Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
HopefulHamster · 05/02/2016 23:19

Priority over a head injury....

I hope they took a good hard look at themselves after that call and realised what grade A prats they were being.

Original poster
ilove · 05/02/2016 23:23

That was the manager...I specifically asked to speak to him

OP posts:
Slippersandacuppa · 05/02/2016 23:25

Sorry to hear about your poor son - hope he feels better soon.

Speaking from experience, agency staff don't give two hoots about your personal life. All they care about are the numbers on their board. I was one but didn't last long. I was told to get people in jobs for three months so we'd get our commission, then it didn't matter what happened. Some of what went on was shocking. What you've described doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I reckon you should tell them you're leaving, and why, then either approach the school directly or join another agency. Good candidates are worth a lot - definitely more than £67 per hour. They need you so don't be afraid to tell them what you want. I can just picture their smug faces when they're talking about the margin they make on you. Grrr.

Good luck and hope he's better soon.

Slippersandacuppa · 05/02/2016 23:26

*per day!

altctrldel · 05/02/2016 23:27

Then if he causes a shitstorm- cause one right back. Drag them through the mud. 99.9% of the mothering population will have you back on this one OP. You have done nothing wrong

mathanxiety · 05/02/2016 23:36

Keep the hospital report and the dental report when it comes. Also, whatever your DS's school communicated to you and to your DH.

Look around for a better agency.

AnotherStitchInTime · 05/02/2016 23:36

No you weren't. Have been in your position as a supply. Dd1 was 20 months very ill and fitting, rushed to hospital by DH. School were great, totally understood. I left and was off for 5 days while she was in hospital.

Agency were pissed off due to my absence, but I put the snippy madam who phoned me firmly in her place. She wanted me to apologise to the school for my absence. I told her I was not bloody apologising for being at my sick childs bedside. I did have a duty to the children I was teaching and their education, but my children will always come first. The school were really fine about it and concerned for Dd1, not their profit margin and bonus like the agency.

thegiddylimit · 05/02/2016 23:39

Absolutely I would have done the same, and DH has. He got the call, told his boss he was leaving and went in the middle of a big meeting.

DS has regular hospital stays. DH and I regularly take short notice annual leave and we have employers who are fine with it (both high tech industries). But I was talking to another Mum last time I was in hospital. She works PT in a support role in a (surprise, surprise) school and they wouldn't allow her ANY time off when her DS was in hospital. Luckily her DH's employer was great so he was allowed to work funny hours to cover her working hours. But honestly, what kind of employer doesn't let you take time off when your child is in hospital? That's pretty much the definition of a bad employer surely?

You don't owe the agency anything and they are clearly not taking account of your good record to now so leave and move to another agency.

Homebird8 · 05/02/2016 23:49

Well done for being the DM your DS needed.

The agency probably are concerned that the school will not place more work through them. They will also know how reliable you are in normal circumstances. A quick email from the school to the agency reassuring them that they authorised your leaving, and that they still trust the agency will probably make them see reason.

Hope your DH's car is fixed soon. Easier than fixing his text style I should think Wink

Kbear · 05/02/2016 23:59

My boss always says "Family comes first".

You did absolutely the right thing. There are plenty of senior management that can step in for a hour or two or classes can be merged or something.... Family comes first.

Hope your poor boy is going ok soon and his gnashers get sorted.

StableYard · 06/02/2016 00:07

OP - you were completely correct in what you did.

Did your son see the Maxillofacial (Maxfax) doctors in A&E?

GreenGlassLove · 06/02/2016 01:04

Of course you're not being unreasonable, your son was badly hurt and he needed his parents with him. Flowers, Chocolate and Cake to you OP (I would send wine but it might not be a bright idea just now), I hope you, DS and DH will be alright.

StompyFreckles · 06/02/2016 07:41

You absolutely should have left the job and gone to collect your son - the agency have been very unreasonable. This would make me not want to work for them again to be honest.

If I was you I would look at all agencies in your area and see which offer the best deal. I love the fact my agency keep some of my money back to go in my holiday fund, so I still get paid over the summer. I also think you should be paid more if doing supply teaching - I get £130 and am +6.

My Dh told me to remember that my agency need me more and to not forget that!!!

Hackedabove · 06/02/2016 08:12

I came on to say get to a dentist.

As has been said up thread trauma needs to be attended to as quickly as possible. No point in moving teeth if they get lost at a later date through them dying and getting infected.

I went to a course run by the dentist that heads the dental trauma unit at Kings, amazing what they can do days/weeks after the incident, but immediate treatment gives the best outcome.

And definitely you did the right thing by leaving.

whois · 06/02/2016 08:18

That's a genuine 'have to leave work NOW' incident and I would have done the same.

TiggyD · 06/02/2016 08:37

Having your phone on you in a non-phone setting was naughty, and a terrible risk for you.
The agency seems not very nice. Leave if at all possible. The school seem kind. I suppose if a child got injured there they would want a parent to drop everything and come straight away.
Hope it all works out ok.

3WiseWomen · 06/02/2016 08:54

I can fully understand why you did that.
I would have expected your DH to ring that school to let you know if you hadn't had your phone with you (or had let it in your bag as per the 'rules') anyway.
The school clearly has no issue with it. I'm Shock at the reaction of the agency!!

I can see how havig the phone with you could be an issue. But really, do you want to carry on working for people who has so little respect?

pippitysqueakity · 06/02/2016 09:13

'You cannot leave' !!!! Who do the agency think they are? As a fellow supply, you did exactly the right thing OP. Hope your DS feeling a bit better. And you.

blueturtle6 · 06/02/2016 09:15

Even if family had been close, with that injury the boy wouldve wanted mum or dad for comfort! You absolutely did the right thing, hope your boy is ok xx

Rainbowcolours1 · 06/02/2016 09:24

I'm a head...I'd have had no problem with you going at all. I allow phones in school providing they are only on at break times. There are loads of agencies..I'd find a different one. If you go to this school a lot I'd phone them, apologise again for leaving and mention that the agency has been less than supportive. I only use one agency at the moment and that's because they treat their staff like I treat mine and that's important. We are, I hope, a family friendly school nd I expect any agency I use to be the same. I hope your son is soon on the mend...teeth and heads never seem to go well together!

Abraid2 · 06/02/2016 11:32

I think we need a MN flash mob at this agency's premises.

AvaLeStrange · 06/02/2016 11:39

Hope your boy is in the mend soon.

I'd have done the same in a heartbeat Flowers

Oakmaiden · 06/02/2016 12:02

£67 a day. Are you in South Wales? It is about what I get too... Fairly insulting amount, really...

cupcakesandwine · 06/02/2016 12:13

TBH I would suggest that you think about cutting the agency out altogether and talk to the head or deputy head and ask them to call you direct if they need staff in future.

The primary school I used to work at did this. They had a small group of people who were either previous staff members or agency staff they liked and just had direct arrangements with them that they would get called first if cover was needed.

Better all round I would have thought. The school gets staff they know and like and will pay less than to an agency and you get more money and should be treated better by the school as you are regarded as a regular.

Almostfifty · 06/02/2016 13:09

When my DS was taken seriously ill suddenly, my DH's work told him to take as much time off as he needed to. He was off over a month. They paid him fully for the whole time.

That's how an employer should be.