To wonder why teachers say they don’t have flexibility - isn’t this the solution?

[Greeao]

I could be being quite naive here but chatting away with friends this afternoon, two of whom
are teachers, they were saying they have no flexibility and ’literally can’t go to the doctor on a work day.’ This was in comparison to other jobs in the group which were office based.

Surely you can go to an appointment at 5pm or 6pm in some doctor surgeries? Then for dentist and non urgent care you’d go in the half terms or holidays?

Similarly I don’t understand the issue with schools plays etc, surely it’s feasible to go to some of these events as not all half terms and holidays are the same for all schools and not every event is in the day time. For instance at our local school play starts at 5pm.

It’s not a goady post, I was just reflecting on my drive home and perhaps I don’t get the industry?!

Well why do you think your friends are lying?

Given how hard it is to get any appointment, how easy do you think it is to get 5pm ones?

You’ve answered your own question. Restricting yourself to going to the doctors at 5 or 6 pm or in the school holidays isnt exactly flexible is it?

@ToKittyornottoKitty just think they weren’t thinking about it practically… just ask for a later appointment surely?!

It's not something I complain about and do attend appointments as you suggest. I have the exact same school holidays as my children though, as do the vast majority of my colleagues, and the infant school only does events in school time. I have only been able to attend plays/sports days because I have a decent and flexible head. Most I miss and my husband attends.

To be clear: I know this is the same for people in other industries. I career changed into teaching and, yknow, have a husband, friends and families with other jobs so know the realities of other careers. I'm not saying this is only an issue for teachers, I'm answering the question.

Getting a GP appointment is a nightmare, so trying to get it at a specific time just adds to the difficulty. Not sure what your point is about school plays etc.

Surely you are just stirring here?

Have you tried making a GP appt and telling them you’re only free to come at 5pm?

As for dentists etc in half term - maybe they have their own kids to look after? I wouldn’t be able to go for my own check up even with just my 8yo let alone younger kids.

Most schools have most events during school hours, to suggest otherwise is obtuse.

How does your GP work?

For many, you have to call up at 8.30 (by which time teachers are already in school, prepping and potentially in meetings with other staff) and then often you are told the GP or nurse will call you back between 10 and 3pm. You don't get to just say you want a 5pm appointment and are given one.
How are you supposed to take that call while teaching?

Infant school plays are rarely in the evenings because small children are feral by 5pm
If you have secondary school aged kids, sure.

My mum was a teacher so never came to any of my primary school assemblies or shows as they were in the day - she came to the year 6 show as that was in the evening.
(It's not a sob story, my dad was there and I always understood she was at work and it wasn't a big deal at all, lots of my friends also has mums who were at work including teachers, nurses etc)

@Notmyreality but you can still get a same
day appointment so it seems similar to any other job

@MojoMoon good point about calling at 8:30, hadn’t thought of that! The school I was referring to is a secondary so that myst be why it’s later

@Clairey1986 yes i always ask for an end of the day appointment so its least disruption to work! And usually get it.

@Clairey1986 your 8 year old wouldn’t wait while you had a check up?!

The numbers of appointments available at 5pm are extremely limited. If I try to book an advance appointment I will always request one later in the day but they often tell.me there aren't any at that time. If I have to book an emergency appointment I have to phone at 8.30 in the morning amd get in the queue (slightly difficult when I have a class of 7 year old to supervise at 8.40) or fill an e-consult at 8.30 and then try to accept a call from the surgery which could come at any time, although I am not allowed to have my phone on in class. Taking a day off sick is even worse - have to try and plan something last minute that isn't too much for a TA to try and cover.

I'm sure teaching isn't the only job with such a lack of flexibility. I wish it was easier to get an appointment.

I have little sympathy for public sector workers but i do see that it would be difficult to get gp appt and see kids take part in school sports day. Agree that shows are generally evening.

Any people facing roles with a set schedule/ appointments where you are the only person delivering the service is not as flexible as any job that are not people facing.

My 8yo is a law unto himself, I absolutely would not trust him to sit or stand nicely while I was at the dentist. He has various medical issues contributing. My older girls no problem.

My point was that your experience of children and what you can do alongside them may be unrepresentative.

I’m a TA in an SEN school.
I work part time so I can do stuff in the week including meetings for my disabled daughter.
All staff are expected to make appointments in their own time, exception is hospital appointments that can’t be rescheduled or emergencies including with your own kids.
Teachers especially have to have reliable attendance.

It doesn’t work like that at our doctors. You get given an appointment and there’s no opting for a time or even asking for a later one. If you want to see a GP, you need to have the day free and go to the appointment you get given.

As for school plays, I think a lot of infant and primary school do their plays in school hours.

At the last school I worked at, staff weren’t permitted to even leave before 5pm.

Non-teachers have no idea.

100%. And dont get me started on them having to ring you back if you manage the 8am queue. No I can take a call between 10 and 1. Please make me an appointment for a spacific time. So hard.

I really don't know how full time teachers manage this tbh! Thankfully I am part time and insist on all my appointments being on my days off or during my PPA if they can't be and it's urgent.

I've recently had to postpone a hospital appointment as they wanted me to come in on one of my working days and I couldn't justify asking for it off, despite knowing my health is more important that my work!

I think your friends were unreasonable to make a blanket statement about the flexibility of office based jobs. Plenty of jobs in offices don’t allow you to take last minute annual leave or rearrange things for a medical appointment.

I think YABU to think that dr appointments at 5pm (which are virtually impossible to get) is a sign of flexibility.

I agree with you about routine dentist appointments that can be done in school holidays - yes they may have their own children to take care of in the holidays but that’s no different to parents with other jobs, you need to make sure you have childcare if you need it for whatever reason. Other people might need to take annual leave for routine medical/dental appointments.

School plays, assemblies, sports days, random parent workshops all fall within the school day. Hard to attend if you are a teacher parent. The increased flexibility of many jobs post COVID has highlighted the inflexibility of teaching. It's one of the many reasons I want out (the main reason is pain in the arse parents who complain about everything and anything but that's for another thread).

Teachers I know have been given days off for weddings, moving house, religious festivals etc…. In addition to the usual holidays. Seems there can be some
flex when needed