How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Just has me thinking.....I've been taking personal time for my appointments (we can take them in hour increments) but we only get a certian amount of time per year and I've almost used all of mine. I really dont want to tell my job about our IF struggle b/c I'm very private in that respect. And anyway their attendance policy is getting more and more strict....even if I did tell them I dont know if they would 'excuse' me for appointments. And now I'm possibly signing on with a new RE with later morning appointments... I'm really worried. How do u handle it?

Message edited 4/14/2009 2:16:41 PM.

Re: How do you namage your morning RE appointments and work

I'm very lucky in that for the most part I can make my own schedule. If I come in at 10, I stay till 6. Or, if I have to leave early, I can make up the time another day. But, you may have to go to HR, explain the situation and see if you could either get some schedule flexability or use your sick time as covered under FMLA. It stinks but sometimes we have to spill the beans...you might be surprised at a warm reception though (DH was shocked at his job).

Good luck!!

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I used to work from home as much as possible and fit my appointments in on those days. Otherwise, work later hours on the days I had to come in late because of my appointments. It's tough, I know

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I told my boss that I was seeing a specialist for something and I might be late some days because of morning appointments, but that I would work through lunch or stay late. This is when we were doing IUI's.

When we decided to move onto IVF, I had to tell my boss everything and he was very understanding.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I still have not told my job about our IF issues.

I go in at 7 am for bloodwork and do any sonos after work... when I NEED something done during the day, I try to go on my lunch break (30 minutes) and add 30 minutes of unpaid time to that.

You don't have to be specific with your job if you aren't comfortable. You can say you are dealing with medical issues and need to figure out a way to work around your schedule.. KWIM?

Best of luck to you!

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

What are your work hours and where do you work? Can you get there on a lunch hour instead? That's what I would do. Go for a lunch hour. I would usually schedule my appts at around 11 and take my lunch then.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I told my boss. He and his wife have also experienced IF so I knew he would be understanding. He's still clueless, but understanding.

I was under the impression that it is law to give time to attend Dr. appointments, regardless of how many or how often.

ETA: I do make my appointments at lunchtime and had my IUIs late in the day at 4:30, so I would just leave early. I always work more than 40 hours, so making up time is not an issue.

Message edited 4/14/2009 2:49:38 PM.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

On days that I have to go to the RE, I get up at 5:30am to shower, leave my house at 6:10, get to the dr at 6:20am so I can be the 1st person when they open at 6:30, fly out of there in time to make my 7:19am train in Huntington so I can get to work in Brooklyn before 9.

It's freaking exhausting.

I did try to have a very brief conversation with my boss to let her know that we were having some issues and I may need to miss a few days of work. I am a private person and she wound up asking me whether or not I ovulate and how heavy my periods are.
I wanted to die.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Posted by skinny

On days that I have to go to the RE, I get up at 5:30am to shower, leave my house at 6:10, get to the dr at 6:20am so I can be the 1st person when they open at 6:30, fly out of there in time to make my 7:19am train in Huntington so I can get to work in Brooklyn before 9.

It's freaking exhausting.

I did try to have a very brief conversation with my boss to let her know that we were having some issues and I may need to miss a few days of work. I am a private person and she wound up asking me whether or not I ovulate and how heavy my periods are.
I wanted to die.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

My boss said that as long as I make up the time, it's not a big deal. I just make sure that i'm no more than 1-2 hrs from the time I come in/leave work so that it's not really a big deal and I can make up the time within that pay week.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I just go in late or leave early, but I work in a very small office. My immediate boss I am friends with outside the office and have known her for 15 years..she knows what we are going through.

But I also don't usually take a lunch break, I work from home on my laptop on days off and vacations..so it all evens out.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I was very lucky in regards to the location of my RE's office to my work.. they were within 2 miles of eachother. Also, morning monitoring was 6am-7:30, so I always made sure to get there between 6-6:30 so I can get in and out quickly.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

My RE's office and work are both in Manhattan. Morning monitoring hours are between 7:00 and 8:30 so I usually get there between 7:30 and 8:00 and then go to work. I don't have set hours and have flexibility so if I need to go during another time, its not really an issue unless I have something pressing for work.

My job actually does know about my IF issues, but I am not sure how much they know!

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

Posted by daisy32

Yeah I did it yesterday with no traffic and it was pretty quick. I guess I could try it at lunch too and see how it goes.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

My office opens at 6:30 and I don't have to be at work til 9:30. If I get to Melville by 8, the office isn't that crowded, and I'm usually out in 1/2 hr.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I make a 6:13 train and then take a cab to Cornell. I get to work at about 9:00 and my usual start is 8 so I just work an additional hour or deduct the hour from my timesheet.

My boss knows what's going on as do the people that cover me when I'm not there.

It works for me. It's still exhausting though and overwhelming at times.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I havent told my boss whats going on...I go for the early morning appointments and then get right on the train to the city. I am still in before 9, so no one is any the wiser.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

My appointments at first were around 9 so I told my bosses what was going on. I didn't want them thinking I was a bad employee by coming in late all the time or I was looking for a new job. Although they know what is going on I haven't kept them up to date on my status of TTC. They don't ask and I don't tell. Now my appointments are very early so I make it to work before 9. My boss did IVF so she understood completely and even lets me come in early or stay late to make up the time I missed. I even take an early or late lunch so i don't have to make up that extra hour..

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

I am very lucky - my RE's office is 2 minutes from my office and monitoring hours are 8:00-10:00. I don't have set work hours but I usually get in around 8:30, so I'm on time if I go in for monitoring around 8 or 8:15.

On Thursdays I have to go to the City office - DH works in the City so we drive in at 6:15 for 7:00 am monitoring, he waits in the car (can't park on the street anywhere around the office and I'm not paying $40 for a half hour in a garage), out by 7:45 at the latest, I drop him off at his office and then drive to work. I'm there around 8:30 those days too.

My bosses and a few others at work know that we are dealing with IF so they are very accomodating if I need it.

Re: How do you manage your morning RE appointments and work

If you are switching REs anyway this might not help, but you could see RSNY in Mineola. They start at 6:30 and you should really be to Hempstead by 8 without a problem.

I liked RSNY WI and was able to get 7 or 7:30 appointments 90% of the time. I live in Lindenhurst and work in New Hyde Park. I am supposed to start at 8:30, but if I get in late, I just stay later.

My boss and his wife went through this too, so he has been very understanding. I am very lucky. No one really pays any attention to what time I arrive and leave.

The new RE sounds nice and very accomodating. Good luck.