To be tempted to pull a sickie?

[ofthelandandsea]

And yes it’s morally reprehensible but …

Work in a school, so can’t take annual leave or anything like that, and it’s my DDs first school play Friday.

My school won’t let you have time off for anything like that; they just won’t, it’s just no, no, no. It’s similar if a teacher needs to leave the site during the day, you just can’t get out.

I really am tempted to say sod it and say I’m unwell.

Hey op just go it’s ironic that primary schools have these activities but teachers aren’t allowed time to go but the schools expect other working parents to get time off for them.

This is the exact reason I stopped having a student facing role and went in to part time admin at a different school! The guilt I was made to feel for things like this was ridiculous, and I wasn’t a teacher. I am fairly certain you can’t be made to stay on the premises for PPA but that may have changed now?
I will admit on a couple of occasions getting a family member to call in stating a family emergency sounding panicked at a pre agreed time and rushing off! On both occasions I was back in the next day saying how much of a drama queen my sister is and how I can’t believe I rushed there for a situation that really wasn’t that major, most people nodded their heads saying they had similar dramatic family members and sympathised with me
failing that, if you are a brave person, fill out an absence request form and when handing it to your line manager tell them it’s not an absence request it’s an absence notification and that you will not be on the premises at the time stated as you have an appointment that you WILL be attending and that you will complete your hours PPA at home after your event

This is why teaching is such a sad profession. No flexibility and you are treated like a child.
People on here getting mad that OP has school holidays off. If you’re that jealous, retrain. You’ll soon realise what a hellish job it is.

Have you asked for the time off? It sounds like you can argue how it won’t effect anyone.

Also, ask the primary school if they could consider an evening show next year. And filming it this year.

Because schools just can’t get kids back to these things in the evening … parents can’t be bothered to bring them ( or let them stay , if it’s just after school day ends).

Absolutely true “story”.

We do it every year. We stress to parents how important it is. Only occasionally one child doesn’t return.

More chance of getting caught now that this post has been shared on Facebook, unfortunately. Good luck.

They'd have a happier work staff and less turnover of teachers.

She's not asking for a whole day off. She's asking to do a special thing during her planning time. Many other schools would let you leave for something important to you like that.

Shocking that you can't leave for a medical appointment either.

Plenty of people have limited flexibility and only five weeks off.

Nah. Op is one is one of thousands who will be weighing this decision up.

Personally I would.
It’s much easier in many schools to go off sick be in mental health or physical health ( especially this time of year). What are they going to do anyway. They have to prove you were fit enough for work and the most will be a disciplinary which potentially is dicey if you go off on mental health grounds.

Go and have a lovely time! People are forgetting the bigger picture. Society expects women to work like they don’t have kids and have kids like they don’t work. If you need to break a few eggs to make an omelette then no shame from me. I’ve worked in schools, know what it’s like and that’s why I no longer do! Money is the bottom line and I don’t think this one will break their bank. Support the workers!

Are you one of those green-eyed people who believe that teachers only work school hours? You seem to have a bee in your bonnet about the amount of time off the OP gets. If you think teaching is so great, try it! Why do you think teachers are leaving in droves despite "all" the time off you think they have?

I think teaching has advantages and disadvantages like all jobs. Being able to be off during all school holidays is a massive advantage for parents. Not having flexible AL is a disadvantage. The OP needs to decide what's most important.

I hope you are off sick today@ofthelandandsea. I think you're right to go and watch your little girl, these things are so important.

Do schools really not allow time off for funerals?
You would be declined time to go to your own Mother's funeral?

Is this a recent thing? In all my years as both a child and having 2 go through Primary, there have always been evening performances and it's never been a problem having the children attend.

I was always baffled at that. Most teachers are working parents so are fully aware of the juggle.

You could be sacked.

Do they not do evening performances

Who is taking DD? Give a ‘Good luck!’ Card and make a big deal the night before. Make sure her / grandparents take load of photos / film some bits and go through it all when you get home. I wouldn’t pull a sickie as a teacher unless I was really unwell since so many people rely on you.

my school was day time only and always has been.

Migraine or cystitis can attack at any time, right? 😉

Limited flexibility is not NO flexibility, which is what school staff have.

Thirteen weeks with no flexibility or five weeks with a degree of flexibility depending on the job. The OP needs to decide what she wants. Or she could look for a job with 13 weeks in the school holidays plus extra days off for anything she sees as important.

It’s not the day off sick - it’s lying about the day off sick. Your integrity would be called into question. If you were in my team I’d let you have the time out up front and sort cover. But I’m private sector. But if you lied then I’d probably be having a word with HR it depends how valuable you are to the company. No idea how a school would handle it. Personally I wouldn’t lie in that situation. It’s frustrating I know but that’s what you signed up to. I’m sure there are other benefits like holidays off you get that private sector won’t. What do people do when they have to work abroad?

My worry would be that this feels (and is) so special right now but then so will her first sports day and first other event ant school and it’s where do you draw a line because you will never want to let her down. None of us want to do that.

Life is all about compromise unfortunately and winning some to lose some. Teachers work bloody hard and are lucky enough to not have to worry about childcare over the holidays. So their kids have the joy of mum home all summer while people in other jobs maybe have the joy of mum attending plays and sports days but having to go to holiday club over the summer. There aren’t many people who can truly have it all and it’s just life.

I’m not saying don’t do this this time but maybe more have a think on whether the job is right for you if you feel this strongly about being there.