I'm on SLT, all absence requests are discussed at our weekly meeting. We recognise that staff work hard and have many restrictions placed on them and try to be flexible where we can. Unfortunately, as you'd expect due to human nature, the more we give the more requests we get.
Often it I will be children's graduations (always agreed), or other child/school related things (usually agreed, unless staff member has made a lot of requests).
Increasingly we' re getting requests for long weekends away for a big birthday, either the staff member of their friend or family member or for midweek weddings or hen dos with a Friday/Monday flight. Trickier but usually agreed unless they've already had time off.
Then there's the big events, like Wimbledon which happen once a year, and in term time. As a teacher and a fan you'd never get to go to without an agreed day off. A big deal for some people.
I absolutely agree that looking after staff is important but I'm struggling to see where it ends. For example, I participate in a sport where a lot of big events would mean a Friday flight, so I can never go with my friends. That's just a fact of life, or is it?
The other thing I struggle with is that staff with the means/inclination to organise these big trips or events get extra leave, but really why is that more valid than someone who'd like an extra day to spend with DC or do DIY?
The policy just says this kind of leave is discretionary, which is unhelpful!
Are our staff trying it on because we're so accommodating or is this usual?
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How would your school respond to a request for time off to go to Wimbledon?
40 replies
Runmoreorless · 17/06/2019 21:44
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