Asked to volunteer on inset days for free!

[Callardandbowser]

We have been given the option to a) ‘volunteer for free’ (2 full inset days) or b) claim the time back in lieu.
This is because the school is struggling financially because of CV.
I must admit I was quite flabbergasted to be given these options as would normally be paid over time for inset days if they don’t fall on my normal working days.
Has anyone any experience of this?
I also feel judged if I choose to claim back the days in lieu.
Thanks.

Depends entirely on your situation. Have you worked as many hours as normal since covid?
Is the inset mandatory?

Could you negotiate one paid, one unpaid? Would the time be useful elsewhere? How flexible are the school generally?

I'd weigh up the pros and cons.

I worked less through CV but my DH has had to take 2 days annual leave to cover me inset days (he only gets 14 days a year!) and now I’m not even going to be paid for it!

My**

I think there's your answer then. You've done less this term and will make up the hours next term.

Do you have a friend who could have your child/ten? I'd definitely help out in this scenario. If they are old enough could you bring them to work? Say you have no childcare to the head.

How or when will you be able to claim the time back in lieu?

Or the other option is to not attend the INSET days. I notice you haven’t been offered that option.

Are you pt? In which case, as long as you’ve done your proportion don’t go in.

Are you secondary or Primary ?
Is the INSET relevant to your job ?
Once schools realise they need to pay you to work, they do often realise that actually X or Y training isn't needed by you after all.

Why does your dh only get 14 days AL ? There are legal minimums which he seems WAY below.

How old are your dc ? Does you dh need to take the day off? Is there not an option for them to go to a friend or fmily member for the day ?
OTOH, having a day "owed" to you by the school is nice when you want a day / 1/2 day for something (hence me asking about the age - as it is nice to go to their nativity if you can).

Don't start a precedent for yourself. Say yes once and they'll expect it again...

Yes, remember that the full time staff in on those days will be being paid to be there.

I’m part time. Getting time off in lieu is okay. I would do that. I would make sure I book off the days as soon as possible and get it in the school diary so it’s nice and official.
The volunteering thing is unbelievably cheeky when all the full time staff are paid to work.

Thanks for all your replies.
I’ll book some time around Christmas off as it’s useful that time of year and school isn’t as full on as we wind down for the term.
I’m going to also ring my union about this as it feels off.
The person who suggested I would/should be making up hours I hadn’t worked during lockdown, I disagree.

The person who suggested I would/should be making up hours I hadn’t worked during lockdown, I disagree

I would imagine that hours not worked during are not made up. As an example, when I taught in the UK about a million years ago there was a UNISON strike by schoolkeepers and it meant we couldn't enter the building so we all drove past the HT who had a clipboard and declared our intention to work. It's like a massive snow day - you are available for work but are not being allowed to do it.

Will you actually get the time off in lieu? When and Who would cover you?

You should also be offered the option of not coming in!

Yes there’s someone there who can cover me. I do have to go in because there’s a safeguarding course happening over two days.

In that case, take the days off in lieu and say which days you would like now.

Actually OP I've reflected on my making up the hours comment.... There is no way FT staff could do this so it would be discrimination to expect it from PT staff.

I'd take the time and enjoy some moment you wouldn't normally see.

aaaarghhh Inset days are a mare for part timers. Last year I attended three, despite them not falling on my working days, because I am 0.6. Well, that was a mistake. The next one was safeguarding and the school I insisted I must do it, despite me already having done my allocation. So I ended up doing four. No! I have actually ended up doing five, since the latest one was hours upon hours of training via zoom instead of a physical inset day. So I’ve just worked out that I have done two days of extra work for no extra money. MUG.
Get your days in lieu booked quick!

Thanks. Normally I’d be paid overtime but the time off in lieu is apparently all the school can afford at the moment.
I feel most sorry for the TAs who have been guilt tripped into coming in for free!
I will book my lieu for earlier rather than later because I bet there’ll be another lockdown before Xmas.

I am also part time 3 days a week 0.6 fte. Since May half term I have been going into school on my non-working days as on a rota. As I haven't done more than my 3 days per week anyway, I have tried to be flexible. Next week I have to attend both the INSET days, despite one being in my non working day. I was not best pleased, but will do it as its not exceeding my 3 days.

However, come September, we are starting the new academic year with 3 INSET days in a row. And one of them is on my non-working day again. I sure as hell will NOT be attending unless they want to pay me an extra day. Enough flexibility now. Its got to go back as close to normal as possible from September IMHO!