Can a teacher work in another capacity while off sick?

[Babbaganush]

Today I saw a teacher form dc primary school who has been off sick since about Jan / Feb - the teacher was collecting a child from school on behalf of an organisation and I believe she would be paid for this (all the session works are). This was before the end of the school day when if not sick she would be teaching................
Are there any circumstances where this would be permitted - I find it very odd that someone who is off sick from their job could be working for another employer?

[Estherdove]

Not a teacher but nhs here. Categorically no. You can't work elsewhere while sick.

[Estherdove]

Presumably she's signed off as unfit to work too

[PotteringAlong]

If you are capable of doing one but not the other then yes - i.e. A friend was off sick from teaching due to a back operation so couldn't stand but was allowed to mark exam papers as she could do that online lying down. She got some sort of exemption on her fit note about it if I remember correctly.

[Increasinglymiddleaged]

Not a teacher but nhs here. Categorically no. You can't work elsewhere while sick.

That just isn't true, presumably she has two jobs all the time. Perhaps she is signed off with stress but the stress is caused by the teaching job. A doctor can write a fit note that states she can work in job A but is not fit for job B. It isn't as clear as 'fit for work' or 'not fit for work'.

[Beelzebop]

No, you can't do that.

[Beelzebop]

Sorry, maybe it's technically possible but I'm really not sure what the school will say.

[BandeauSally]

It really depends on what their fit to work line said. They may have been declared unfit to do teaching because of the stress related specifically to the job but perfectly able to collect a child from somewhere.

[Loopy567]

Errr no surely. I would be pissed off to say the least children as children at school are missing out. Plus school are missing out as no doubt still paying her wages

[Babbaganush]

It can't be a job she has normally alongside her teaching commitment because the hours overlap. The additional work is with special needs children with challenging behaviour - so very stressful and full on!

[BandeauSally]

You have no idea what her fit to work line said or under what capacity she was collecting that child today. It's really none of your business. It's between her and her employer.

[WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano]

I agree it's quite possible to be fit for one job but not another. You'd normally want to clear it officially with the employers you're off sick from, just so you don't end up being grassed up by someone who sees you working, doesn't have all the facts and jumps to a fairly natural conclusion.

Being signed off from full-time teaching due to stress but still being capable of limited self-contained childcare work like doing the school run must be pretty common. And surely only an idiot would visit her employers while moonlighting if she'd told them she was totally incapable of any form of work due to a broken neck or whatever.

[Babbaganush]

The teacher was visiting a DIFFERENT school, one I am connected closely to and I know exactly the capacity she was collecting the child in. I happened to recognise her as I have a dc in the school she is currently employed at.
Something about it didn't sit right with me, which is why I posted for opinions.

[roseandviolets]

In all honesty, while its technically possible, it would be frowned upon. Exam marking would be an exception.

It would depend on the circumstances. Teachers have been disciplined for it.

[Allthebestnamesareused]

For all you know she may have actually left the school she was formerly employed by but the school may just not have replaced her and it is easier to let parents assume she is still sick rather than explain they can't afford to replace her!