Sounding off a bit......about work....sorry - it's long

[hildasmuriel]

I was given to understand when I started working at a school, that you couldn't have time off in term time. I was okay with that.

I have noticed over the last 6 years that other people have time off:
* when their children are ill
* when their children's schools are closed
* when the children have dentists appointments.
*for their own dentist, optician, chiropractors, chiropodists, orthodontists, gynaecologists appointments (which can NEVER be made in holiday time, BTW).
* for religious celebrations
* for religious ceremonies overseas (which require 2 or 3 weeks leave)
* for funerals overseas (which require 2 or 3 weeks leave)
* because it's their 30th birthday and 'my husband wants to pamper me'
* because the cat died

These reasons have all been granted paid time off by the Head.

I have not had any such leave in the time I have been there. I have had only 1 days sick..... and that was nearly 6 years ago.

Yesterday I asked if I could have the last day of term off in May - my daughter's school is shut and it means we can get away on holiday before the Bank Holiday traffic. I really didn't like doing it - it goes against the grain, but I figured everyone else does....

She has said I have to make the time up.

One lousy day in 6 years and I have to make up the time. EVERYBODY else gets paid leave - even when they already have a sick record as long as their arm.

I am soooooooooo

 

[Bolanette87]

I don't blame you for being mad. I would be too. I think that is really, really unfair.

Bob xoxoxox

 

[wifey]

That's so unfair, are you in a union could they back you up on this? The Head Teacher has set precedent here, not you, and should not yo-yo on his absence policy like that Have you asked your LEA what the official line is? The HT could be in for a telling off. Hope you can get something sorted out

 

[emily1982]

I work at a school and we take unpaid time off if it is something like a holiday, but it has to go to governers even then and normally its been because there has been a wedding abroad.

Under law they have to grant time off for appointments like hospital etc and for me i've had to have a few hours off to go to these because thats the only time i can be seen and i couldn't go in holidays as at the end of the day my health is more important. Also they grant time for hospital/doctor appointments if its their children, or the day off because their children are ill....all paid.

If it was something small though like a regular check up it normally wouldn't be allowed.

Could you possibly ask if you could take your daughter in with you? I've known that happen in the past.

 

[joolz1910]

I know what you mean. I have seen people's lessons covered because they have a dentist appointment. And it's not even an emergency appointment! It would not cross my mind to make a routine appointment during the school day. The only one I agree with is time off when children are ill. I have had days off when my children are ill but that has to happen, having said that, we take turns with that even though DH is unpaid. I cant stand unfair treatment and I think there are many 'unofficial' agreements about this sort of thing in schools. I am always shocked by what colleagues think is a 'reasonable' reason for paid time off.

 

[natalielongstaff]

i can understand your frustration

 

[wideeyes]

The 1st three would be covered by law i think (if the closed school was unexpected and the dentist/ doctors was an emergency and not a routine check up) as there are laws that cover people with dependents.

 

[joolz1910]

The 1st three would be covered by law i think (if the closed school was unexpected and the dentist/ doctors was an emergency and not a routine check up) as there are laws that cover people with dependents.

I have looked into this as I have 3 children and a strict Head. You are entitled to unpaid leave by law, but there has to be an agreement with the LEA to pay you, however there are limits on how many days you can be paid. I have heard people muttering about colleagues having time off to look after their ill children, and I think it is unfair. I would be shocked if a parent did not want to look after his/her sick child. Unfortunately there are those who abuse this system and make all of us working mothers look bad.

 

[mandymouse]

I think I would be furious too

 

[wideeyes]

I have looked into this as I have 3 children and a strict Head. You are entitled to unpaid leave by law, but there has to be an agreement with the LEA to pay you, however there are limits on how many days you can be paid. I have heard people muttering about colleagues having time off to look after their ill children, and I think it is unfair. I would be shocked if a parent did not want to look after his/her sick child. Unfortunately there are those who abuse this system and make all of us working mothers look bad.

in the literature I had on it it said that the during the time off child care should be arranged if the child is going to be off school for more than a couple of days, its not always easy to find the child care though and like you say if your child is ill you want to look after them yourself.

Some one having time of for there 30th birthday is ridiculus!

 

[joolz1910]

in the literature I had on it it said that the during the time off child care should be arranged if the child is going to be off school for more than a couple of days, its not always easy to find the child care though and like you say if your child is ill you want to look after them yourself.

Some one having time of for there 30th birthday is ridiculus!

Arranging childcare for a sick child is easier said than done though as most nurseries, childminders etc will not look after a sick child. This is understandable.

I think someone taking time off for their 30th is a joke! There was a teacher in the news the other day who had made up the deaths of 3 girlfriends just to get a few days off - that beggars belief!

 

[jen_uk]

I know how you feel! In our college some people have loads of time off when their kids are ill, school are closed or the kids have appointments yet Im made to feel guilty if I ever have time off. I only ever usually have at the most one sick day a year and when I have been off Ive been made to feel like it was a real inconvenience!

I would really fight that decision, hope you can resolve it

 

[irongirlof12]

do you want to push this or not? i think you need to decide and then approach the head again. Her treatment of you is dicriminating, it makes me so angry when this happens in any work situation. I hope you get this resolved

 

[tennisfan]

I understand your frustration, the head seems to pick & choose what is allowed. They should at least be consistant

 

[Lizzybear]

That does sound really unfair, i'd be annoyed too Some of the people in my bf's work really take the mick when it comes to absence and it has to be quite extreme for anything to get done about it, that's the council for you I guess I would push it if I were you as it sounds like you're being singled out here.

 

[joolz1910]

I've just had a thought. You said that people had been allowed paid time off because their children's school was closed. Well, isn't your daughter's school closed too on this particular day? Take out the request for time off to avoid the Bank Holiday traffic, and you are actually asking to be at home to look after your daughter. I would double check with colleagues who have been allowed to do this and then make an appointment to see the Head, armed with the names of people who have been granted permission. Throw in words like 'discrimination' and you might get a result.

 

[mark&sue]

I work for a local authority and we do not get paid time off for school closures or a sick child or a funeral (unless an immediate family member). Staff have to take it out of their leave or if they do not have any leave it will be unpaid.

For the example of the 30th birthday or the dead cat could you be sure this was not unpaid leave because we never really know for sure what someone says is true and what is actually true. I just cannot see this being agreed as paid leave. Also can you be sure the other staff were not asked to make the time up as you were asked but you may not have realised.

Hope you have a great holiday and don't let this spoil your well earned rest.


susan

 

[Cyrano]

I work for a local authority and we do not get paid time off for school closures or a sick child or a funeral (unless an immediate family member). Staff have to take it out of their leave or if they do not have any leave it will be unpaid.

For the example of the 30th birthday or the dead cat could you be sure this was not unpaid leave because we never really know for sure what someone says is true and what is actually true. I just cannot see this being agreed as paid leave. Also can you be sure the other staff were not asked to make the time up as you were asked but you may not have realised.

Hope you have a great holiday and don't let this spoil your well earned rest.


susan

Same here

 

[hildasmuriel]

Thanks for all the comments - getting annoyed always feels so much better when others agree with you.

For the example of the 30th birthday or the dead cat could you be sure this was not unpaid leave because we never really know for sure what someone says is true and what is actually true. I just cannot see this being agreed as paid leave. Also can you be sure the other staff were not asked to make the time up as you were asked but you may not have realised.

This is the very very weird bit - I do know for certain as I am her PA and get to see all the other leave requests - and her decision on them! The Governors policy is that special leave is at the discretion of the Head - nothing more specific than that, so she can pretty much do what she wants. My eyes nearly fell out of my head when I saw she had ticked the 'time to be made up' box. I'm surprised she knows where it is - she never ticks it for anyone else!

I'm sure I could make a case of it, but given that we work so closely together I shall probably just bite my tongue and assume she just can't do without me, even for one day.

But next time I have a thumping headache or backache, I may not be so keen to drag myself into work........

 

[wideeyes]

I'm sure I could make a case of it, but given that we work so closely together I shall probably just bite my tongue and asume she just can't do without me, even for one day.

That was my thought when you mentioned you were the PA,