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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think teachers should not come to work when sick?

73 replies

Yorkie88 · 19/05/2022 13:34

My DH is a teacher in a large secondary school.

DH and both DC have got a horrible tummy bug. Vomiting. Bad nappies (DC, not DH. 😝)

I am actually fine and haven't caught it somehow but obviously have 2 DC with me at home while I'm trying to work which has been really difficult and my boss is getting v. pissed off

The thing is - DH has gone to work all week. He was literally being sick at 5am and in the car at 7am driving to work.

Firstly - he's left me in the shit. Quite literally. Secondly - isn't it immoral to go teach a bunch of kids when you know you have a contagious tummy bug?

BUT - he tells me that it's so so frowned upon to be ill when you're a teacher, and that it's just 'not acceptable like it is in other jobs' and I don't under teaching. It's a new job and I get that it isn't great to be sick in a new job early on, but also - if you are actually sick - stay away. It's immoral. But he insists he would go down awfully if he called in sick all week and that he has to plough on.

?

OP posts:
Notdoingthis · 19/05/2022 20:04

How would he give it to the students? Can't he keep a distance from them? As a teacher, it is so hard being off ill, setting cover, missing things and having to catch up.

smiles39 · 19/05/2022 20:08

I’m a teacher and I drove all the way to work today after being sick this morning, got there and finally realised I was too ill to be going in. First thing I did was cry out of guilt for letting the students down and going home. I’m grateful that my school doesn’t make a fuss about sick days but it doesn’t stop me feeling immense guilt and doesn’t change the fact that despite being ill you still have to plan all the lessons for cover.

He shouldn’t have gone in, but I completely empathise with why he did.

beautifulworldwhereareyou · 19/05/2022 20:09

Before I was diagnosed with my autoimmune condition at the end of my NQT year I would go in when I was throwing up or nearly shitting myself and having excruciating cramps (at least one of those symptoms every day for the last term). It was less stressful than someone else covering my class, or no one being able to cover my class which was more likely.

But that’s because I wasn’t contagious. I still wouldn’t go in with a vomiting bug.

FredinBread · 19/05/2022 20:15

In all the primary schools I know -it'i's honestly not because it is more work as a teacher if you're off -

It's because there is no money for an old fashioned supply teacher...your colleagues have to mop up and take more children/lose additional support etc......so you're more use if you're useless for a day than taking away from eg 2 classes

Confusion101 · 19/05/2022 20:15

I defo agree with him that it's difficult to be sick as a teacher. My management are very unimpressed when people have to ring in sick. Not to mention the sheer workload on the teacher to have to ring in sick and organise detailed work for all classes. But for something like a vomiting bug that is highly contagious and difficult to manage, he should defo be at home!!

Magicandspiders · 19/05/2022 20:15

Teacher here. He is right, we have to come in on death's door. I lost my voice twice this half term and have come in. However, I wouldn't come in with a sickness bug. I would feel so guilty if I passed it on as it spreads like wild fire.

JustLyra · 19/05/2022 20:22

Unfortunately depending on the school he may be right.

I worked for a Head once who questioned how sick a teacher was between chemo sessions and suggested they open a window if they felt “seedy” (needless to say that teacher ended up going off long term sick and never came back because of the pressure).

others are much more supportive and would be furious at a teacher bringing a vomiting bug in rather than taking time off.

He’s being massively irresponsible going in. That could have a serious impact on a child about to sit exams (let alone anyone who could get seriously ill from it).

balkangrill · 19/05/2022 20:26

Your husband certainly believes what he said and many many teachers believe the same. I also went in when I was unwell but not that unwell. We should realise that it is just a job, that could and would be done by somebody else if we end up in the hospital for example. If Headteacher is displeased, well, it's their problem. At least I can't be sacked for that, and I hope situation is the same in the UK. I love my job and try to do it best I can, but it's a job, not a divine calling.

BuffyFanForever · 19/05/2022 20:34

Your husband is unfortunately in the same position as a lot of teachers. Most schools simply will not allow sickness. I’ve know people throwing up in the toilet before lessons and still be observed for the following lesson let alone be allowed to go home! Is it nice? Of course not! Does your husband really want a bad tummy in the middle of lessons, again of course not. That is just the culture of many many schools. It really does need to change!

RuthW · 19/05/2022 20:48

If he can go to work with a sickness bug it's not that bad.

chosenone · 19/05/2022 20:57

Wow! Feeling pretty lucky that my Head is supportive of sick days when they are rare. We have a number of cover supervisors and departments have decent cover work ready to go for short term absence.

People still feel guilty though and we had a member of staff shivering under a blanket a few weeks ago with Covid! She was sent home and SLT reminded us that now is still not the time to be soldiering in. I really wish more schools were like this.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 19/05/2022 21:02

I find this counter to what my teacher friends say ( and I have lots of teacher friends).
Namely that whereas I can carry on working when ill (because I 'just sit behind a computer at my desk all day' ), they can't work when ill because it's much harder being on their feet and teaching. So they take time off when I wouldn't.
I get that, I really do, no teacher bashing here, but seems the complete opposite of what people are saying on this thread?

Mammyloveswine · 19/05/2022 21:36

I got covid in jan and was really ill... literally the first day I had off my ta was ringing me to sort an issue with a parent.., I was so I'll and so stressed it was awful!!!

I then back to a load of shitty work that 3 different supplies had overseen and my class were wild!!

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 19/05/2022 21:40

Teachings horrendous. Colleague came in with d and v and just vomited into bin and carried on with teaching.

Punitive sickness policy doesn’t help. Especially when you’re working in a Petri dish.

Mammyloveswine · 19/05/2022 22:55

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 19/05/2022 21:02

I find this counter to what my teacher friends say ( and I have lots of teacher friends).
Namely that whereas I can carry on working when ill (because I 'just sit behind a computer at my desk all day' ), they can't work when ill because it's much harder being on their feet and teaching. So they take time off when I wouldn't.
I get that, I really do, no teacher bashing here, but seems the complete opposite of what people are saying on this thread?

Sorry I don't believe this is true.. in the nicest possible way

Mammyloveswine · 19/05/2022 22:59

BuffyFanForever · 19/05/2022 20:34

Your husband is unfortunately in the same position as a lot of teachers. Most schools simply will not allow sickness. I’ve know people throwing up in the toilet before lessons and still be observed for the following lesson let alone be allowed to go home! Is it nice? Of course not! Does your husband really want a bad tummy in the middle of lessons, again of course not. That is just the culture of many many schools. It really does need to change!

I was 8 months pregnant, still working full time.. I was in hospital overnight as hadnt felt baby move, had no sleep, was referred for an emergency growth scan...

Rang school at 9:30am (having been in hospital since 1am) that I was on my way in. Got in just before I was due to he observed. Got my feedback "it wasn't as outstanding as your lessons usually are". My head knew why I was in late and that I had thought my baby had died and that there were still complications...

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 19/05/2022 23:00

Sorry I don't believe this is true.. in the nicest possible way

I haven't made it up!

saraclara · 20/05/2022 00:12

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 19/05/2022 23:00

Sorry I don't believe this is true.. in the nicest possible way

I haven't made it up!

You're friends are right in that it's much harder to teach when ill, than it is to work in an office when ill. Teaching and managing the behaviour of 30 kids gives you nowhere to hide, and is exhausting.

But I honestly know very few teachers who use that as a reason not to go to work when ill. The vast majority feel obliged (or forced) to battle through minor illnesses.

Blackheath95 · 20/05/2022 01:10

Same can be said for all the parents that send their kids to school and day care when they are clearly unwell. It’s not a one way street.

windmillandcoffee · 20/05/2022 01:12

It's 48 hours off for D&V - teacher or pupil. He shouldn't be in school.

saraclara · 20/05/2022 01:19

windmillandcoffee · 20/05/2022 01:12

It's 48 hours off for D&V - teacher or pupil. He shouldn't be in school.

You'd think. But my head instituted the 48 hour policy for every child with a vengeance, while nagging any.member of staff brave enough.to call in sick with D&V to come in the next day.
Her reasoning was that adults were capable of better personal hygiene than kids.

Mammyloveswine · 20/05/2022 07:39

Woke up this morning feeling like death, coughing and achy (lft negative not that that seems to matter these days). Was up at 5am in a hot bath dosing up on cold meds. Sat at my dest now setting up for the day.

Original poster
Yorkie88 · 20/05/2022 13:53

So much difference of opinion. Just to clarify he was being sick at 5am and then left work at 7am but wasn't sick again but did have a very poorly tummy e..g not eating anything, cramps, but he wasn't vomiting every 10 mins. Definitely sick but he said he could just about teach so he had to. He was coming home and going straight to bed at 7pm all week. He just wouldn't take one day off though. I found it baffling

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