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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be asked to work while signed off?

26 replies

signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 05:30

I know what the answer should clearly be on this, but it's a complicated situation due to my profession (teacher).

I am signed off work and will be until Christmas. At the moment I am writing my cover lessons for every class still- it was made clear to me that although there is no expectation that I do that, that it would be very helpful if I did, so I am.

In addition though I am concerned about being asked to mark tests. The exam groups are about to sit mocks and almost every other year group I teach has end of topic tests scheduled. I have been asked to mark some of these while off. If I don't then they won't get marked and I will have literally hundreds of papers to mark when I return next term, on top of trying to manage everything else.

Any advice on what I should do or suggest in this situation?

OP posts:
ohfook · 28/11/2022 05:34

Contact your union.

echt · 28/11/2022 05:41

Get in touch with your union. You should not be setting cover lessons, that's what the SoW is for, otherwise what's the point of writing them? It's your HOD's job to be all over this, and that includes the marking of tests and mocks.

impostersong · 28/11/2022 05:45

I would say it depends why your signed off. If you've broken your leg, for example, then there's no reason why you can't do these things.

TrixJax · 28/11/2022 05:48

As you say, there is no expectation for you to do this as you are signed off so don't feel guilty about just ignoring any requests like this.
This is not actually your problem to sort out. That's what managers are paid for, and they have no right to be contacting you and asking you to work when you're signed off!

But I think it very much depends on the context here. If you're recovering from an operation, serious illness or have mental health issues then you need to focus on recovery not work. But if you're stuck at home as your legs in plaster and you're a bit bored then you may be happy to help out as an when you feel like it but that should never be expected.

Are you in a union?

Landlubber2019 · 28/11/2022 05:54

Depends on the reason for your absence as to whether your school is being unreasonable

Original poster
signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 05:55

Thanks all. It's for mental health reasons that have escalated recently. My doctor wanted me to spend the time resting as much as possible while trying out a new medication and starting a new form of therapy.

I've never once been signed off sick before.

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 28/11/2022 06:01

Teaching union rep here.
You absolutely should not be doing any of this. "it would be helpful" is a way to continue to put pressure on you. Your doctor - a trained, qualified MEDICAL professional - has told you and your employer that you are unfit for work. Any work. Send your sick note in and stop. Someone else will have to do it. It's not your problem.
Contact your union too. It would be entirely unreasonable for you to go back to that marking.

Landlubber2019 · 28/11/2022 06:03

You shouldn't be working, contact your union rep

ThrallsWife · 28/11/2022 06:03

When I got signed off for the same reason I wrote a summary sheet of where each of my classes was up to and my Head of Department assigned daily cover from there. I was left alone for the duration of my sick leave.

I did come back to a pile of marking, but made it extremely clear I wasn't going to do all of that and help was found, eventually.

GiltEdges · 28/11/2022 06:03

Landlubber2019 · 28/11/2022 05:54

Depends on the reason for your absence as to whether your school is being unreasonable

Except it really doesn’t. Unless OP’s fit note specifically says she’s capable of doing some work from home, but isn’t fit to be in school, then she shouldn’t be doing any.

TrixJax · 28/11/2022 06:06

If it's for mental health reasons then you need to cut all the school work out now and focus on your recovery. You are not giving yourself the headspace to recover properly and may in fact end up extending
your period of illness as a result.

Send an email telling them you will be doing no further work while signed off work, on your doctors orders, and then do not engage with them any further.

They should never have asked you to do these tasks OP, sorry but they are not a good or supportive employer

echt · 28/11/2022 06:09

They should never have asked you to do these tasks OP, sorry but they are not a good or supportive employer

And this is why you'll have to spell it out to them, no more setting cover, no marking, no contact. Copy it to the HT.

Look at it this way, if you fell under a bus, they'd have to get someone to do your lesson and the marking.

custardbear · 28/11/2022 06:13

Bloody hell! I'm not in teaching, but have had time off with MH issues and what they're asking you to do is work still, not an emergency 'where I am with my classes' which would be nice if you could just do that brief bit of work ... they should be leaving you completely alone! Good luck OP but I'd be inclined to put in writing to the head (or whom ever) that you've tried to help out but you're being affected still and you're off sick

Withnoshoes · 28/11/2022 06:18

No if you are off sick you are off! Your doctor obviously wants you to have space for your mental health this is not it. You need to stop it all and focus on you and your health. I work in a job that I feel guilt when off but sometimes we have to put ourselves first!

chikp · 28/11/2022 06:19

Is your fit note signing you off completely?

There's usually a little box with an option that says "you may be able to work if" or something like that. I've had it before where my GP has said I can work if I can work from home. And also once where they said I had to do reduced hours.

If it doesn't say anything like that then get on to your union.

KTheGrey · 28/11/2022 06:20

Send an email explaining that your doctor has told you to discontinue work and obviously it is likely to undermine your recovery and slow your return to work. Request that they not contact you again while you are under the care of your doctor. Copy email to your Union rep. If you don't have a Union Rep contact your regional Union and ask for a caseworker.

KickAssAngel · 28/11/2022 06:30

Absolutely tell them to stop harassing you. I've spent more time than I can count setting work for classes where the teacher is off, and grading exams for the same reason. There's a head of department whose job it is to do this stuff, or find people to do it. If there's no HoD then the work travels up the chain.

You shouldn't set work and you shouldn't have to catch up on marking. Set your email to send an auto reply saying that you're too unwell to read and respond,
Only close friends or family should attempt to contact you. Then follow your doctor's advice.

Original poster
signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 06:44

Thanks all. My fit note just says I'm not fit to work.

The problem is is that they're normally a great employer. I don't want to burn bridges with them by putting my foot down.

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 28/11/2022 06:49

signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 06:44

Thanks all. My fit note just says I'm not fit to work.

The problem is is that they're normally a great employer. I don't want to burn bridges with them by putting my foot down.

You're not burning bridges. You are not fit to work. A medic has told you - and them - that. And honestly, if they were a "great employer" they wouldn't be asking this of you.

MrsHamlet · 28/11/2022 06:54

I've spent more time than I can count setting work for classes where the teacher is off, and grading exams for the same reason. There's a head of department whose job it is to do this stuff, or find people to do it. If there's no HoD then the work travels up the chain

Exactly this. I line manage a small dept and am part of a bigger one. I would never ask the people I manage to set cover in this circumstance and I wouldn't have them come back to marking. That's my problem to deal with.
In the larger dept, I've temporarily taken over classes for sick colleagues. I plan and mark the work because that becomes my job for a while. It's certainly not your job.

olympicsrock · 28/11/2022 06:56

You need a complete break to rest and recover. Only then will you be able to return to work and do a good job.
Please put your foot down here. When you return , you should not be marking old tests and this is more work than the norm. Anything from this period is not your responsibility. Refuse to any work done in your absence

chikp · 28/11/2022 06:58

signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 06:44

Thanks all. My fit note just says I'm not fit to work.

The problem is is that they're normally a great employer. I don't want to burn bridges with them by putting my foot down.

Then you can't work. Their insurance company won't be happy.

If you feel well enough and want to then you need to ask your GP for a fit note that says you are able to do these things and see if they agree.

They are contributing towards the stress levels I imagine so are being very shortsighted.

The reason for your absence is irrelevant they should be acting as if you are not available to work. As you aren't.

Unsureif · 28/11/2022 07:00

The others have already said it - absolutely no way should you be doing this. You need to tell them no, no more. Plus, setting cover work once you've been off a while is harder as you don't know if they've grasped or managed what you've asked them to do. How long have you been off now? I'd honestly be tempted to extend your sick note for the length of time you've already been off and have actually been working.

This is one of the many reasons why there's a recruitment crisis and people are leaving in droves. They're burnt out and expected to continue. I've had to type up and email cover work before in between vomits/diarrhoea when I was so ill. It's wrong and sadly it is expected in most schools. I've known people emailing cover work from next to hospital beds when their children are poorly and then also being docked pay for it as it isn't paid leave. It's an absolutely crap profession for stuff like this.

WonderingWanda · 28/11/2022 07:03

signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 05:55

Thanks all. It's for mental health reasons that have escalated recently. My doctor wanted me to spend the time resting as much as possible while trying out a new medication and starting a new form of therapy.

I've never once been signed off sick before.

If you're signed off for mental health reasons then please stop doing any of this. The fact that you are up at 5.30 am worrying about this concerning. Stop writing cover anything more than a couple of days is pointless because you won't know what has been done in class anyway. No marking. Just send and email saying as per your gp's advice you won't be able to carry out any more work whilst signed off including cover and marking as it is stalling your recovery. Then go and binge watch something nice on Netflix and forget about work.

BankseyVest · 28/11/2022 07:05

signedoffworried · 28/11/2022 05:55

Thanks all. It's for mental health reasons that have escalated recently. My doctor wanted me to spend the time resting as much as possible while trying out a new medication and starting a new form of therapy.

I've never once been signed off sick before.

I expect work is a huge contributing factor to your mental health, and why the doctor signed you off. Just stop, speak to the person expecting this if you, tell them you're signed off and don't have the capacity to do this, contact your union if you have to.