From 1 October, expectant fathers and partners of pregnant women are entitled to time off during working hours to attend antenatal appointments. The right to time off is unpaid and is limited to two occasions, lasting no more than six and a half hours each. The right applies to agency workers as well as employees, provided the agency worker has completed the 12 week qualifying period. The employer has the right to request proof of the antenatal appointment and can also request written confirmation of the individual's relationship with the pregnant woman. Staff are protected from detriment and dismissal for taking this time off; however, the employer does have the right to refuse to allow the individual to take time off, provided this is reasonable. BIS have not offered any guidance as to what would constitute a reasonable refusal, but it is likely that it would have to be an important work commitment which could not reasonably be rescheduled.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
