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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to stay at work late?

272 replies

Onlyyours · 04/03/2023 10:36

I’m a teacher. Due to strikes a parents evening has been rearranged, but I had plans for that evening.

Am I within my rights to refuse to do it, given the circumstances?

OP posts:
BlackFriday · 04/03/2023 10:37

Not sure but this (you) might be better off in the Staffroom on this one.

Siennahh · 04/03/2023 10:42

If they were easily changeable plans I'd have changed them given that parents evenings don't come up often. Otherwise, nothing you can do.

Palmtree9 · 04/03/2023 10:42

What time does parents evening go on until? How much notice have you had that it's changed? Are these plans something you've paid for?

It's a tricky one. Fellow teacher here. If it was something I'd paid for/really couldn't rearrange, I'd offer to phone all parents the day after. If it was just a meal out, for example, I would do the parents evening and have food a little later

Nimbostratus100 · 04/03/2023 10:44

well, you need to speak to your union

If this is work that you didn't do because you were striking, then I don't think it can be rearranged

but speak to your union rep

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/03/2023 10:50

Are you primary or secondary? How do you plan on giving the parents the info they need, and expect, another way? Are you able to book out time to call them another day?

Original poster
Onlyyours · 04/03/2023 10:51

nothing you can do

Well, this is what I’m asking - parents evenings are usually arranged well in advance for that reason, and we’ve tickets booked for an event. I’m not obstructive as a rule but I really don’t see why I should lose money for this.

OP posts:
Vloader23 · 04/03/2023 10:52

Assuming it is part of your employment contract that you need to attend these sorts of things with reasonable notice then yes YABU

Original poster
Onlyyours · 04/03/2023 10:54

Reasonable notice is arranged at the start of the year - I’m not sure four weeks is reasonable notice. I wouldn’t refuse to go if I had no plans just for the sake of being awkward, but I genuinely have spent a not-inconsiderable amount on concert tickets!

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/03/2023 10:57

Given that you have paid tickets to a booked event then no, I don't think you should have to miss that.

But I'd go to them with a plan of what you can do instead.

functionoverform · 04/03/2023 10:58

No, they cannot. It wasn't originally in the calendar and you made plans around it.

I once worked in a school and we were flooded badly so moved the term start dates forward, but I was away on hols so wasn't expected to come in.

Email your headteacher / HR lady if you have one and explain. Offer to show confirmation of when you booked the tickets.

Am assuming your contract follows the old burgundy book, but do check it just in case their is a clause in there that allows for directed time changes.

They may give it as unpaid LOA, as technically all parents evenings should be part of your directed time.

Simply put email your Head teacher.

Nimbostratus100 · 04/03/2023 10:59

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 04/03/2023 10:50

Are you primary or secondary? How do you plan on giving the parents the info they need, and expect, another way? Are you able to book out time to call them another day?

there was strike action on this specific task - so it isn't done

CalistoNoSolo · 04/03/2023 11:00

Whether or not its within your rights to refuse, it's a pretty shitty thing to do imo.

youshouldnthaveasked · 04/03/2023 11:02

CalistoNoSolo · 04/03/2023 11:00

Whether or not its within your rights to refuse, it's a pretty shitty thing to do imo.

no it isn’t. Have you heard of the old invention called the telephone?

LikeTearsInRain · 04/03/2023 11:03

I think it’s part of your job sadly. Many hourly and salaried workers have to work late and don’t have a months notice.

PeekAtYou · 04/03/2023 11:04

My experience as a parent is that there's always one or two teachers who can't make it. They will call any parents who want an appointment at a different time.

BlackFriday · 04/03/2023 11:06

People are missing the point here in that it was scheduled for a strike day. Therefore it doesn't happen.
Them's the breaks and the Head should not have re-scheduled it.

Dotjones · 04/03/2023 11:06

There was a strike so the work scheduled for that day didn't get done. It shouldn't be re-arranged, that defeats the whole point of having a strike. A strike has no impact if all the work gets done.

Personally I'm anti-strikers and think the whole bloody lot of them should be sacked but even to me it's clear that this parent's evening cannot go ahead.

Original poster
Onlyyours · 04/03/2023 11:11

@CalistoNoSolo - what is a shitty thing to do? Sorry - not clear whether you mean me not going to parents evening or the school for rearranging it!

OP posts:
Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 04/03/2023 11:17

Talk to the union but I would not give up concert tickets, if you wanted to you could offer to do some school cloud sessions a different time or give a written summary. You will not be the only one.

Toastandmarmiteandtea · 04/03/2023 11:17

Schools I’ve worked in before always have one or two part time teachers who run their parents evening on a different evening. Is this not an option? I’m not sure about stroke related rules but reporting to parents is part of teachers terms and conditions so would have to be carried out somehow?

Rogue1001MNer · 04/03/2023 11:17

If you're primary school, you'll easily be able to do it on a different day.
A bit more challenging if you're secondary

Lolacat1234 · 04/03/2023 11:19

Loads of teachers at my sons parents evening last week weren't there. Some cancelled the morning of! I can't see it being a big deal, all the ones that cancelled emailed with a few sentences on how my son is doing and an offer to pick up outside of the parents evening over email or phone call.

Original poster
Onlyyours · 04/03/2023 11:22

@Toastandmarmiteandtea I’ve no objection to reporting to parents, but the original day this was on has been moved. This has nothing to do with me, it was the decision of the Head and has been spring on me!

OP posts:
MrsHamlet · 04/03/2023 11:30

You made plans based on the calendar. You can't be expected to change them.

FoxInSocksSatOnBlocks · 04/03/2023 11:31

YABVU. Four weeks is absolutely reasonable notice.

This wouldn’t have even happened if you weren’t striking.

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