Services only open during office hours - how can we go?

dulpit · 26-08-2022 10:07AM #1

Hey,

I was just trying to make an appointment for my wife with the GP. The issue is that the GP only offers appointments during office hours, but my wife also works during office hours, so it means if she needs to get a scheduled test she needs to get time off.

My local post office closes at lunchtime. If you want to go to the post office but are working "office hours", then tough.

I needed to change banks recently (thanks a lot KBC) and had to go to bank to arrange things. They were only open Monday to Friday, with them closing early on a Friday. So I had to take time off work to do that.

What is the point of all of these services operating at a time when the majority of people are themselves also working? Pain in the hole...

ILikeBoats · 26-08-2022 10:11AM

I understand where you're coming from but if your office requires you to take time off to pop to the post office or to a doctor's appointment, then you should find a new office.

It's always been that way and people have always survived!

Gregor Samsa · 26-08-2022 11:12AM

Does your wife's business open at unsociable hours to allow for GPs, bank and post office workers to deal with them without them having to take time off?

geotrig · 26-08-2022 11:34AM

supermarket do now yes ! there was a time they had similar operating hours

Mrs OBumble · 26-08-2022 11:53AM

What do you think annual leave was invented for?

BobDole22 · 26-08-2022 12:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058260470/services-only-open-during-office-hours-how-can-we-go

Take a day off and attend to these things then christ it's not brain surgery like.

veryangryman · 26-08-2022 12:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119524669#Comment_119524669

Holidaying to visit the doctor? Christ wept

Floppybits · 26-08-2022 12:18PM

Ah here most companies allow their employees head out to appointments. Sure my mother has an appointment at 5pm today in the hospital so I have to finish up an hour so earlier to go pick her up and take and my employer has no problem with it. Same with the doctors, tell the boss listen I have appointment with the Dr at whatever time so I wont be available then, usually the employer will go yeah grand just make it up. If your boss doesn't allow you then this is what sick days are for.

Strumms · 26-08-2022 12:41PM

Annual leave is the appropriate course of action. It what it’s designed for. It’s not a holiday, it’s annual leave.

the fûck is a doctor supposed to do, work till 9pm ? God forbid they might want to spend time with family, relax with a pint in front on the match, help their kids with homework… take them to a match , see a film….

you can….take annual leave, which is paid time off from work…a half day…

Mrs OBumble · 26-08-2022 01:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119524803#Comment_119524803

Ahh here, most employees aren't in jobs or companies which allow that.

Some jobs, you can be a little early or late for by agreement- but a lot you can't: doors need to be opened, customers need to be served, etc

And ATM most people don't have paid sick leave, either.

Cluedo Monopoly · 26-08-2022 01:19PM

Most managers will let their employees go to doctors appointments during work hours. 'Management discretion' is a skill. It is in their interests and the companies interests to do so. Empathy is one of the most important traits in a good manager.

Crap managers will force the employee to take annual leave for these important and unplanned appointments. That breeds resentment unless there is a damn good reason.

Obviously it depends on the nature of the workplace but the more professional workplaces would show a huge amount of discretion. Otherwise employees will take sickies etc.

Floppybits · 26-08-2022 01:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119525154#Comment_119525154

Any proof on that claim?

JustJoe7240 · 26-08-2022 01:29PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119524803#Comment_119524803

Any proof on that claim?

cj maxx · 26-08-2022 01:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119524930#Comment_119524930

I've received calls at about 7pm from GP's for different reasons It's not as they head home as soon as their surgery closes in alot in alot of cases, and they still have to stand over their decisions . Tats why make such detailed notes

hello2020 · 26-08-2022 03:02PM

I think its just a matter of time before Ireland will catch up with rest of the world and services will change hours (similar to supermarkets which are now open till 10 pm instead of 6 pm)

DoctorEdgeWild · 26-08-2022 03:12PM

This is life unfortunately. Full time employment makes life more complicated to organise. Personally, I take a day off every three months or so and squeeze in as many things as possible into that day - Bank, Doc or dentist or physio, stuff like ringing around insurance companies, getting tradesmen in, etc. It's a ball ache but that's just how the world works.

Larbre34 · 26-08-2022 03:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119525714#Comment_119525714

I hate to break it to you, but my experience of many Countries around the World, especially our good friends in Continental Europe, is that such services are open LESS hours than in Ireland, not more.

Realistically, far more services are now available online and for longer hours (bank Branch lobby services) in Ireland than ever were before. For the others that you might be compelled to use very occasionally, its what annual leave, or flexi time, or a bit of time-in-lieu was invented for.

ednwireland · 26-08-2022 03:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119525714#Comment_119525714

thats not going to happen as these arent services competing for your business (unlike supermarkets)

also you would have to renegotiate contracts etc

funnily though the fastest growing bank in the uk is opening branches which are open until 6pm and weekends and bank holidays (metrobank) which is interesting.

corner of hells · 26-08-2022 04:46PM

OP , is there anything we can help with , none of us are allowed give medical advice however there's nothing against us giving vetinary advice .

So if you want to describe the symptoms, we'll give a go.

There's no comebacks if anything goes tits up.

seamusk84 · 26-08-2022 05:26PM

I definitely think in the future we need to catch up with cafe culture in Ireland.

Cafes closing at 5:30pm just doesn’t make sense to me.

26-08-2022 05:29PM

Pretty crap employer that wouldn't let someone a few hours now and again to duck in/out on personal business.......so long as someone not taking piss,noone will care

bnt · 26-08-2022 05:45PM

It’s not just doctors, it’s happening with pharmacies. One I used to use has switched to office hours only. Used to, since I’ve had to switch to one that at least opens on Saturdays. There’s apparently a major shortage of pharmacists this summer, but working people still have the same hours.

dulpit · 26-08-2022 06:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119526400#Comment_119526400

Good shout actually. Our pharmacist was open until midnight until covid. Then switched to opening until 10, and 8 at weekends. Now it's open to 8, 6 on Saturdays and closed Sundays.

jester77 · 26-08-2022 06:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119525856#Comment_119525856

The difference is there are alternatives. I'm living in Germany over 20 years, never once had to set foot in a bank in those years, everything can be done online. I can probably count on one hand how many times I had to visit a post office, and they are open on Saturday any way. You can buy stamps online, and print them at home. The parcel delivery guy/girl takes parcels as well as delivers them from your doorstep. Doctors/Dentists require some planning, but you can get appointments before 8 and after 5 with many of them. And a lot of them are connected to a central app like doctorlib that you can see their timetables on, so this makes getting an appointment a bit easier.

hello2020 · 28-08-2022 11:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119525918#Comment_119525918

may be your predictions is true but its just my thought from personal experience, people are not going to wait to see a dentist or specialist doctors for many weeks when they are just a phone call away from a specialist available in other part of the world.

In 2022, one just needs to make a video call to a doctor / teacher and get their specialist advise....

in a recent example one guy was having sever tummy pain & the emergency nurse gave him some pain relievers.. unable to bear the pain he took the next available flight to India .he got operated for appendix within few hours of reaching Delhi !

many kids are now taking grinds from teaches in Asia through Xoom or Skype !!

Services only open during office hours - how can we go?

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