The Equality Act and hospital appointments.

[speckledtangerine]

Hi chaps. One for the legal fraternity here!

I was diagnosed with MS five years ago and currently run the callers in a large city DO. I Haven't had a day off sick in nearly two years, no issue with my performance under a heavy workload (like everyone else!) so the 'reasonable adjustments' have been beneficial to both sides.

I have a hospital appointment at the end of this month which I gave notice to my line manager for earlier this week. I'll be seeing a specialist to discuss my condition, ongoing medication and then a physio to check my physical wellbeing and any deterioration.

My line manager was everything you'd expect about this. He first asked me to change the appointment outwith company time (which I can't after following up the hospital), then to change shifts or come back afterwards. That's a 60mile round trip on public transport. He's even being cute on allowing me to take a days holiday for a bloody important appointment!

What does the equality act say about circumstances such as this? I'll take a holiday day if necessary however, given the fact my attendence record has been perfect over a long period and the appointment is attempting to help this remain the case it seems mutually beneficial. any thoughts?

His final word was:"we can't keep looking after you like this". I was seething after such a patronising and inaccurate comment!

[bedrock]

i would like a answer to this question as i am a similar position keep getting told to book leave

[PhilthyPhil]

From special leave guidance

Regular medical treatment and hospital appointments:
Where regular treatment or hospital appointments are occurring the employee should try and get appointments outside work hours and Royal Mail should help by arranging changes to working hours wherever possible. Managers should treat requests for additional time off with sympathy bearing in mind that a stoppage of pay may add to the stress of having to attend hospital for treatment or for hospital appointments. Individuals involved in hospital treatment or those attending a hospital appointment should provide confirmation of from their Doctor or the hospital, and absences should not count towards attendance procedure.

[speckledtangerine]

Thanks for the reply Phil.

Looks like i'll be taking a holiday day for this then. Never used to be an issue and it's probably once a year. I'll remember this the next time they ask for a favour. Er, nah...........

[Glenno]

Q: So what types of reasonable adjustments can I ask the employer to make if I suffer
from a disability under the Act?
A: The types of adjustment you might suggest to your employer ought to be made in order to
remove or reduce the workplace disadvantage facing you, including:
■ adjustments to the physical premises;
■ allocating some of your duties to another;
■ transferring you to an existing vacancy in another department;
■ altering your working hours;
■ moving you to a different place of work;
■ allowing you to be absent during working hours for rehabilitation, assessment or treatment;
■ giving you training to do another job;
■ acquiring and modifying equipment;
■ modifying instruction/reference manuals;
■ modifying procedure, suggestion or assessment;
■ providing a reader interpreter; and
■ providing supervision;
Hope this helps pasted directly from the Act