I am 16 weeks pregnant and no longer have PTO available. I started a new antibiotic on Tuesday for a sinus infection and had severe side effects that kept me from going into work (the doctor had to put me on a different antibiotic). I fully expected and accepted that I would be written up for calling off without PTO. However, I was informed that because of this, I would no longer be allowed to go to any of my Doctor's appointments if they were during work hours (I have some testing scheduled related to the sinus infection currently being treated and requested to shorten my lunch hours during the week to leave one hour early to go to the doctor. I have the last appointment of the day). This means I can no longer receive treatment for the sinus infection because the specialist treating me does not hold office hours outside of my work schedule. This also means I can no loger receive regular prenatal care since my OB also does not have office hours outside my work hours. I do have a partial day scheduled every two to six weeks depending on scheduling where I am free to schedule appointments; however, these do not always fit in with the prenatal schedule of visits and will put me far overdue for my follow-ups with the Ear Nose & Throat specialist. My write-up stems from four call-offs (three covered by PTO)--one in August for a bad cold, one in September for severe headache and abdominal pain where my doctor sent me the ER because of the pregnancy, one in October for the severe cold that became double ear infections and bronchitis and lead to the massive sinus infection that caused the fourth absence a few days ago. Are there any laws in Michigan giving me the right to receive treatment for both the sinus infection (I will have at least two follow-up visits--one for a hearing test to ensure I did not rupture any of the membranes in my ear and the second to ensure the infection is completely cleared after I finish the antibiotics and see if I need further treatment) and for prenatal care?

There is no law that states an employer must allow you to leave work for a doctor's appointment.

If your doctor doesn't have after hours or Saturday scheduling, find another doctor.

Do you and your employer qualify for FMLA?

How many employees does your employer have in a 75-mile radius? How long have you worked for your employer? How many hours have you worked in the last year?

The law may require that you be allowed to take time off for prenatal visits, depending on the answers to the questions above.

How does your employer normally handle employees whose medical needs exceed their PTO? You said you expected to be written up but nothing else...is that because that has been your employer's past practice?

Yes, both I and the company qualify for FMLA--I have been a forty hour a week employee for two years and the company is big enough to fall under FMLA.

There have been numerous instances of employees cutting lunch breaks short to leave early for doctor's appointments or just to leave early for personal reasons (which is what I am requesting). I do not know their PTO status, however--its one of those things we are not really "allowed" to discuss with other employees.

Yes, both I and the company qualify for FMLA--I have been a forty hour a week employee for two years and the company is big enough to fall under FMLA.

There have been numerous instances of employees cutting lunch breaks short to leave early for doctor's appointments or just to leave early for personal reasons (which is what I am requesting). I do not know their PTO status, however--its one of those things we are not really "allowed" to discuss with other employees.

I will let someone else discuss if this is an issue addressed by FMLA or the California equivalent. However, I do have to say that prohibiting discussions about the working conditions by employees is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act (and you don't have to be in a union for this to apply).

I will let someone else discuss if this is an issue addressed by FMLA or the California equivalent.

Believe OP is from Michigan.

Nonnierms - did you talk to your employer about taking time off for prenatal visits under FMLA?

Believe OP is from Michigan.

whoops SCM :o

The HR department has given me a pile of paperwork to complete and turn in--I'm waiting on the forms to come back from the doctor's office. Once I turn them in, I find it if they'll approve it or if I'll be contacting the Department of Labor :p

FMLA would cover your pre-natal visits and *may* cover a severe sinus infection, but it would not cover a bad cold, headache, general abdominal pain or other run of the mill ailments.

well, prenatal is definitely covered. The sinus infection doesn't quite fit the criteria to be covered but if my OB refers me to have further treatment, it will be (she was nice enough to specifically mention referrals to other docs in her certification form). My specialist for the infection is booked/out of office until mid-January so it'll be a while before I can get in either way.