied terms of your contract (custom and practice).
Updated: 13/04/2010
Question answered by CAB
