Colleague won’t supervise classes

[ConsuelaHammock]

I work in a primary school . One of the teachers won’t come in to supervise key workers’ children. Most of the staff are in one day a week atm with smt being in 2 days .
The teacher in question thinks they had covid last Easter. There is no record of a positive test This colleague has mentioned that their gp has recommended they “work from home if possible”.
as they felt a little tired over the Christmas break . Aibu to think that they are taking the piss?
Colleague has form for taking off with the slightest sniffle .

The government advice is that everyone who can work from home should, it seems ridiculous to expose people if they don't need to be and the head may be trying to minimise staff exposed, quite rightly. If you have a grievance then take it up with the head and ask for the workload to be shared, but I suspect there will be more to it.

You must be a nightmare to manage. Endless people are telling you there is clearly more to it and you are still prattling on like you know better than your colleagues boss about their situation

I'm sorry, his chances. I missed that your colleague is a fella.

Listen Op, I work in a Special school as a TA. Most staff are currently working one week on and one week off. Besides actually doing my job and trying to keep myself (and my colleagues) safe to protect my family, I couldn't give much headspace to what one specific teacher or TA is doing or not doing. SLT will be aware and will deal with it appropriately
It's none of your business really. You sound bitter and jealous so is it just sour grapes because you don't want to work? Everyone in school is worried atm but you jusy have to get on. Also, you're only working for 2 days a, week anyway!

If he is taking the piss (sounds likely and is more common than people realise) then management need to take action.

Resentment will spread like wildfire otherwise.

Cansu - every teacher organises their own classes online learning . If they are in school then they have to do it when they get home that evening . It’s not a case of one or the other . I think the staff could cope with that . The days they’re in school the supervising staff have double the workload .

You’re all absolutely correct though , we are being petty as a staff. I shall approach the headteacher tomorrow and mention the feelings of resentment. Then it’s up to them to deal with it all .

@StacySoloman

Legally everyone should be working from home if possible.

Gee. Imagine all the school staff would like to do so under the circumstances, but they can't, hence a rota. Which one muppet thinks he's above because he doesn't want to.

I’m sure your headteacher will be pleased to hear your thoughts on the matter.

.... and they'll likely come back to you with a policy that says something along the lines of 'if it's not your business, then you shouldn't be spreading gossip about it' - which is absolutely correct.

I work with several members of staff who were not prepared to come in; we all as a staff understand their position. The rest of us cover the in school children whilst those at home are equally bust supporting the online learning. Your school sounds nasty and unsupportive.

But if everyone decided they were not prepared to come in, there would be no-one to cover the children in school. Those who don't want to come in (not shielding, but scared), rely on others being more resilient.

@WeAreShiningStars, would you enlighten us all as to how you know this? Just because OP says so?

Which one muppet thinks he's above because he doesn't want to.

You know the OP’s colleague?

What a coincidence...

ConsuelaHammock
Your school needs to ensure that workload is fair. Our headteacher has been really clear on this. If you are working in school then you are doing this. If you are working at home, you are prepping and videoing lessons and marking. SLT need to ensure that the load is shared.

A friend of mine is in a very similar situation to the teacher you are talking about. She is not shielding, but is working from home while the rest of the staff from her school are in a day a week. I'm sure there has been some gossip there, but what the staff don't know is that she needs to be at home to care for her partner who had a suicide attempt just before Christmas. Her head is well aware of this and offered for her to work from home to be there for him and look after their children while he is unwell. It is very easy to judge when you don't know the full situation and I suspect that there is more going on behind the scenes than you are aware of. It may have been said that the gp advised them to stay home etc to avoid disclosing the actual situation.

Dietrich - they have a legal right to decide to do what is right for them and their health. Schools can only offer key worker places based on the number of staff available. There will be some staff who are themselves vulnerable or have vulnerable family members.

It can be extremely infuriating when one member of staff acts selfishly and always shirks off at every opportunity, I completely understand your frustration.

If they have form for skiving then of course you're going to be suspicious. As a manager this is something that needs to be nipped in the bud - a resentful team isn't great for anyone.

So mention it to the HT. I wouldn't have an issue with my team raising it as an issue with me. If there's things they're not privy too then I'd make that clear. But not fair to give some special treatment and not others.

Cansu - those in school are doing both . Some teachers are in two days a week while this one teachers isn’t in at all .
You are all correct , it’s none of my business. I shall go to my own doctor asap and request a letter permitting me to work from home for the foreseeable .

I left teaching at the end of last year but found some teachers and tas were really frightened and anxious about going in. I wasn't but know how much the struggle was for some. I'm sure the ht wouldn't be allowing them to stay off unless they know more than you? My friend was really worried about it all but had no support from the ht.

@StacySoloman

Legally everyone should be working from home if possible.

Then what would happen to the children if this stupid idea was follpwed through? Every school I've ever worked in has at least one lead-swinger, takes every opportunity to take time off, especially during the caravan season!

@ConsuelaHammock

I’m completely onboard with working from home when possible . It’s just that when it’s not possible then everyone should be pulling their weight . And being scared of covid isn’t a valid excuse imo when everyone is bloody scared of bringing it home !

Go and tell the HT that then. I don't think it would be to your advantage though.

@ConsuelaHammock

Cansu - those in school are doing both . Some teachers are in two days a week while this one teachers isn’t in at all . You are all correct , it’s none of my business. I shall go to my own doctor asap and request a letter permitting me to work from home for the foreseeable .

Do you teach drama?

If not then you should

@ConsuelaHammock

Cansu - those in school are doing both . Some teachers are in two days a week while this one teachers isn’t in at all . You are all correct , it’s none of my business. I shall go to my own doctor asap and request a letter permitting me to work from home for the foreseeable .

And what medical reason do you have for requesting this?

Absolutely none of your business. She may be experiencing high levels of anxiety being in school.
We have some staff who are incredibly anxious, some that are CEV and some that aren’t CEV but have complications over and above others.
We pull together as a team and those of us who feel happy to go in do so.
If you feel it’s unfair then complain to the head but be told to mind your own.

Hopefully your colleague is swinging the lead with such unsupportive colleagues.

Some old colleagues of mine have been left feeling rather ashamed of their grumbling after their “shirking” colleague and her husband finally felt ready to tell everyone he’d been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

Let your manager manage and stop making assumptions ffs.