Would it be unreasonable to not accept work in these circumstances

[Notacs]

I have a professional qualification.

I have the opportunity to work again (had a baby in April) very part time and temporary. Work when my qualification is recognised is about £120 per day.

But if my qualification is ignored I can be offered work at £60 per day. Would it be unreasonable to turn it down?

Depends if you need the money. I cut back on one work thing I do as worse paid than the rest but said I would do it for £2k a day. I could only say that because it was pretty irrelevant whether or not I got any of that work at that rate because I had other work coming in. It is all about whether you can afford to have no work at all rather than work at the lower rate or if you will get more than enough at the higher rate.
Most women charge far too little and are useless at understanding their worth. Men are much better.

I think I will just hold out for the higher paid work, I just hope this means they won't write me off all together.

This is the same situation as a supply teacher though I wouldn't dare presume you are in this position. If this was me, No, I wouldn't take the £60 teaching assistant/cover supervisor/fake supply teacher rate. It's extortion, not fair on the kids and the agency will take the piss and not offer proper supply rates if you're prepared to work for peanuts.

You'd have to teach and mark anyway or the school will think you're lazy and won't have you back, even on £60 a day.

Hold out for the full amount. The agency may be just trying it on anyway.

Unless you're absolutely desperate for the money.

So, if you get work at £120, your daily net after childcare is £80 instead of £20
Even if tax takes a bigger chunk and you miss some jobs, you would be better off working for fewer days at the higher rate.

And you would be adding value to your CV, instead of maybe even lowering it. Once you accept the cheaper rate, I think you are stuck at that pay level and maybe lower level jobs.

The agency would be odd to write you off - unless they only want cheap workers. Try to get your name on the list of a few agencies - if possible, in your case.

Can you register with a different agency / multiple agencies to maximise your chances of higher paid work?

They all do it I think, I don't know of any that don't.

Plus I don't want to have to pay for multiple DBS checks, and have to negotiate different work on different days; I only want two days max. DD is only 5 months.

Not saying you're a supply teacher or anything like, but I have done supply and would never do it through an agency. If you're a teacher-go directly through the head. Circulate your CV.

I came back to try and help, but I don't think I can be arsed

Well, by saying it over and over people might just as well!

No heads round here use teachers directly, I don't know why either. My friend recently retired and goes back to that school and only that school - despite knowing her for over ten years she still had to sign up with an agency, same one I'm using.

The agency ring her with other jobs and she just says no as it's only that school! Crazy really.

The main thing to me is keeping a hand in as I plan/hope to go back in September 2015 when DD is about 18 months. But I've had to book DD in a nursery for two days a week, so I don't want to lose money either.

AF - I really don't/didn't want to go into any detail as DH doesn't know I'm going back to work and he has been known to "stalk" me on here.

I have to admit I did read your first message as a 'wtf are you on about " sort of post and my reply probably did seem a bit short but honestly there are a LOT of people who jump down your throat for not giving what they deem adequate detail in your OP when actually you just want a general response. So apologies if I misread that, I'm a bit worried about the whole thing and was probably feeling defensive when there was no need.

That's as fair as I can be - but by the same token, I don't think I said anything particularly terrible!

Really-where do you live? Not specifics, but SE/NW etc?

I've never done supply through an agency and have never had to.

Would you not be better off posting in The Staff Room instead of getting arsy with people who don't actually understand the circumstances?

Roll on, come on - I've already given more detail than I wanted to. Honestly, why does it matter?

I've never done supply but I know that's the case round here - I agree it's daft but it is what it is. Plus if I'm entirely honest I haven't got the time, confidence or inclination to approach heads directly!

I don't get the situation either?

Are you saying someone without your qualifications would be equally as likely to get/ able to do the jobs you are considering as someone without the qualifications but you'd want twice the salary due to your qualifications?

If so YABU to think someone will pay double for you.

Oh god - I'm NOT getting arsey!

No, I wouldn't be better posting in the staff room as I didn't want to say what my job was! who I am, where I live, I just wanted a general yes I would or no I wouldn't answer

Anyway I've decided what to do now - I'm feeling anxious enough to be honest.

I was just interested and having a conversation. Sorry!

Fine-work for £60 or don't work for £60-you've been rather arsy on here, so I'm not terribly sure if I care. I was trying to be helpful.

Bear thanks but honestly it is okay, thank you :)

Roll on I'm not getting arsey but as I've already said I didn't even want to say what my job was I definitely don't want to give away my location, I really do apologise very genuinely if it came across as arsey as that wasn't the intention at all, I just am worried about being identified on here and I'd said that and it feels sometimes like people just want to push you into giving information you don't want to give then get angry/upset with you when you don't want to give it and it's not fair.

Op are you ok? You seem really uptight about a kind of innocuous situation and an innocent question.

Your Dh stalking you on here, and causing you to respond in this way isn't usual you know?

I hope your ok anyway, I hope my response isn't too much for you. And for the record, I'd hold out for the higher wage. Know your own worth.

Fine, but-as you can see by your replies-your post makes absolutely no sense to anyone outside of teaching, and you've reacted badly to the advice you've been given by teachers! I'm confused by how identifiable you think you are. How many teachers with small children do you think there are in the country?

There is plenty of supply out there without going through agencies-I know lots of teachers across the country with small children who do supply directly through schools.

OP, whether you meant to or not, you have come across as pretty arsey.

If someone without your qualification would be perfectly capable of doing the job but you want twice the pay just because you have the qualification you are deluded- why would anyone pay more than they need to- let alone double what they need to.

Thanks. I really, 100% didn't mean to sound horrible! I just don't feel I can share some info and the less I share the less chance of being identified.

I'm tense about it as it's happened before - started a general thread about DDs name and asked people not to guess it but every other post was 'is it this ... is it that?" It was pulled in the end but not before it bit me on the arse, I just wish people would realise if you don't include some info it might be because you don't want people knowing it

I haven't reacted badly? I've agreed with you and just explained that the supply thing is obviously done differently in this (anonymous!) neck of the woods. That's not reacting badly?

I don't understand how your DH would be able to work out it was you posting from just a few more details There are loads and loads of women of all professions posting on MN about going back to work