Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be sick of people asking about my pay and pitying my job

37 replies

Grrrrrroam · 15/07/2021 19:13

I'm an agency teacher and with summer holidays approaching, it feels like everyone is becoming interest in my pay.

Next door neighbour who knows I'm a supply teacher was pondering about my holiday pay and how much I get paid as a supply.
I save up a pervtantage of my pay for summer.

Today, a family friend asked how much I earn a day and what my overall earnings are like.

I sometimes cringe when I tell people I'm a supply as I'm usually met with pity :

"Ohh I'm so sorry; are you applying for permanent jobs"

"When are you getting a real job?"

Etc.

Of course this isn't everyone but it's happened enough to make me now start to cringing.

I'm 29 and I love supply and I'm almost always getting longer term roles. I sometimes plan and I'm also happy to step in and help last minute in schools.

Of course many would hate supply as it is anxiety-inducing in terms of how much work will be available but I love it and it's as if people don't believe me when I say it.

I don't understand how someone can find me going into schools, teaching children, if I'm long term I plan, not a real job?

Don't really know where I'm going with this but I needed a vent Sad

I also live in the North West in which primary jobs are extremely competitive. 90 applicants for a school I was in last week.

OP posts:
Original poster
Grrrrrroam · 15/07/2021 19:14

I don't even know how to respond when people pity me or ask me about money

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 15/07/2021 19:16

Vent away. Try to ignore what other think. Easy to say and hard to do I know.
So long as you are happy with your employment, that’s what really matters. Try to hang on to that happiness.

bonfireheart · 15/07/2021 19:17

Maybe reply with "I love my job, I love the challenge of new environments, I love making a difference to the lived of young people- and that matters more than money"

Life would be so much easier though if you could tell people to mind their own f*cking business.

comebacksunshines · 15/07/2021 19:18

EIther tell them , if you think it’s coming from interest in pursuing it as a career or some such query.
Or ask them about their pay and conditions, that should shut them up.

TheNameTheWebsiteForgot · 15/07/2021 19:20

Tell them you love you job and the pay is way better for agency workers.

Or tell them to mine their own business.

Original poster
Grrrrrroam · 15/07/2021 19:21

@comebacksunshines I totally don't mind talking to student teachers or teachers thinking of supply about pay etc. And I usually give tips aswell. It.seems the norm around here for many people to be supply so I know the feeling of anxiety around it so I love offering advice.

It's those that are just being nosy. My earnings aren't even "that" bad considering I've managed to save up for a house deposit. I don't tell anyone how much savings I have though as , to me, it's nosy

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 15/07/2021 19:22

If asked what you do answer “I teach”
If asked what do you earn answer “enough thanks”.
If asked do you enjoy it answer “yes” and then wax long and lyrical about everything and anything that is positive about the job.
They will soon give up pestering you.

Original poster
Grrrrrroam · 15/07/2021 19:23

@Bargebill19 Love the simplicity of those answers!

OP posts:
ThePlantsitter · 15/07/2021 19:24

I think they're making conversation and don't actually deeply care, just clumsily trying to communicate they are interested in you!

Original poster
Grrrrrroam · 15/07/2021 19:24

@Bargebill19 I usually say "supply teacher" but from now on, I will 100% be just saying "teaching"

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 15/07/2021 19:24

I've no idea why someone would pity the earnings of a good supply teacher.

I've always assumed supply teachers are pretty well paid, have job flexibility and don't have to do as much paperwork as teachers in permanent positions do.

It sounds like a good job to me especially if you can budget for the holidays.

Original poster
Grrrrrroam · 15/07/2021 19:25

@ThePlantsitter but if I was speaking to, a TA for example, I wouldn't even thinking about asking about their pay.
Even when I have discussions with TA's about how TA's should be paid more, I never ask about their specific pay, unless they bring it up themselves

OP posts:
Rosesareyellow · 15/07/2021 19:30

I think the nature of supply teaching has changed hugely and many people have not caught on to that. People still think that teachers only do it because they can’t get a permanent position which is nonsense. I loved it. I was not looking for a permanent job at the time - I was actually asked to apply at two schools where I was a regular when they had job openings and declined. I went into supply because the permanent job I had before was horrible! I enjoyed the freedom and flexibility that I got through supply teaching, so much less workload and stress which I really wanted a break from. After I had my LO I went back into a permanent job as I felt ready and in the right mind set for it.

Magnoliamarigold · 15/07/2021 19:34

I was doing supply ten years ago at 29. Enjoy this time :)
Next time use the question to speak at length about the state of public services and austerity.

thinkingaboutitall · 15/07/2021 19:34

I think you may be slightly overthinking this. 2 people do not qualify as everyone

I can assure you the majority of people won’t bat an eyelid, we’re in the midst of the pandemic where people are lucky to be working in their industry/field of choice, let alone their dream job within their dream industry. As you say, teaching roles are highly competitive - it’s not easy to waltz into a role.

The simple answer to people being arsey is simply “it suits me, it works with my schedule, I prefer it, I get a lot of the benefits of being a teacher whist missing out on some of the downsides etc”

There’s nothing wrong with your job and it’s amazing that you’re doing something you love! Don’t let these ignorant idiots dampen your mood

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 15/07/2021 19:34

I hear you. I'm a breakfast and dinner lady. I love my job and I'm bloody good at it. I am so tired of people telling me what to do to get what they think is a better job for me.

filka · 15/07/2021 19:34

I'll tell you mine if you'll tell me yours - you first!

thinkingaboutitall · 15/07/2021 19:38

I agree with @Rosesareyellow

I have friends who are teachers and they feel the same. We’re all early 20s yet they’re already burnt out from the job in the few years after graduating - many have considered leaving or have left. Supply teaching would be preferable to a permanent role for them.

Sheerheight · 15/07/2021 19:45

I think you have to put a positive spin on it.
Eg Supply teaching is great because its more flexible, you're not stuck in a crap school if you don't want to be, easier to switch off at the end of the day.
My supply teacher friend said that the HTs were nicer to supplies than to permanent staff because they had to be grateful to them for plugging the gap.
She went from having a permanent teaching to being a long term supply teacher, ie for many years until retirement.

crimsonlake · 15/07/2021 19:48

I worked on supply for over 17 years, no one ever asked me these types of questions at all, very odd of them.

Eggshausted · 15/07/2021 19:55

Anybody asks about my salary (not a teacher, but people always curious about my earnings) I jokingly say ‘ I only discuss my finances with my bank manager’!
If they persist, I give them the Tilted head and say ‘are you my bank manager?’

Faranth · 15/07/2021 19:55

You could channel my DGM when someone was being nosy/rude...

Them: 'how much does that pay?'
You: 'pardon?'
Them: 'how much does that pay?'
You: 'yes, that's what I thought you said.' hard stare, absolutely no hint of a smile, wait a couple of beats, change subject.

Honestly, that's breathtakingly rude.

CP191989 · 15/07/2021 20:51

I find people so rude.I could never ask someone how much they earn etc unless I was planning on doing that job so was after advice
I work in a supermarket so I understand the pity people look at me like I’m too dumb to do anything else as some people have pointed out. I pull them up on it politely and I just say that’s quite a rude and personal thing to comment on. But as I walk away I remember that Im happy and that’s all that matters. your happy you work hard your sensible and you plan.

millymollymoomoo · 15/07/2021 21:14

You could just reply with none of your bloody business
Why feel the need to justify your choices to anyone

I think it’s fine for people to genuinely be interested / make conversation re why you enjoy supply rather then permanent teaching but the rest is rude

Simbacatisback · 15/07/2021 21:15

@TheNameTheWebsiteForgot

Tell them you love you job and the pay is way better for agency workers.

Or tell them to mine their own business.

But the pay isnt better- it is much much worse.

And often no pension