The pregnant employee is entitled to reasonable time off for antenatal care, which is paid at the normal contractual rate of pay (antenatal care includes medical examinations and parenting and relaxation classes), but this is not an automatic right.

However, if the employer unreasonably refuses to allow the employee to take time off or refuses to pay for the time, she would have the right to complain to a tribunal. If the tribunal agreed the refusal was unreasonable, they would order the employer to pay compensation and, in some cases, this could be on the grounds of sex discrimination.

You must pay the wages for the whole time required to attend the appointment, including travelling and waiting time. If the employee works part-time, you cannot insist she arrange antenatal appointments to take place at a time when she would not normally be required to be at work.

Except for the first appointment, the employer can ask her to supply:

• a certificate from a registered medical practitioner confirming pregnancy
• an appointment card/letter

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