Bradford factor makes things worse, not better

[Elendel]

I work in a school. As is the case in many schools right now, absence is ridiculously high - and it makes sense: schools are germ breeding grounds, especially at this time of year. I've had 3 absences for different illnesses so far (all last resorts, but they happened to bunch together this year - new school, new germs and all that, but you really can't work in a school with D&V or complete loss of voice).

Another colleague, who has been put on formal absence monitoring due to a relatively high Bradford factor, has recently come in with flu so bad they've had to be carted out in an ambulance. We have two teachers in the department with health conditions which mean the flu is dangerous for them, and another who looks after elderly relatives, so the fact we used the Bradford score to beat my colleague over the head with and made them come in despite severe illness means they've been put at risk.

Now it looks like I've caught the flu, too, and I, too, am considering going in. I've spent the weekend in bed with high fever (still marking work), dragged myself in the last two days, but had the shivers so bad last night I thought I was going to die. Three layers of blankets and two thick layers of clothing and I could not get warm. I'm aching and dizzy. I have a full day, meetings after school I can't miss, behaviour is horrendous right now.

And yet I'm considering going in. Because another absence would mean I'd be put on formal absence procedures, too, and I can't afford that when looking for another job.

AIBU to go in and hope I, too, am going to need to be carted out in an ambulance before someone sees how ridiculous the whole thing is?

Oh fuck off.

I don't know any teachers (in a 15 year career) who are 'not working' for 13 weeks a year. Maybe 2 full, clear weeks at some point over summer. And let's not forget the 9-3 workdays, right? That actually start well before 8am and see most teachers working into the evenings and a good chunk of weekends too.

Not many jobs where you might be expected to be on top form despite feeling like death, whilst being solely responsible for wrangling up to 180 teenagers every single day

Training days are actual days in school too

You're not wrong about TA pay and responsibility though.

Back to the point of the thread. The Bradford score means ill members of staff come into school. I don't mean a sniffle ill, but needing an ambulance ill. Vomiting in the staff toilets.

That spreads diseases far more than if, instead of punitive measures, some common sense was applied. Someone is off every Monday for a month? Yes, there is a pattern that needs looking at. Someone is off for two weeks every half-term? Serious concern, yes. We all know who the pisstakers are.

Nothing to do with low immunity, by the way. New schools in a different county generally do that to you for the first year, after which you've caught every variation of what has gone around and then tend to be fine.

Wow. What a nasty comment

@Elendel I'm off with the flu tooand teach in a primary school. I'm now finally on the mend but there is NO way I could've gone into school. I didn't get out of bed for three days.

I have a very severe form of asthma so I'm exempt from the Bradford score. teaching is a job where unless you are feeling 100% it's a struggle. You have got to be on top form.

I hope you feel better soon. Look after yourself

Ooh excellent- then if possible next year if you're still in teaching try and remind all your colleagues of this. If they are ok to have it with any underlying conditions they really should.

Never heard of that (if it is standard, it's not been made public, but I have been working in academies ever since they were a thing). Will definitely check that out.

Raise it with governors. Not all schools use the Bradford factor

Surely it’s doubtful that any school is actually going to dismiss a teacher due to BF though? They’re desperate for teachers. Isn’t it a case of nodding and ignoring etc when they do the reviews?
I agree that BF is not a good system and I work in HR, I see lots of companies dismissing people using the system but I just can’t see it happening in teaching, tell me if I’m wrong?

And yet there’s a massive shortage of teachers…hmm

so you didn’t get the flu vaccine

vast majority of teachers get free flu vaccines from their schools

but even if they didn’t.., the cost is between £10-20, and given what you describe, baffling you and your colleagues didn’t bother

Another colleague, who has been put on formal absence monitoring due to a relatively high Bradford factor, has recently come in with flu so bad they've had to be carted out in an ambulance. We have two teachers in the department with health conditions which mean the flu is dangerous for them, and another who looks after elderly relatives,

one would think that you with three recent absences, your colleagues with pre existing health conditions and your colleague caring for someone vulnerable… would bother to get the flu vaccine

No wonder teachers are leaving in droves with that kind of management and the kind of shitty comments you received from a PP.

Don’t go in, your health is never worth a job. It’s never worth risking your own wellbeing for a bunch of kids who don’t give a shit and parents like the PP who clearly needs a serious dose of empathy.

The Bradford factor shouldn't be used.

It's designed to beat people with and to benefot the company / employer only.

Personally, I'd stay home. I'd be very tempted to put out a message on my Facebook or wherever some parents could see it and let them know what's happening.

"Apologies to my students and parents today. I have the flu and have no wish to spread it to your children and to you."

Sure you'll get some twerps like shitheaps on this thread, but the decent ones that are capable of conscious thought will understand and appreciate why your off.

I used to teach (inner and outer London, so no picnic) and don’t think that I ever came across a teacher who was taking excessive time off sick. If anything it was the opposite.

However the rate of sickness was high, much higher than in other workplaces. I noticed that I built up immunity in one role and then as soon as I moved to a new school or area, I encountered a whole new set of germs.

If I could do it again differently I would have taken more time off sick as I definitely went in on some days when I should not have been teaching!

I'd be grateful if people could stop thread hunting through my other posts. Of course I'm changing details. I have no desire to be identified by my superiors.

Yes, that's my experience. 3+ years at any place and I'd never be ill.

I did know two absolute pisstakers, but it took years each time before they were let go. I guess on that front people are right; I am good at my job and the school won't let me go.

But it might still count against me as I am seeking to leave.

presumably you have decided not to go in

Shame that in your desire to try and find everything else I have written, you have missed the post where I said I wasn't going in.

You are also, still, spectacularly missing the point of my post.

The thing is if people get a nasty virus then the effects can hover in your system for months afterwards especially when convalescence has gone out of common practice

So if you had something nasty in September you are more likely to be ill in December and February

I got put onto a performance plan due to how many times i was off sick. My now EXDP of 19 years was having an EA and i was in pieces, heartbroken etc which was the main reasons for me being off.

Do you know how many times i was off in a 12 month period due to my EX? have a guess, i was off for 2.5 days. Yep, 2.5 days over a 12 month period, i hate the Bradford Score, no compassion.

I have said i am not going to take a day off work ill and go in the next day still ill due to the work load i will take the whole week, you get punished the same for a day as a week.