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Original poster

Teachers or anyone really how ill do you have to be to stay off work?

85 replies

flouncerpoppedbackforadvice · 15/12/2008 14:08

I am on my third nasty bug of the term, have had 2 days off so far and am home today.

On Thursday I had a headache and sore throat but went in. On Friday I went in to teach with no voice and genuinely thought I was going to pass out with exhuastion. My head was banging, there was not way I could teach but feeling guilty I went in.

This weekend I have been ill all weekend in bed, awful coughing fits which have left me very sore, real dizziness, complete exhaustion and awful headaches whicb i think are sinisitus. I have made my whole family ill as well. I think I am fine until I go to do something, if I get out of bed or even sit up the whole room spins. If I try to talk I get a mad coughing fit which leaves me in agony.

I wamted to go to work today but dp phoned up the teacher who I go in with an told he not to collect me and turned the alarm off so I slept through.

I just know I am going to get into trouble when I get back to work but I do feel awful and know if I went in to work I would just make others ill over Christmas.

OP posts:
cece · 15/12/2008 14:12

Why will you be in trouble?!

If you are ill you are ill. Personally I wouldn't have gone in those two days last week. From experience I have discovered that having one or two days off once something like that starts means less days off in the end. If you try to struggle on it just makes you worse in the long run and you end up with having more days off. Plus you spread the illnes to all around you.

Stop feeling guilty and take as much time off as you need to be well again. Are you new to teaching?

constancereader · 15/12/2008 14:15

You are not fit for work. You will not be in trouble when you go back, why should you be?

Original poster
flouncerpoppedbackforadvice · 15/12/2008 14:15

No am not new to teaching but am new to a school which is very tough in absence.

I will get hit with cover when I get back and they will be tough classes.

Dp said exactly the same as you.

I will be in trouble for having time of, simple as, especially as this will be my third day in a term. I would be annoyed if my dd teacher kept having time off.

OP posts:
roundcornvirgin · 15/12/2008 14:16

Stay off work - you are too ill to teach. Let the school know that you will be off for the rest of the week - they will probably have insurance to get a supply in anyway.

constancereader · 15/12/2008 14:16

sounds like a horrible school to work in tbh. it shoul dn't work like that.

AndATigerschickInAPearTree · 15/12/2008 14:17

I'd be more annoyed if my DD's teacher was coming in when she was ill and therefore not fit to take the class and may infect my DD!!

You are not well.
You should be at home.
They have no right to be cross with you.

yellowvan · 15/12/2008 14:17

Just think, you have made a supply teacher very happy today who has got chance to work with your lovely classes, and maybe earned enough money to buy their dc's xmas presents! Schools have insurance to pay for sick cover. Get well and keep your germs to yourself (no one thanks a martyr)

cece · 15/12/2008 14:21

Are you in a Union, if they get tough with you then call them in to help you. Your Head will back right off, I promise!

Sounds like a bit of a harsh school to work in!

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:21

I know you are right and if I had not been ill earlier in the term I would not have any qualms about being off.

On Friday a lot of my classes said to me in a nice way "you should not be here" I arrived in the morning ready to teach and was told firmly by my Head of Department to show DVDs and to talk as little as possible.

I do have lovely classes today as well, with one exception, a supply teachers dream.

When I phoned in the secretary just huffed at me and made me feel like a skiving ninnie even though I was struggling to make myself heard.

cece · 15/12/2008 14:22

Oh and it sounds like you need the rest of the week off. Listen to your DH

roundcornvirgin · 15/12/2008 14:23

Oh twinset that sounds crap - agree with cece about the union - you should not be bullied into going in to work when you are unwell.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:23

I am in a union but there is no union presence in the school, no union reps.

It is a lovely school to work in, lovely kids, great results etc as long as you are not off sick. I bet a lot of jobs are like that though in both the private and public sector.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:24

I will be in tomorrow, I am feeling a lot better than I did at the start of the weekend.

cece · 15/12/2008 14:24

Get the local area rep to help you if you need it.

ramonaquimby · 15/12/2008 14:28

flouncer - why would you be annoyed if your dd's teacher kept on having time off for illness - esp given how you've been feeling and it's genuineness (is that a word?)
hope you're feeling better soon

I feel no guilt when I'm sick despite working 2 days a week - was off last week for 1 day, and will be off this week as my 2 young kiddies are both unwell.

roundcornvirgin · 15/12/2008 14:36

I've worked in schools where eyebrows are raised when someone phones in sick. It's crazy and you end up falling in with it and working when you really shouldn't.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:43

ramona actually you are right and I would not be annoyed, I would actually be worried if she had time off more than once in a term.

Roundcornvirgin it is mad, I actually had a day lasyt half term where I had the start of a sickness bug, I went in as I could not face the talk when I got back to work amd had to leave a classroom to go and throw up, I then went back in to carry on teaching.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:44

I do need to stop myself being ill though, today actually dont have the strenght to get to the doctor and cant get an appointment but will see him to look at things like iron levels and how I can boost my immunity.

throckenholt · 15/12/2008 14:46

if you are sick you are sick.

I have had a similar bug to you a month back - and there was no way I could even drive to work - let alone function when I was there - and I am not even in charge of any children.

The school must have contingency plans fro when staff are ill.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:51

I tried to walk into town ( two minute walk) on either Saturday or Sunday, the whole weekend has been a sleepy blur and had to be driven home by a random OAP as I had a coughing fit in the middle of the street went all dizzy and fell over .

My dd has it now but has been sick and I have just heard dp coughing.

roundcornvirgin · 15/12/2008 14:54

Ask the doctor to sign you off for the rest of the term.

twinsetiscrapatflouncing · 15/12/2008 14:56

My doctor is actually quite crap and I do need to be in as I have an interview for a promotion this week although I may have buggered that up.

roundcornvirgin · 15/12/2008 14:58

When do you break up? They can't deny you the promotion 'cos you're ill surely?

cece · 15/12/2008 15:01

If you are off sick then they will have to rearrange the interview for the beginning of next term! FGS (not you them!)

bigbaubleeyes · 15/12/2008 15:02

twins - i teach my sympathies - its ridiculous for you to be feeling like for being off your health is paramount or you'll be no good to anyone. Thing is its not like a desk job you have to be there in front of the class a perform thers no way you could of went in. If this bugger up your prootion then they are not worth working for.

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