When both halves of job-share are ill.

[dramajustfollowsme]

I was off 2 days this week and it looks like I am going to be off tomorrow too. I have the flu and am 19wks pregnant. I feel dreadful.
My job-share partner, covered one of my days off but isn't feeling well either.
My ht is insisting one of us go in tomorrow as he can't get anyone to cover and thinks it looks bad that the class will be taught by a third teacher .
I've said I am not well enough to go in. I am not. I can barely lift my head, am aching all over, high temperature etc.
It doesn't sound like my I-S can go in either.
I would imagine that my ht shouldn't be able to dictate like this but he does take every opportunity to be as awkward as possible.
I now feel like I should drag my butt into school but honestly doubt u would last beyond break.

[breatheslowly]

I would expect much the same as if a single class teacher was off - they would arrange cover of some sort.

Look after yourself and get properly well before going back. This is the only time you are having this baby - you won't look back and regret taking care of yourself and your baby.

[NowRising]

Don't go in if you are sick. Either of you. The HT needs to find cover, as they would if you were 1 teacher.

[dramajustfollowsme]

I am not going in but I have an added guilty feeling now.
This is on top if getting phoned and told off for not replying to my emails when off.
Erm, I was sleeping because I am ill.
Lovely supportive ht I've got...

[2kidsintow]

Ummmmm..... you don't jobshare so you can cover for each other when you are ill just for the convenience of the HT.

If a FT member of staff was ill, cover would be required.
If you are ill on the day you teach, cover is required.
If your partner teacher is ill on a day they teach, you are not required to go in to cover for them unless you are going to be paid for the day on a supply basis.

Occasionally, my jobshare partner and I have covered for each other, but only for things that are mutually convenient (like sports days) and with the approval of the headteacher.

[dramajustfollowsme]

Got another earful over the phone this morning. They have not managed to get cover. Apparently I am letting everyone down.
I'm going to speak to our union rep as I really feel bullied.
I still feel dreadful and I've managed to get a doctor's appointment. Hopefully, I'll feel better over the weekend.

[NowRising]

The head sounds awful.

[Bramblesinforrin]

Union rep is a good move. Get well soon.

[PurpleAlert]

I would also speak to HR there are VERY strict rules over this sort of thing, I am pretty sure he is acting against what is legal. I was a job share for 17 years and was never expected to cover.

The head sounds beyond awful. I would be looking for another job in your shoes...

Hope you feel better soon.

[breatheslowly]

Hope your GP appointment went well - your GP can be very useful in cases like this, they don't want your baby to suffer because of your crappy HT.

[GW297]

He ought to be very careful. Bullying someone when they are pregnant could prove to be a very expensive mistake. I am sorry this is happening to you and I hope you get well soon.

[dramajustfollowsme]

They are very careful to do if verbally either over the phone or when no one else is around. I am not the first person this has happened to.
Private school so they think they can do what they like.
The doctor has confirmed it as flu. A lot of people who had the flu jab have succumbed to a different strain, apparently.

[Theas18]

Excuse me mrs head teacher I'm just going to record out conversation today... Which is the xth day of February and it's 8.30 am...

Use her name and effectively " date stamp" and identify everyone for the record!

Many mobile apps for this or use hands free on the landline and the voice recorder on your phone ...

[GW297]

Private schools still have to operate within employment law. They don't like job shares as they think it affects their business as prospective parents don't always like them. If your job share arrangement pre dates the Head he might be trying to get rid of it one way or another. His next step might be to stop you having a class and make you do PPA or something.

[hels71]

That is certainly not on. When I was job sharing if one of us was off ill the head always asked the other first if they could cover, either on a supply basis or doing a swap, and sometimes we did swap (so when i had a hospital app my JS did my day and i did hers) but it was never expected that we would cover for each other.

[BackforGood]

Agree with everyone else. The school will need to sort cover, in the same way they do if any member of staff is off ill.
You do not need to cover each others days.
You do not need to be reading e-mails if you are on your day off, or if you are off work ill.
It does sound like a very poor management style and worth recording/making notes from the phone calls about the harassment, and then speaking to your union.

[KayleeFrye]

Agree your HT is being completely unreasonable, exploitative and bullying. You are simply not available on your non-working days and have no obligation to make yourself available at your employers convenience. Your JS partner is ill, you are ill, the only person who let anyone down is a skinflint miser of an HT who refused to book a cover when the staff member was ill - very unprofessional behaviour and certainly not your fault or that of the JS partner. I hope your union helps you with this nasty bully.

[rollonthesummer]

Get a supply-exactly the same as if one person was ill!

[ninah]

just out of curiosity how many emails do people typically receive from their job share partners during their days off? one or two at the end? how does it work for you?

[rollonthesummer]

Probably a couple of emails a week but lots of texts! Do you think you don't get enough or too many?

[sisterofmercy]

A job share should be counted as one person divided into two. You aren't there to do the other half's work. In my org the jobshares even share the same annual performance report.

Definitely talk to your union rep and ring Acas 08457474747 if you need any other advice.

[ninah]

min 5 a day plus at least 2 or 3 from HT at weekends
I'd rather have them all in one go with all the key info included

[ninah]

I think the same PM makes sense. Otherwise you feel you are being pitted against each other insteadof working as one