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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I think I've blown my job today, would you have done the same?

156 replies

ilove · 05/02/2016 21:48

I'm a supply teacher/cover supervisor through an agency covering primary and secondary across Yorkshire, I work adhoc days to suit what fits in with my own kids and family and we also foster.

U agreed to work today in what is a decent secondary not far from home. My husband was also working overtime (we've had a very tough January money wise), but because his car is broken he got a lift in at half five this morning with someone who works on the same site but in a totally different area. I had my car at school with me.

Right at the end of P3 (I'd already taught Y7 and Y9) I had a Y11 class, teaching geography. As we packed up I noticed my phone flashing madly and looked at it - missed calls, texts, whatsapp said, messenger and emails all saying URGENT, CONTACT ME OR SCHOOL, SERIOUS INJURY and missed calls from my kids school too.

I rang my husband to be told that our youngest had had a serious head and mouth injury, bleeding, teeth forced backwards, blood from his mouth and face and could I get there now...

So I went straight to the supply department, told them, said I was leaving and went. Rang school and said I was on my way, then rang my husband to say I was too, and rang my agency to explain and apologise.

Just to say, we have NO family help. None. My in laws are six hours away and my parents both work and are over an hour away but wouldn't have come anyway. My eldest son is 90 mins away and works shifts. There are no neighbours at home who could have stepped in, we really are on our own and that's why I do agency work.

The agency were clearly very poised off with me and told me I should not have left the school (the school, by the way, were lovely - told me to go and not to worry and took all the handover stuff straight off me)

My boy isn't good, he has split top and bottom lip, ripped his frenulum and looks to have broken the muscle in his top lip as well as pushing his two front teeth right backwards so his teeth don't close together properly. He is a ? Concussion and needs waking every three hours tonight. Dentist on Monday unless he feels worse tomorrow and will then get an emergency appt with 111. Hospital were lovely, and surprised an ambulance hadn't been called as the child he bumped heads with was in just as bad a state but has my sons teeth marks in his head (apparently it was a game of tag!!!)

So WIBU to have but my son first? WWYHD? Sat here fretting :(

OP posts:
ThumbWitchesAbroad · 05/02/2016 22:20

Sounds like the agency are just completely up their own arses about this - if the school, who are actually paying more to the agency than you're getting, were happy for you to leave in this emergency then they should wind their necks in!
If they give you further grief, I would definitely consider moving to another agency, plus I'd probably show them pictures of your son's injuries and ask if they thought that was something too trivial to leave for?

edwinbear · 05/02/2016 22:23

YWDNBU and I would absolutely have done the same. Re the agency, do they think you would have been able to focus and teach effectively for the rest of the day whilst knowing your son was in A&E? I would have been such a mess I would not be capable of doing my job in those circumstances.

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 05/02/2016 22:23

YANBU. I would have done the same and have encouraged staff to do similar when I was a manager.

Some things are just more important than work. End of.

Valentine2 · 05/02/2016 22:25

YADNBU

Original poster
ilove · 05/02/2016 22:25

I'm charged out at £264/day - they pay me £67.

OP posts:
timelytess · 05/02/2016 22:27

You did the right thing. Stop worrying. What else could you have done? Your boy needed his mum, it was a serious situation.

Mia1415 · 05/02/2016 22:27

You did exactly the right thing! Of course you had to go to your DS. No question! Ring the agency on Monday & just explain what happened. Agencies get people mucking them around so much sometimes I suspect they miss a genuine case. I hope your DS is ok & try not to worry

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 05/02/2016 22:27

Get some good pictures of how baldly hurt your poor ds is.

The school were ok, so not likely to complain. They can see you had a real reason for leaving!

Rainbowlou1 · 05/02/2016 22:27

I would have definitely done the same thing!
I hope he recovers soon x

I work in school (not as a teacher)and once had a meningitis scare with my 4 year old...we were in hospital all night having tests, all was ok and we got discharged at 4am, i set my alarm to call the head at 6.30 to let her know I wouldn't be in as he was poorly and we had been up all night-she was so hacked off with me and said well this will be unpaid and you need to find childcare for tomorrow!!amd promptly hung up!! I didn't stay there long...
Sorry totally derailed your thread but that just made me remember that and feel all AngryAngry

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 05/02/2016 22:28

And yes, I would have the same, a hundred times if I needed to!

Mrsmorton · 05/02/2016 22:29

Stop worrying about your pay and get your DS to a dentist as soon as you can. Until Xmas I ran an OOH session every Sunday and saw this frequently, it has to be done ASAP to have any reasonable chance of healing without losing teeth. You'll need a lot of £67/h to pay for implants.

grumpysquash2 · 05/02/2016 22:31

OP, you know stuff happens.
Teachers (supply or permanent) get called out if their child pukes at nursery.
Its unfortunate and never convenient.
You had to go, being called out from any commitment at any time always lets people down; it can't be avoided.
Please don't feel badly about it.

All the best to your DS....

Viviennemary · 05/02/2016 22:31

You did what you had to do. I'd have done the same. But it won't go down well but at least the school were fine about it.

Iwonderif · 05/02/2016 22:33

I would definitely have done the same OP. Family first. It's just the way. You did the right thing. Hoping your son is ok and that his teeth and mouth all heal fine. Flowers

Original poster
ilove · 05/02/2016 22:34

Oh I'm not bothered about the wage for today, I know I won't get paid. But I need the/a job.

I'll call 111 in the morning for a dentist appointment, the teeth are not loose, they've just shifted. He's on the list for braces anyway as he has wonky teeth to start with.i wonder if the dental school here is open tomorrow? I'll have a google

OP posts:
StompyFreckles · 05/02/2016 22:39

I'm a supply teacher and would have done the same - my agency would not have been pissed off with me. Maybe change agency??

Original poster
ilove · 05/02/2016 22:39

No it's shut. 111 it is. I'm cross my dentist didn't tell me to take him this afternoon, surely they should have done?

OP posts:
StompyFreckles · 05/02/2016 22:40

Definitely get Ds's teeth checked - they can end up infected / dying etc if there is trauma.

Original poster
ilove · 05/02/2016 22:40

I think I might need to Stompy. Who are you with? PM me if you'd rather

OP posts:
grumpysquash2 · 05/02/2016 22:41

I'm charged out at £264/day - they pay me £67.

Just spotted this. Really only £67? For a qualified teacher who can teach any year of seniors?

Suppose you got £100. That would be £500 per week, for a 39 week year that would be less than £20K.

£67 is about two thirds of that

It sounds like you do a great job for less money than you should get.

(Still hoping that DS is ok)

StompyFreckles · 05/02/2016 22:41

You get £67 for a day??

228agreenend · 05/02/2016 22:41

Family comes first.

CandOdad · 05/02/2016 22:42

For this there are plenty of other agencies that you couldmworkmformif they want to be difficult. They will only be pissed off because your "consultant" has lost part of their sales target for today.

If they don't support your family situation then move on and pick another agency. I often felt like I had pissed off my agency
Sat year when they would ring and I wasn't available (and shouldn't have been expected to be) but they soon got over it.

SanityAssassin · 05/02/2016 22:44

I have ditched work on more than one occasion to go to my children when asked (thankfully for nothing serious). They come first. Hope your son is OK.

CandOdad · 05/02/2016 22:45

Oh I'm not bothered about the wage for today, I know I won't get paid. But I need the/a job.

They should still pay you for each part of the day you completed. If that's not the case then you defiantly need to change agencies.

As for the rate, I was getting £75 a day and being charged out at £160. I'm in the East Midlands.