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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.

Original poster

Staff to make decision whether they will travel or not?

86 replies

Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:02

What do we think of this ?

All the schools round here are shut : but not DH's (private) school.

Mine announced it was shut just now which was annoying enough after all other schools called it yesterday afternoon . But his staff have just had an email saying they 'intend to remain open. More snow is forecast at 4 pm when his school finishes.

The email says 'they will understand if staff decide they cannot make the journey' Really?? How many kids do they think will turn up??! How is he supposed to know what the journey is like exactly?

What does anyone think union stance would be on forcing staff (and parents...) to make decisions about their own safe journey?
I reckon they will frown upon people who don't try and that he will go in and end up doing lots of cover. What really even is the point. (we all know it's so they don't have to issue refunds...)

Not sure who will be handing out the medals...

OP posts:
lightoflaluna · 02/03/2018 07:31

I love a snow day as much as the next person but your OP doesn't mention that you or your DH expect his journey to be that difficult. If the school is open and he can get in then he should go.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:32

Hhaha! No they really can't parrot. lessons need covering. I t would cause chaos: that's exactly the sort of reason why schools do close.

Anyway, many people seem to think this is AIBU rather than staffroom (as per) so I may just let him go and see what happens.

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VikingVolva · 02/03/2018 07:32

"I knew someone would say that Viking but I can tell you no one is driving past my house ! And the bus hasn't been past so it seem sin so called 'real life' people aren't going in."

Great, then he can honestly say that roads are impassable/unsafe and he has no reasonable way to make the journey.

His school is using a totally normal practice for workplaces who trust their staff to make a good call for their circumstances.

I really don't see what the problem is here - other than he works somewhere which is remaining open and expects staff to assess their journey, and you prefer an employer who makes the decision for the employees.

Brokenbiscuit · 02/03/2018 07:34

I don't understand your issue. They are not saying come to work, no matter what. They are saying that staff need to make their own judgements about whether it's safe to travel. Entirely sensible if the area immediately around the school isn't too bad but teachers are travelling from further afield.

Your DH needs to assess whether he thinks it is safe to travel, and if it isn't, then he needs to stay at home. Exactly the same judgement that hundreds of thousands of people will be making across the country this morning. Lots of workplaces never close, so it's standard that staff have to exercise their own judgements on the basis of the advice that is available from the met office, the police and their own observations.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:34

Funnily enough light we can't see all the roads he will have to drive on from our window. I can see people driving over abridge at about 5 mph. I cried on the way home from work yesterday because a big hill terrified me.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:35

All the schools including the one across the road form him are shut. This is about money not safety.

But hey ho.

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gerispringer · 02/03/2018 07:36

I used to work in a top public day school and staff who lived within walking distance were expected to be in on the one occasion I can remember severe snow. All the state schools were closed.It took me 45 mins to walk in and hardly any kids were there, we had a lovely day building snowmen and playing games and were sent home early. Many staff lived in school houses near the school so could easily walk in , but the kids came from all over, so there were more staff than pupils.

AddictedtoSnickers · 02/03/2018 07:37

I used to teach in a private school - the head never closed for snow, us plebs all schlepped in in hiking boots. She stayed at home as it wasn't safe enough for her! I didn't teach there long!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:38

I guess you are all right and I am wrong but the point being , schools don't operate like 'normal ' workplaces at all.

Sometimes decisions do need to be taken out of employees' (and parents') hands.

he has gone now and I am sure he will be fine.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:39

His school did close back in December when it snowed. There was less snow then so I am sure they got some complaints and this has affected today's decision.

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GnotherGnu · 02/03/2018 07:40

Why on earth should the school make decisions for their staff about whether their journey is safe? How are they supposed to know about weather and road conditions in each area where individual staff members live? I certainly wouldn't dream of expecting my employer to make the decision for me.

thecatfromjapan · 02/03/2018 07:40

Piggy Our local - state - school is operating on the same principle. I can see why: most of the children and staff live very locally, disruption to travel depends on the means of travel used (buses fine, trains intermittent), so it's very much something the individual, rather than the school, will know.

I see that it can seem to push responsibility onto the individual and - given schools these days - act like a 'hidden' pressure to 'get your ass in, whatever' but it shouldn't. If it's going to be tricky for him to get home, he should stay home.

DD will be going in to school but I'm not going to get bent out of shape if I hear some of her teachers couldn't make it.

(I kind of wish they'd called it a snow day and she could spend the day with me, baking and flopping around.)

parrotonmyshoulder · 02/03/2018 07:42

We do know it’s staffroom.
My point that he could go in late still stands. There are presumably fewer pupils than normal. Some staff won’t be able to get in at all. Classes will not be running as normal, teachers/ staff who are in will be doing the best they can under the circumstances. If your DH turned up several hours late (after contacting the school obviously and telling them), he could share in this.
However, if he thinks it is unsafe to travel, he should stay at home.

lightoflaluna · 02/03/2018 07:43

@Piggywaspushed of course you can't see all the roads, but things like Twitter and local police, traffic and travel will have information about places that are not passable. You will know whether his route is primarily main roads that will have been gritted or whether it's tiny rural, steep roads.

parrotonmyshoulder · 02/03/2018 07:44

This is probably more about the fact he hates his job than the snow, and would have liked to have had a pressure-free day off. Understandable of course. Hope he has a good day once he’s there.

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 02/03/2018 07:44

i dont understand what the issue is, he's an adult, do a risk assessment, you know your area, and the car you drive.

I'm working from another office, as I cannot get to my office, I know this wont be an option for your dh, however as adults we can think for ourselves.

The employer is basically saying do your own risk assessment.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:45

I take your point cat . It will be tricky for them all to get home. He is a more confident driver than me so I guess I am projecting a bit about how I would feel if it were me.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:46

Yes, all true parrot which kind of makes obligingly staying open all a bit pointless!

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Justgivemesomepeace · 02/03/2018 07:46

He'll have to do the same as anyone else who doesn't work in a school and make his own decision as to whether he feels he is able to travel to travel. My employer certainly doesn't decide whether my journey is too bad. I decide and let them know. Then I arrange whether to be unpaid, take annual leave or work the time back.

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:47

luna my journey home yesterday was on an allegedly gritted road. It wasn't I skidded multiple times.

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Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:48

As I have said, everyone, he has gone! It is the only school in the whole area open but there we have it. Probably every other school is overreacting.

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VikingVolva · 02/03/2018 07:50

"I guess you are all right and I am wrong but the point being , schools don't operate like 'normal ' workplaces at all."

In terms of empowering staff to make their own call in the safety of their individual journey when there are weather difficulties, there is no difference at all.

"Sometimes decisions do need to be taken out of employees' (and parents') hands."

I disagree. If there is an overwhelming need to be shut (police advice, H&S on site, highly adverse forecast) then that call can be made. But when there isn't - say when lots of lying snow might have local impact on some journeys but not others - there is no need to take the decision out of people's hands.

"he has gone now and I am sure he will be fine"

Fingers crossed!!

Original poster
Piggywaspushed · 02/03/2018 07:51

His school website says none of the bus companies are running to the private schools. That does rather speak volumes.

OP posts:
Gendarme · 02/03/2018 07:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thecatfromjapan · 02/03/2018 07:53

Hope you all have a good day, Piggy.

I used to live rurally and travel 14 miles to school on local buses (no school bus). I remember struggling in to school, only to find we were being sent home mid-day - with no buses available! Or, one glorious time, the bus home stopped in the middle of the journey, unable to get over a blocked bridge, and we were all left to try and find our way home.

That was epic: like something out of Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I'm incredibly immune to the whole 'struggle in if you can' ethic now. It really is worth thinking about the journey home. Smile

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