A few of my friends were discussing the same thing over dinner last night.
It seems that it's ok for certain people to take the day off, regardless of how stupid the excuse, but others get the eye roll. We can't understand why, either!
I approached my principal (a female), a month in advance, to tell her that I need to leave 15 mins. before dismissal on X day b/c I had a follow up mammogram after a biopsy and the last appt. they schedule is at 3:15. I tell her that I will have my students ready for dismissal and that my teacher's helper can dismiss them to their parents. I get the huff and the huge sigh as if this is an inconvenience. I reiterate that my teacher's helper will be in the classroom to handle things and I'm not really "dumping" them on another teacher, etc. I get the "well, I suppose it'll be ok". This Fri.,another teacher, a male, tells our principal that he's leaving 1 hour early so he could pick up food for the science room animals. He's going to leave his students w/another teacher. She tells him no problem, go ahead! What!?!? This guy can't stop at the pet store on the way home?! How long is this really going to take him!?!? And, he doesn't give her any advanced forewarning and it's not a problem!?!?
Now, one thing that I've learned is to not ask (b/c they can say no), but to tell them what you want/need. So, I've been adhering by that "rule". But, to get the huff and puff over a medical appointment and he skates on pet food?!!? Come on!!!!!
I just do not get it. I'd think that, as a female, she'd understand my predicament and be all "oh, yes, I understand how important this is and thanks for coming to me so far in advance and for being prepared w/having your helper available, blah-blah-blah." But, no .... I get the huff and puff. The man gives no notice, dumps his kids for an hour w/another teacher and takes off for a stupid reason and it's all ok, fine, no problem?!!? I had to go for medical reasons, which are far more justifiable than pet food for the science class pets! He could have done that over the weekend!!!!!
I have a friend, Catherine, who is the "golden girl" at her company (two other friends work at the same company w/her). By "golden girl", I don't mean that she's the best worker in the company -- I mean that she's the one who gets away w/everything ... constantly calling in sick (either her or her dd), spends 2 weeks on vacation then comes to work for 2 days and calls in sick b/c of some "virus" she picked up on her trip, works from home more than the office (b/c it's convenient), etc. ... but the minute either of the other girls calls in sick or says they're going to work from home that day, it's a huge ordeal. They can't understand why everyone's put Catherine on this pedestal and how she can get away w/it. All three women have been w/the company for the same amount of time, work in groups that are on the same level and have the same performance ratings (as they've discussed). Go figure.
I guess it's luck!?!?
