Possible discrimination at work - AIBU?

[MrPostman]

I work in a school as a teacher. Posh xmas do involves all staff being put up in hotel over night as well as all the booze, food, fanfare etc I cannot attend do as i have small children.

1. No gift/gift voucher arrives in lieu of my attendance
2. No xmas bonus at all
3. All staff not attending are expected to do chores around the school and stay later than those attending the party (just 2 of us)
4. Jobs included, but not limited to: painting walls, tidying office, sorting every other teachers room out
5. With one working day left from now until when i start in Jan 2019 i must still plan, mark and do various admin work us teachers do.

(This is not a post about pitying teachers it can be applicable across all sectors)

My quarrel is, should me and my non-party-attending colleague have been given something as a thank you for all our hard work as all other employees get a party? And, is the expectation for us to work for longer as a result of our non attendance fair?

Any stories of unfairness like this seen? Please share!!

Maybe the unfairness of 2) is influencing OP's thinking regarding the fairness of 1)?

**

Is it a private school OP? I can't see any cash strapped state school being able to pay for all staff to go on a jolly. I am sure the fee paying parents will be fine with it

Ps 20 years teaching and not so much as a sniff of a mince pie

Well... WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue, According to acas.org.uk (The authority on workers rights in the UK) Parental rights are indeed a company's responsibilities! We no longer live in the barbaric ages where humanity is trumped with capitalistic loyalty. We live in the 21st century where the matters of mental and physical health are paramount!

To punish a women for having a child brings us just another step closer to the dictatorial regime of China!

Some may consider this gesture kind and inclusive (and it would be if ALL were included), but the method of execution of such a "gift" has only segregated those less fortunate to feel underwhelmed, underappreciated and cut off from their fellow worker.

How would you feel if your son (an argumentative presumption) had to stay at school to work and not go with his friends on a school trip JUST because the school trip did not cater for his wheelchair?!

Yours Sincerely,
A concerned Mother
Xxx

YABU. There is a "bonus" on offer, you are choosing not to accept it.

Margret001 She’s not being punished, nor is she excluded. She has been included by being invited, however she is choosing not to go.

There are nine protected characteristics regarding discrimation in the workplace. None of them are applicable here.

After reading through I’m quite taken aback by some people’s “get over yourself” attitude and also the “it’s your choice not to go so it’s your fault” posting...
There are clearly reasons the OP is upset by this and hasn’t got childcare and I hate that we are all jumping to judge that without knowing the background.
Also I don’t see op screaming for justice or bitching, they are asking quite a genuine question as far as I read it spoken in facts and there is no need for hostility.

Knowing the background or not (I assume the boss probably does) the company has chosen to arrange a Christmas do she/he cannot attend.
I was in a similar situation when I had to step in and care for my Grandfather at Christmas and the thought of attending a Christmas do and being away from him for the night filled me with anxiety. My work place gave me the day off along with everyone else that was going the do and sent me a token gift. A small gesture which made me feel appreciated and thought of while everyone went off partying. Margaret is right, the workplace does have a responsibility to their staff, not only in what she mentioned but also to treat staff with equality and without discrimination of their personal circumstance.

while sadly I think hoping for anything extra is unlikely, especially in the education system, having to stay later than people that could attend feels not only unfair but just bad management because it’s bound to make you feel left out. If you want to go but can’t due to circumstance you are probably already not feeling too good and To give you what sounds like a list of bottom of the barrel tasks to do on top of that is a terribly thought out end to the year.

Number 4 is outrageous. Get on to your union.
The rest is fair enough.

If you choose not to go, that is your choice (regardless of the reason) you certainly shouldn't get anything in lieu of it.. you got the same option as people going to the party.

Yes to being expected to work the day as normal (this has always happened where I work) but no to the day being longer and additional duties.

So YABVU and YABU at the same time!

What sort of school are you working in? Is it UK? I’m gobsmacked there’s a posh staff do with hotel. In 17years of teaching I got a free croissant once after ofsted. With the dire lack of funding I’m astounded there’s a school left who could possibly afford a posh event plus hotel for their staff. I find it in pretty bad taste too, considering the sacrifices the public sector is making.

Anyway, that’s not your question. I’m assuming your UK, and that this event is in directed time, seeing as they’re asking you to work instead? The school has every right to ask you to work in directed time, but only on tasks that are in your contract. Painting and cleaning the school is not in the STPCD unless things have gone really wrong since I left! You don’t have to do that. You could get in with one of the actual jobs in your contract, like PPA.

You’re **

A: Why would you get a cash alternative? Don’t be daft.
B: You chose not to go
C: Are you being forced to work outside of contractual hours? If you are then you have a point.

Discrimination?! What protected characteristic are you? These are the characteristics that define illegal discrimination in the workplace:
age
gender reassignment
being married or in a civil partnership
being pregnant or on maternity leave
disability
race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation

Making you work later instead of going to the party is bad management, but please do not throw around phrases like 'discrimination'. You chose not to attend. There was nothing inherent about the party that was discriminatory towards you.

YABVU. You were invited to the party and chose not to go. It isn't the schools fault you have kids/couldn't get childcare and you 100% should not get any sort of 'gift' in place of the party.

A bonus is performance related generally, if just a general happy xmas bonus then did everyone get one apart from you?

Nice attempt from a journalist!

My quarrel is, should me and my non-party-attending colleague have been given something as a thank you for all our hard work as all other employees get a party?

No, because it is still your decision not to attend the party. These things are a ‘take it or leave it’ situation.

And, is the expectation for us to work for longer as a result of our non attendance fair?

I think it’s fair that you’re expected to stay in work until normal finishing time - my work has the same rule. You can leave early to attend the party, or work your normal hours.

What isn’t fair is them loading you up with additional tasks which aren’t part of your normal remit. You shouldn’t have to tidy other rooms or paint - it’s like you’re being punished for not attending, which is absurd.

I am slightly about this thread, but I'll give it a go

The employer does not have to offer an alternative to the party. I assume that the party-goers have permission to leave work earlier than normal to attend and if you are not going you are required to work your normal hours - that bit is fine and totally normal.

I would not expect you to do more than cover the duties of anyone who had gone though, so painting a wall seems a bit odd to me!

Asking for other unfair stores to share does look rather like a lazy journo, who perhaps has to cover the news desk while their colleagues don't ...

Yabu apart from being expected to work longer.

But your last sentence seems more like fishing for stories for an article TBH.

Some schools have broken up already I assume. Seems to be a lot of first time posters with quite contentious threads cropping up.

Do none of the other teachers have children?

I hope you don’t teach legal studies.

I don’t think it’s discrimination

You chose not to go to the Xmas party, regardless if you couldn’t sue to childcare etc. You had the same opportunity as everyone else. Also I don’t think you should receive anything in lieu, to me that’s honkers to expect it.

As for the chores or staying late, yanbu. You shouldn’t be expected to stay later or get the shit jobs. But again I don’t think you are being discriminated against, it’s just thoughtless

No discrimination to be seen here. Move along.

If there was an offer of gift vouchers instead of going to a party most people would take the vouchers and the team bonding element would be gone.
Staying late to pick up extra work is a no no, but I don't think it is unreasonable to not give you something for not being able to go.