Could you drop everything at work with a day's notice for a school event?

[Schoolirons]

School are holding an event for parents of certain children this week. It is important to attend.
Usually we get a list of key dates but my son and non of the other parents I have spoken to have received it this term so we aren't sure if it was not sent out or if it was only uploaded to the website which I only noticed at the weekend after another I parent mentioned it.

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They have been inconsistent with this in the past so many people had stopped checking.

The event on the key list isn't labelled as parents evening but as a progress evening and is on a mixed list of events for two years and doesn't specify which year it is for.

Apparently according to someone else the children have been told today that the staff running it will think about it tonight and will be told tomorrow if their parents have to come in on Thursday .

Aibu to think if they already knew about it they could be giving more than less than 24 hours notice of whether you need to attend?

It's an important year and important to attend but I know many people who couldn't get time off work with a day's notice.

And i have no idea why there are random words inserted mid paragraph

No. Because I work in a school!

Thats crazy. Parents (working or not) can't always attend something at short notice and I'm sure you won't be the only one who can't make it. The fact that the teachers need to "have a think" and decide who should come makes me think they haven't prepared for it at all so it can't be that important.

No! My work are very flexible and family friendly but even they wouldn't be happy with one day's notice for a school event.

I teach 3 days a week (primary) so it depends on the day. But no chance if it's a work day.

Different topic but a receptionist at my GP surgery was very uppity with me about only offering asthma reviews on certain days. Eventually I agreed to take the appointment if 30 8 year olds could wait in the waiting room. She finally understood!

Never! Work want so much notice my DD is always upset and the School don't help giving 2 days notice

Out of interest these companies that require so much notice like yours @Samantha2018 do they actually need people in to cover your work while you're away? Or could it be caught up by you working lunchtime or late the next day?

I couldn’t because I work in school but, depending on scheduled meetings DH often can....

No. I’m a dentist and would need to give reasonable notice to move appointments. I changed someone with 2 weeks notice for DS Harvest assembly and I was annoyed at the short notice given by school!
DH could probably do it with a few days notice.

I need to give 2 weeks notice for holidays. Sometimes my boss is really nice and lets me book out of that policy, for the next day or that week. But he asks the reason why. He’d do it if I didn’t have childcare or my child was ill, or my own medical appointment for instance, but he wouldn’t do it for a school event I don’t think.

No I’m a childminder and have half a dozen other people’s schedules to think about!

No. Realistically I don't think most people could. DH and I both work in jobs that are fairly flexible to a point. DH's job were very good during the year when his Dad was unwell, but last minute for a school event? No.

No and I’ve missed stuff because of it.
Our school are really shit for this.

That is what I thought!
My previous job we didn't get holidays or time off at all outside very specific dates (touring theatre industry in a recieving theatre) unless you were ill and if you didn't turn up unless it was because you were dying you were let go.

Current job would require notice and certainly more than a day.

Can imagine that applies to many people. My Mum is a surgical nurse and couldn't have just left to go either.

It depends how important it is. If I really felt I needed to be there, I could but its not something I'd want to do very often.

Yes I could

I’m very flexible but next day notice would be emergency only unless we happened to be very quiet at work (which is never going to happen at this time of year)

Yes almost always. To achieve this I have completely screwed my career though and work very part time. I also couldn’t reliably have done it until my youngest was school age.

Yes but I'm a self employed copy writer and can easily make up the time elsewhere.

However, very very few people are in my position and for most parents it simply wouldn't be possible. I'm convinced that schools think all pupils grow up in a 1950s style household where Dad works and Mum is around all day every day to help out as required.

@reallyreallynow we're just short staffed there unreasonable about anyone having time off for anything tbh even when you make up the time!

It's a progress meeting for certain children in year 11. I'm presuming the ones not meeting target so I would be expecting to be one of those as my son has additional needs.

I am however already in contact with his learning support team on a regular basis about his progress but still rather cross about this.

If it were an evening thing, yes. If it were a day time thing, I wouldn't be able to go however much notice I had, and neither would dh (we are both teachers).

Nope

I could drop work and run for a genuine crisis (and have done so) but otherwise notice is required. I expect that of my team and it is expected of me.

Pretty normal for most employers. There is very little slack in many organisations whether they are public sector or private. We are all running to keep up with everything at the best of times.

Nope no way.
I wouod need at the very least 2 weeks notice to be able to take time off like this. More if it was a meeting just after school

Wow! How many people can really just drop work to do this?

I really hate this aspect of schools, NHS and other 'local government' groups etc. Our time is just as important as yours!!!!