Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

The staffroom

Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Emails from work that needs actioning in the holiday.

42 replies

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 13/08/2014 11:35

Mini AIBU here.
I have received about 50 emails from SLT since the start of the summer holiday requesting things are done, telling us what needs to be done in our classrooms before the training day, asking everyone to reply etc.

I am getting really pissed off. Is anyone else getting loads of work emails?
And if so, am I being U by not really wanting to read them and do what is being asked.

I have been in to sort my room out, sort out planning for first week back, tidy up etc and I will probably go in for another couple of days before the end of the holiday but I want to do school stuff in my own time.

I feel hounded... Anyone else? It might be me being snotty. Grin

OP posts:
BranchingOut · 13/08/2014 11:48

I suppose that they may be working and sending out emails to get stuff off their own desks. Are they really expecting you to look/respond in holiday time?

Set up an auto-response and don't look at email!

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 13/08/2014 12:40

God if I did that if be in big trouble. Yes, I have had several 'urgent' emails that have required me to act straight away.
It didn't used to be this way though, the holiday was the holiday and that was that, of course we all still did the normal holiday preparations but not all the extra stuff.

OP posts:
BranchingOut · 13/08/2014 14:17

That is not on.

Union?
I thank my lucky stars that I am no longer 'in'.

BrianButterfield · 13/08/2014 14:28

I've had none - I don't check but my ipad gets work emails automatically. I will get some around exam results time with the spreadsheets etc but I'm confident I'll get nothing I need to work on until the start of term. My HoD doesn't believe in mandating work during holidays.

I don't have any responsibility in the school, though. DH does and has been getting emails and texts about work with the expectation he will jump to it straight away. He is actively looking for another job as he has zero work/life balance.

ContinentalKat · 13/08/2014 14:28

Out of office, stating when you will be back in action, ignore. Everybody deserves a holiday!

amyhamster · 13/08/2014 14:30

I thought teachers always say they work in the holidays?

Do you get specific weeks off like Christmas for example ?

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 13/08/2014 14:37

Yes it is a zero work life balance thing creeping in. We do all work in the holidays hamster but it's kind of at our own pace. I have done loads so far but it has been when I have wanted to rather than in the middle of a week or during my actual holiday.

And no we don't get specific weeks off.

I can just feel the stress of when we are in term time (which is immense and kind of consuming) starting to permeate into my much needed switch off time, it is really getting to me.

This year is a kind of make or break year for me actually. This might be the start of it all being a bit much tbh.

I am trying to ignore it all but I have had two emails specifically asking me to do urgent things in the last couple of days.

I can cope with the incessant demands as long as I have this time to forget about school but it isn't happening this summer Sad

OP posts:
togoornottogotowork · 13/08/2014 14:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Orangeanddemons · 13/08/2014 14:50

Why are you looking at work emails during the holidays?

I usually check mine the Friday before we go back.

But no one emails us anyway. I thought schools were meant to have an email policy? Either way, I think you're union needs to get involved

VeryThelma · 13/08/2014 14:53

Put an out of office on saying you are away and un-contactable??

At least then whoever is sending the mail will know you aren't going to action it? That might stop the guilt on your part

Then slowly deal with the tasks in your time

That is what I would do (I am not a teacher)

noblegiraffe · 13/08/2014 14:57

I've had zero work emails from work since the start of the holidays, just a couple from students.

If you don't action urgent items in the time they specify, just tell them you couldn't be arsed were away. I'd probably check emails around the results days, but deliberately not check apart from that if work were hassling me.

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 13/08/2014 16:04

Thanks, so generally no other teachers get this really. I don't think I am being U then!
togoornottogo at least an hour per task and there are often four or five tasks in each email.

OP posts:
ThisIsBULLSHIT · 13/08/2014 16:05

I am kind of checking and mainly ignoring Grin I work like a Trojan but holidays are my sanctuary!

OP posts:
MsFiremanSam · 15/08/2014 08:10

My previous Head did this. I've had one email from my current Head this holiday - with a subject header that reads 'do not read this properly until the first day back!'. So glad I moved!

Flossiex2 · 15/08/2014 08:14

Check your union's non-strike action. I thought teachers were not supposed to send or respond to e-mails outside school hours for precisely the reasons you describe (feeling harassed.)

Waswondering · 15/08/2014 08:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SnapeAndLily · 15/08/2014 08:33

This is the first year I have had several emails during the holidays. Usually they come in the last week.

So far I've ignored them and worked to my own agenda (so sorting my classroom out before paperwork, which I tend to do at my in-laws' house because they think teachers swan about doing nothing for six weeks and whinge )

I totally get that you can't feel relaxed and 'safe' from school business.

GalaxyInMyPants · 15/08/2014 08:46

What if you'd gone trekking in Peru for the six weeks? Out of wifi contact?

It seems unreasonable to me. I'd tell them you're in Peru.

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 15/08/2014 11:11

was I don't have them on my ipad but I do check them sporadically. That's what I need to stop doing!!!
Hmm flossie I will check that.

Thanks snape and Grin to doing your work at the ILs!!

msfireman any jobs going at your school!!? half serious

Grin
OP posts:
PandaNot · 15/08/2014 11:20

They can't require you to do this outside of your directed time. Ignore and involve your union if there's any comeback.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/08/2014 11:23

They shouldn't be sending them, and you would be wrong to respond to them. Just don't check your emails.

ThisIsBULLSHIT · 15/08/2014 13:35

Ok, I am going to stop checking. My own fault really I suppose for looking. I just know I will get a text if I don't respond. Maybe then I get cross...

Thanks all. It's the answer I needed.
Happy Friday everyone Smile

OP posts:
ThisIsBULLSHIT · 15/08/2014 13:37

Oh remus you will like this - my parents are framing a load of old cigarette cards of polar explorers and images of animals for his bday!

OP posts:
blueemerald · 15/08/2014 13:42

I've had one email with the timetable for next year. It opened with 'I really hope none of you are checking your email in the holiday but for those of you who just can't help yourself here is the timetable for September.' Smile

bottlecat · 15/08/2014 13:43

This would seriously stress me out.
Hope you can ignore them and relax for the last few weeks.