AIBU to refuse to volunteer (and maybe even email my boss about it)

[Funkyslippers]

Myself and my team work on a term time only basis. We finish for the summer v soon. We've been working from home since lockdown, our normal hours.

We've now been emailed to ask us to volunteer over the summer to go in for a few days to prepare for next academic year but we won't be paid or get time off in lieu. Her words were "I'm relying on your goodwill at this time as I've supported you all over the past few months". Actually I feel it's the other way round! I've barely heard from her in the past few months.

We are under no obligation to go in and I feel like emailing her to say I could go in (but be quite vague about it as I have alot going on over the summer plus childcare) but to say I'm disappointed not to be offered TOIL or pay? I think most of the team feel the same.

@Funkyslippers

What do you do?

My post is all-year, but the role is often offered as term-time only. I'm not a teacher or TA.

If it is to do with corona (so things haven't been done as normal) I would be sympathetic, BUT object to not getting TOIL.
If it's help/prep that is regularly required each summer then your boss needs to re-evaluate.

I would go into work for a day or two unpaid in these extraordinary circumstances.

@Etinox Without going into extreme detail, teachers are paid term time only. (For the purpose of this thread. Teachers actual pay and conditions are complex).

YANBU

I wouldn't even reply.

Many TTO workers have to take second jobs during holidays anyway so won't be available.

YANBU at all. I would say no.

I would not do this. Unless you're really well paid. Is this person also working for free or so they get paid holidays?

I would also be concerned that this becomes the expected norm every summer holiday. If a few of you do a few days ghat could be 2 weeks of free work. That's worth a grand or two! I also think the wording is bloody cheeky! Like it's expected and kind of mandatory.

In response to your OP, what is your role? Have you worked the same hours or has WFH been less intense? I'm struggling to think of a role in school that isn't teaching but would take the same hours from home. Perhaps school business manager or ICT support?

Ring ACAS for advice.
I think what she’s asking you to do is unlawful.

Wouldn't you normally go in during the summerholidays to prepare for the next academic year?

No, no no. There's goodwill and there's taking the piss.

Ask if she knows what volunteering means. (And it's not 'I want 3 volunteers, you, you and you')

I’d imagine the majority of teachers will be in over the summer for a few days at least, and plenty of TAs too, all unpaid. I’m one of the teachers who works the bare minimum over summer (have had a couple of years where I’ve managed not to go in but usually do 2 days or so) and I’m going to have to be in more this summer. My TA has been furloughed (private school) so all the jobs I would usually have given her before term ends (stripping boards, rebacking them, backing work, printing and cutting out letters for displays) I will have to do myself. Also currently I get no PPA as we have to have the same adult with the class all week so no time in ‘work hours’ to get stuff done.

Previous TAs I’ve worked with have generally volunteered to come in, unpaid, if they’ve known I’ll be in. I’ve never outright asked them, just said, I’ll be in this day sorting the classroom. I don’t think it’s an unrealistic/unfair request, but nor do I think saying ‘sorry can’t make it’ is unacceptable. There’s no chance you’ll be paid or get TOIL though, assuming you’re a TA.

She can ask if anyone is free to help but she hasn't gone about it the right way. I am a teacher and will o doubt go in to get organised and sort out my room and resources etc for September but will work it around other commitments. She should have stuck to the first bit and just asked 'is there anyone who would be able to help at all?' She then would have had true volunteers!

If you can't do it by the way, don't reply. This is much better than making a point.

Aren’t TAs paid little more than minimum wage? It seems unreasonable for them to work for free.

Don't go in if you don't want to, simple. What type of jobs are they expecting you to do OP?

I don’t know. In my last job being asked to “volunteer” to do work was literally illegal. In many jobs, it is a breach of the employment contract. Are you sure your boss can even ask you to volunteer?

@FluffyKittensinabasket yes. I wouldn't expect anyone to work for free but especially not TAs on their salary. They are worth their weight in gold and paid so poorly.

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy are you for real? Most staff have worked harder now than ever

I have no kids and no commitments I'd still tell her to fuck off just on the basis of how she's worded it! People work for the money not because they are so invested they want to give up their free time!

these are not normal times, and in lots of workplaces people are pulling together to get things back on track

I would be going in

@ScottishStottie

My guess is some sort of ta role. From my experience the ta's in schools ive hears about are doing very little with no actual classroom time, so if its the case that (whether its through no fault of your own or not) youve had less to do than normal, it might be nice to help got organised for next year.

I think it’s been different in different areas. TAs here, have been working just as much as teachers , both in school and , in terms of supporting home learning. They have also taken the opportunity to create resources for interventions which they don’t often get time for in normal school time or have helped to create resources for teachers . They have also been in during the Easter holidays, on a rota basis, for no extra pay, to cover key worker children.

I'm term time only (plus 2 weeks) in a very important support role, but not SLT. I am sitting here tonight trying to get reports out before moving onto timetabling support. SLT dont have a clue as to how many unpaid hours I work (or least are very good at playing the ignorant card). But according to many (pig-ignorant and stupid) posters on here - I am support therefore should have been furloughed. I wont be volunteering to do anymore unpaid overtime. I have done so much extra over lockdown. How do people think the external exam results even made it to the exam boards?? Next year looks to be equally chaotic. I love a challenge but for barely 1 1/2 minimum wage, no thanks.

It depends we've been looked after at work and yes i"ve worked an afternoon for free to help them out