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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you were my manager would you think I’m taking the piss?

161 replies

Napqueen1234 · 15/07/2020 14:07

Hello,

I’m a teacher on mat leave with DC3. Obviously it’s been a crazy time for all of us and it finally feels like it’s settling down and I’m due back to work in September (originally going to take 6.5 months mat leave +A/L). I applied as per the flexible working policy recently to reduce my hours from 0.8 WTE To 0.6 WTE which has been approved. However I am now considering extending my mat leave until mid nov. This is so I can settled my other two DC into their new settings and have a bit of time with DC3 before going back. I’ve written a v apologetic email to my manager asking if it’s possible to extend and the reasons for this. I also offered to use any KIT days to come to important meetings/briefings at the start of term so I’m ready in Nov. Would you think I was messing around? I feel anxious in these covid times of job security etc and don’t want work to see me as being difficult. Thanks

OP posts:
ThanksItHasPockets · 15/07/2020 19:10

I’m sorry you’ve had a tough time.

You didn’t mention that it was a private school - this would have changed a lot of responses as your pay and conditions are quite different.

TimeForANewUserNameMethinks · 15/07/2020 19:16

That would have helped if you had explained that all in your OP one helluva drip feed

Does HT know this?

Original poster
Napqueen1234 · 15/07/2020 19:23

I know @TimeForANewUserNameMethinks. No they don’t and part of the reason I didn’t explain that was because I don’t really want to tell them. It’s a small school and people aren’t always discrete- I’m so much better and don’t feel it would impact my job at all so I’d rather put that awful and v private time in the past. I know it would help explain my request but I’d rather not tell them I feel embarrassed about it really.

OP posts:
melmos · 15/07/2020 19:24

I cant believe people are describing their six week summer holiday being ruined because they have to recruit during a recession as their sole task during that time . I'd ask and they can say no

PinkiOcelot · 15/07/2020 19:27

Teachers get no annual leave?! None whatsoever?!!

SimonJT · 15/07/2020 19:28

@PinkiOcelot

Teachers get no annual leave?! None whatsoever?!!
No, instead they get 28 days holiday pay on a pro-rata basis.
Somethingorotherorother · 15/07/2020 19:31

@pinkiocelot they also get around 12 weeks off teaching for school holidays a year. So, more than most!

PinkiOcelot · 15/07/2020 19:36

So they get 28 days AL? Just the way some people on this thread are talking is that they get 0! As in you’re talking as if teachers get AL! Ridiculous!!

PinkiOcelot · 15/07/2020 19:36

@Somethingorotherorother exactly!

SimonJT · 15/07/2020 19:37

@PinkiOcelot

So they get 28 days AL? Just the way some people on this thread are talking is that they get 0! As in you’re talking as if teachers get AL! Ridiculous!!
No, they get holiday pay. Annual leave refers to the ability to book time off during your usual contacted hours with pay for x amount of days per year.
shinyredbus · 15/07/2020 19:40

Yikes - but you always knew you were going f
to settle your little ones in - why did you leave it so late to change your mind? Sorry I would think your were taking the piss, really poor timing too. Sorry - not what you want to hear I guess.

shinyredbus · 15/07/2020 19:41

And I’ve got children in private school (you mentioned your a teacher in private school so yes I understand they have resources) but I wouldn’t be happy with a temporary school teacher stand in for a few months, it’s unsettling for the child (my daughter went though this).

Somethingorotherorother · 15/07/2020 19:42

@PinkiOcelot they don't get Annual Leave, they get paid for 28 days of holiday, and they don't have to teach lessons for 12 weeks of the year.

Annual Leave comes with the freedom to take it whenever they want, which teachers definitely don't get. They also usually have to work during school holidays.

Noodledoodledoo · 15/07/2020 19:42

Melmos its more the fact to recruit good teachers you kind of want to see them teach, although anyone recruited since March this hasn't been possible although I do know friend who did a zoom interview lesson.

It is late in the day and I think you may find it hard to pick up in Nov, I know I struggled when I returned mid year after mat leave.

SimonJT · 15/07/2020 19:43

[quote Somethingorotherorother]@pinkiocelot they also get around 12 weeks off teaching for school holidays a year. So, more than most![/quote]
They are however required to work for free during the school holidays.

An ex is a teacher (secondary maths teacher and the school SENDCo), in the holidays he would have multi agency meetings, PEP reviews, marking of mock examination papers. Finalising all SEND documents for the new academic year including making and distributing appropriate SEND documents relating to pupils in the new intake. He would sometimes do home visits in the holidays for particularly anxious pupils, during easter he would hold sessions for those with EHCPs or IEPs who found holidays challenging. Come exam season he had to run revision sessions in february half term and the easter break.

We were together during one summer holiday as we were only together a yesr, he worked four weeks out of six, it would have been more but I also marked some of his mocks (maths).

It is impossible to teach and only work your contracted hours/days.

Somethingorotherorother · 15/07/2020 19:45

@simonJT They are however required to work for free during the school holidays

Yeah, i did say that! Although it's not for free, they're paid an annual salary in monthly installments all year round like all other contracted employees, and working during school holidays is part of the deal.

DanceMonkey19 · 15/07/2020 19:47

To be fair, most replies saying they'd be pissed off were assuming that last minute cover needed to be found - OP has clarified this isn't the case. As it won't have much of an impact in terms of staffing I really doubt they'd give it much thought.

OP you are legally entitled to change your return, no explanation is required. It's what works best for your family, so that's the end of it. Particularly as you've been unwell you need to put yourself and your family first and not give too much thought to what others might think - you have enough going on Flowers

SimonJT · 15/07/2020 19:49

[quote Somethingorotherorother]**@simonJT* They are however required to work for free during the school holidays*

Yeah, i did say that! Although it's not for free, they're paid an annual salary in monthly installments all year round like all other contracted employees, and working during school holidays is part of the deal.[/quote]
They are paid on a pro/rata basis. Receiving a pay packet is not the same as being paid. A teacher is only paid for 195 days of work per year.

Frozenfrogs86 · 15/07/2020 19:51

Ah okay. Well I take back my previous comment. I was speaking about a state school situation where they would have to arrange cover. If they already have cover then that changes it. And of course I would be significantly more sympathetic (even in the state school situation) if you disclosed about needing inpatient treatment for PND. I would move heaven and earth to make it work for someone.
You don’t have to tell them, but if it’s any consolation I wouldn’t think any less of you and would want you to be well before starting back.

Thisismytimetoshine · 15/07/2020 19:52

I'm not sure your drip feed changes much, tbh, op. You knew all this stuff weeks ago...

Somethingorotherorother · 15/07/2020 19:53

@SimonJT ...that's not the case for my teacher DH, his contract states an annual salary, not pro/rata.

Original poster
Napqueen1234 · 15/07/2020 19:55

Thanks @DanceMonkey19 I think that’s the way I’m looking at it. Hopefully whatever they think of me I can rebuild bridges and prove myself when I’m back.

OP posts:
Thisismytimetoshine · 15/07/2020 19:57

They are paid on a pro/rata basis. Receiving a pay packet is not the same as being paid. A teacher is only paid for 195 days of work per year.
Say the advertised salary is £25k (I just got that from Google, no idea of it's accuracy); aren't you just paid that in 12 monthly increments?
What does receiving a pay packet is not the same as being paid mean? Confused

Metallicalover · 15/07/2020 19:59

Have you already told them your going back in September?
And is it less than 8 weeks before you go back to work?
I believe that you have to give at least 8 weeks notice re coming back to work and changing it after 8 weeks is unreasonable. You are entitled to a full years maternity leave.
You have known for a long time you will have to settle your other children in to childcare settings in September. I think you are messing them around and with only a couple of days to go before the end of term it's not good OP

SimonJT · 15/07/2020 20:01

@Thisismytimetoshine

They are paid on a pro/rata basis. Receiving a pay packet is not the same as being paid. A teacher is only paid for 195 days of work per year. Say the advertised salary is £25k (I just got that from Google, no idea of it's accuracy); aren't you just paid that in 12 monthly increments? What does receiving a pay packet is not the same as being paid mean? Confused
The poster suggested teachers are paid for the school holidays, as in actively earning n amount per day during the school holidays.

Schools advertise differently, some adverise the actual wage, some advertise the pro rata wage that you would be paid if you worked five days a week every single week of the year.