Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Colleague won’t supervise classes

275 replies

ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 19:34

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 .

OP posts:
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 24/01/2021 21:55

@ConsuelaHammock

So you all think it’s ok not to go to work when you don’t actually have a sick line ? If you’re sick you’re sick , if you’re not then you do the same job as everyone else in the same position. The public sector really does carry a lot of dead weight .
How do you know he's not sick? Or have any of the other genuine reasons to work from home/ be no contact with others.
Original poster
ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 21:57

That wasn’t a reply to you Lyra . It was to someone who called me lazy .

OP posts:
Yesmate · 24/01/2021 21:58

@ConsuelaHammock again, you don’t know the details. You sound like an arsehole. I wouldn’t tell you my circumstances if you were my colleague.

HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 24/01/2021 21:58

Teachers are fine to leave before 4pm,most people at our place do.

You have no right to know why he's at home. Plenty of scenarios have been outlined here.

You should raise the workload inequality with your HT.

lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:02

@ConsuelaHammock

So you all think it’s ok not to go to work when you don’t actually have a sick line ? If you’re sick you’re sick , if you’re not then you do the same job as everyone else in the same position. The public sector really does carry a lot of dead weight .
He is going to work.

In the way agreed with his manager.

If you had an issue - cancer, depression, anxiety, your spouse was CEV, or one of your kids had been diagnosed with something that made them vulnerable - would you expect your boss to discuss the detail of your private business with the whole staff?

Or would you expect the normal level of confidentiality to apply to your situation?

lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:03

And not everyone does the same job

Reasonable adjustments are a thing

NovemberR · 24/01/2021 22:03

I am bemused by the rise in threads started by random people who claim to work in a school and use it to slag off teachers they apparently know who are behaving terribly.

Not posters who are known to contribute to education threads. Just saying..

OP I really hope you work in a school and have this conversation with your head tomorrow about it's ok to be off work when you're not sick and the public sector really does carry a lot of dead weight.

I would go for it if I were you. It won't get you any kind of disciplinary at all.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 24/01/2021 22:04

@ConsuelaHammock

I’m - it’s my business because as the number of children needing a school place continue to rise, I will be in school more often . I don’t have a problem with doing my job . I do have a problem with doing someone else’s too .
No - it's not your business Hmm

His health or personal issues are absolutely NOTHING to do with you. If your workload is increasing, then that's a separate issue that you need to address with your manager. Bringing his personal issues into your complaint just makes you look bitter and jealous - and it won't look good on a professional level.

Original poster
ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 22:04

He’s not sick if he’s in sometimes. When n it suits him ! I was actually less bothered about this before I posted than I am now . I guess the public sector is full of people like my colleague . I shall continue to do my job and go in when I’m needed . I just don’t think someone should be allowed to just decide they don’t want to do their job because of fear of covid. If they don’t want to work they should take unpaid leave. What would happen if all the doctors and nurses suddenly developed anxiety about catching covid . It’s a joke !

OP posts:
ItsIgginningtolooklikelockdown · 24/01/2021 22:05

You don't have to be signed off (and therefore doing no work) you can have a risk assessment that says wfh is safe for you but not being in school.
So you use zoom for primary classes? I'm very surprised at any school continuing to use zoom for this. Not very secure. As a male primary teacher I can see why he might not want to be beamed into his pupils homes to be honest.

lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:06

@NovemberR It’s becoming more and more blatantly a teacher bashing thread

Fair play, it was a subtle start, but the public sector dead weight comment was over-egging the pudding

mineofuselessinformation · 24/01/2021 22:06

Your last post is full of assumptions- but I'm guessing you won't even countenance that or reply.

lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:07

@ConsuelaHammock

He’s not sick if he’s in sometimes. When n it suits him ! I was actually less bothered about this before I posted than I am now . I guess the public sector is full of people like my colleague . I shall continue to do my job and go in when I’m needed . I just don’t think someone should be allowed to just decide they don’t want to do their job because of fear of covid. If they don’t want to work they should take unpaid leave. What would happen if all the doctors and nurses suddenly developed anxiety about catching covid . It’s a joke !
Of course you can be sick and in sometimes. Stop being ridiculous. Reasonable adjustments exist for people when they need them
Bookworm65 · 24/01/2021 22:08

One day a week! How are other schools managing this? We have so many key worker's/vulnerable children, all teaching staff have to be in school full time, unless they're shielding.

Original poster
ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 22:09

I’m not stupid enough to discuss this with my boss . I just thought I’d ask the wisdom that is mumsnet what their views were on it . I know many people with children at the school . This colleague’s lack of commitment to his job are well known .

OP posts:
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 24/01/2021 22:09

I work in a school and I have several friends that are also school staff.

Here are a few reasons why some of them are not in school.

  1. Staffing levels kept to a minimum and they had plenty of volunteers. Some people even wanting to go in even when needed.
  1. One is due an important surgery and has to self isolate , plus a positive test would mean rescheduling.

3.One is on her knees with anxiety and signed off. Doesn't eat,doesn't sleep and is really struggling.

  1. One has a CEV child, the consultant told her if her kid gets it, she will die. She comes in every now and then on a strict no contact basis.
  1. Their partner has cancer , the head agreed that at the moment they are not really needed and can work from home.
  1. He's ill, not Covid , not a critical illness but ill enough that even in normal times he'd be allowed time off.
  1. Her husband is not in a good place at all. Sure she could go into work (since she's fit and healthy) and hope for the best, but will you be there holding her up if God forbid she gets home and her husband is dead?
lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:10

@ConsuelaHammock

I’m not stupid enough to discuss this with my boss . I just thought I’d ask the wisdom that is mumsnet what their views were on it . I know many people with children at the school . This colleague’s lack of commitment to his job are well known .
You know many people with children at the school?

Bizarre comment for someone who apparently works there to make...

mineofuselessinformation · 24/01/2021 22:10

I’m not stupid enough to discuss this with my boss . I just thought I’d ask the wisdom that is mumsnet what their views were on it .
Haven't you got an idea by now?

lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:11

@Bookworm65

One day a week! How are other schools managing this? We have so many key worker's/vulnerable children, all teaching staff have to be in school full time, unless they're shielding.
Not all schools are the same. In my kids school there’s only 27 kids in the whole school in. And many of them aren’t in full time.
HercwasanEnemyofEducation · 24/01/2021 22:12

I’m not stupid enough to discuss this with my boss

There's your problem. The workload disparity issue should be discussed with your boss.
Your colleagues personal circumstances shouldn't.

I know many people with children at the school . This colleague’s lack of commitment to his job are well known .

Now you sound like a shit stirring parent.

Original poster
ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 22:12

Assumptions ? Which one do you want me to
Reply to ? I really have wasted enough time on here tbh

OP posts:
lyralalala · 24/01/2021 22:14

@ConsuelaHammock

Assumptions ? Which one do you want me to Reply to ? I really have wasted enough time on here tbh
I’m sure you’ll find another site where you can tweak the details to get replies to agree.

Blatantly you are going to ignore the 100% of replies telling you that you are BU here

Original poster
ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 22:14

More - I do indeed which is why I don’t think there’s any more to be said on the matter .

OP posts:
mineofuselessinformation · 24/01/2021 22:15

@ConsuelaHammock, err, let's see....
The ones where you assume:

  1. He isn't ill in one form or another.
  2. That he's lazy.
  3. That senior management are just letting him get away with saying he's not coming to work.
Original poster
ConsuelaHammock · 24/01/2021 22:15

I know I’m being unreasonable to let this bother me . I still think he’s taking the piss .

OP posts: