I've just started the process of getting a pump.
Mentioned it to my official line manager, sounding him out about getting the time off for training sessions, explaining I'd have little influence over the timing, etc. At that stage, I didn't know how the training and early monitoring would be done, eg a full or half day training, another half day on starting live pumping, etc.
He said it could go down as sickness or I could use annual leave.
More than 2 bouts of sickness in a year and you're in trouble, so I don't want starting the pump to count against me. I've just started my contract and discussed that I was getting a pump with the Occ Health nurse before I was appointed. There haven't been any problems while I've worked there through an agency, my immediate supervisor is fine about it and knows I don't usually have bad hypos (obviously there's more risk of this when I start pumping).
I've clarified with the DSN that it'll be a 2-hr info/decision session, then 1.5-2hrs training, then 1-1.5 hr weekly reviews for the first few weeks of pumping. No full or half days absence required unless I hit trouble.
I feel it's a bit rough to make me use annual leave or make up the time for these sessions. Don't think sick leave is even an option if its 1-2 hours at a time, but it may add up to more than a day. Occ Health say its at the manager's discretion. I feel its the new boss trying to crack down, but where do I stand, bearing in mind it's treatment for a chronic condition covered by DDA which I had before appointment? How did others account for any time out when they started pumping?