Is this unfavourable treatment? Calling flowery et al... (Long, Sorry)

[donthateme]

I teach humanities in a secondary school, I'm full time. Have just received 2 emails, one from my head of Dept finalising details of my teaching timetable for the coming year, the other from the Deputy Head HR who organises rotas for other duties outside teaching.

Two things have cropped up which I feel a little peeved about and am wondering if I have a case for saying I am receiving less favourable treatment.

Timetable issue first as that is the biggy for me. Another colleague is returning from maternity leave next Monday when term begins, and has had part time, 3 days a week agreed. She is working 3 full days and the upshot of that is that nearly all her teaching will be split classes, ie she will teach them the days she is in, and other colleagues pick them up the other days. Unfortunately I seem to have drawn the short straw and have a lot of split classes with her. My concern is that while this benefits her (because she only wants 3 days work) it poses a disadvantage to me (greater prep and marking load overall, a lot more parents to see on parents evenings, more reports to write etc). Basically, even though my teaching hours are the same overall as they would be if I had all my own classes, the work load is massively increased when this is spread over a lot more teaching groups.Apart from anything else, its the increased number of pupil relationships you have to manage (as well as the marking, report writing as mentioned).Plus time to communicate effectively with the part time colleague. I doubt we will have non contact time together so when does this happen? Lunchtime? After school? Evening emails? Not happy about that idea. Also I have doubts about whether this is best for the pupils as they can tend to play teachers off against eachother.

I am aware that in all teachers contracts there is a standard clause stating we basically teach whoever we're told. So I am sure the bottom line is technically the Principal can do this, however, I do feel that in agreeing to this colleagues flexible work request, the Principal and governers have not taken into account the less favourable impact on colleagues.

My 2nd point is very much minor in comparison, but again i wonder how reasonable this is. Another colleague is pregnant, and will be back at school for about another 8 weeks before starting maternity leave. The email from deputy Head HR is about revised duties around the school (break, lunch, end of school). It appears that the pregnant colleague will not be expected to do these for the rest of her pregnancy - which i TOTALLY understand if a risk assessment has indicated she shouldnt, because our school is pretty big and break times can get chaotically busy, and there can sometimes be a bit of pushing and shoving. (That probably sounds awful to non teachers - it really isnt, just the normal hustle and bustle). However, my issue is that I have been allocated some of pregnant lady's duties in ADDITION to my own, ie as well as my usual corridor patch, I also have to supervise one of the outside yards (where pregnant lady usually goes on duty). Surely it cant be reasonable for one persons pregnancy to cause extra workload for others? On the other hand, I can see that the school are a bit stuck until she actually starts on ML and they can provide cover.

Sorry this is so long, and I hope I dont come across as looking for problems. I take my job very seriously and am committed and hard working, but I do feel that I am being discrimated against for being full time. I am a mum too, but happy to work full time and I dont see why my work situation should be compromised to fit around someone who wants reduced hours. There is not benefit to me, just the drawbacks.

TBH I will let the duty thing go and just cover it out of goodwill if needed because there is a time limit on it - once she goes on ML there will be a supply teacher in. But the split class issue will last indefinitely, and I am really not happy with the increase in work load.

Even if technically the Principal and Head of Dept can do this, how should I voice my concerns about the impact on colleagues and pupils? I don't want to appear to be a complainer but neither do I want to be a doormat.

O

TBH your posts seem to convey a lot of resentment towards this other member of staff (and in fact, the other pregnant staff member). If your work has increased substantially, without any consultation, your issue needs to be with the HT, not the other members of staff.

There must be some way of improving the timetable and dividing reporting arrangements.

It may not be intentional but there is an essence of not liking the reduced hours or reduced duties of two colleagues in particular. If the impact on you is disproportionally high in comparison to other full-time colleagues I think you will get much further in correcting the situation by making comparisons with the remaining full-time colleagues i.e. comparing apples and apples as opposed to apples and pears. That said teachers are employed to teach across a school as directed by the Headteacher and not specific classes. I expect the Head/governors looked at the required teaching hours and decided actually there was some slack in the system in general so why not utilise it to the benefit of the employee who requested flexible working and to the school in financial terms without any loss of teaching capacity.

Yes, the impact is on other, full-time colleagues, and Me in particular. I thought I had made it clear what the issue is. I'm not sure what you mean by the reduced hours thing . I don't care whether people work full or part time- the key thing is that any change in hours should not directly lead to colleagues workloads being increased. If I wanted to work part time, id apply for a pt job or request flex working- but I wouldn't expect anything which would place an additional burden on colleagues. That seems pretty basic to me.

An update-my head of dept is being very proactive and she has requested a meeting with the Principal and governer who is linked to our dept. She has huge reservations about how this will work, mainly because there is no time built in for all the necessary liaison. Obviously the school wont wsnt to pay for extra ppa time to allow for that as they wont have the spare cash for that, and my head

Oops posted too soon. My head of dept is adamant the extra liaison time should not be at the expense of me or other colleagues in the humanities dept

I'm not a teacher but when I had my flexible work arrangement agreed I had to document how I would make it work and not inconvenience others. Maybe she already has some ideas and maybe you can work with her for a couple of hours to talk it through.

I'm sure she will be interested in it working out well so she can preserve the arrangement.

Just to reiterate - where is any 'resentment' shown towards any member of staff?

The only thing I resent is having my work load substantially increased directly because of someone elses change in terms and conditions.

I can see the point that this sort of thing could backfire though because it doesn't do the image of working mums any good if their terms and conditions put a burden on others. On the other hand most of us in the dept are mums anyway, which is a bit ironic really.

Head of dept has been great, she showed me the document she has put together outlining the issues, how she is unhappy with the arrangement and requesting a meeting with the Principal to discuss.

I have taught my classes yesterday and today and emailed my notes and planning to the colleague (she starts back tomorrow and will work weds - Fridays). Thus far she has not been in touch about any planning , just one brief email last week acknowledging that she is sharing classes with me. This doesn't inspire me with confidence tbh.

'Just to reiterate - where is any 'resentment' shown towards any member of staff?'

Firstly, you are not reiterating, because you haven't asked the question before.
OP, read through your posts again, if you can't see that some of your comments could be perceived as resentment, then there's not much point me cutting and pasting, as you're not going to agree in any event, but to provide a couple of examples:

'Surely it cant be reasonable for one persons pregnancy to cause extra workload for others?'
'Why should my marking and prep load increase (therefore giving me less time with my children) simply to enable a colleague more time with hers? '
'I have a family too and my family seems Less important than this colleagues!'

I'm not sure why you're being so defensive - it is a valid point to make that your issue needs to be with your management, and not with the individual members of staff.

In this economic climate, vast numbers of people are having to take on more responsibilities, just to keep their jobs. In my work alone, we have lost overall 20% of our staff, (in my own team I have lost 60%) and I am now doing a role which was previously done by 2 1/2 FTE. I took the view that rather than complaining, I would rise to the challenge and identify ways in which we can still deliver with reduced numbers.

Perhaps the school have agreed to the reduced hours in order to save money? If this is the case, it is for management to ensure that workloads are equitably split - it is not the fault of the staff member who has legitimately applied for reduced hours, and had her application granted.

I am quite aware that Many people are having to take on greater workloads! Last year ALL our teaching staff had an increase in teaching load. The key word there is ALL (obviously for part time staff it was proportionate to their contracted hours).

The situation here is that the change in one persons contract has resulted directly in an increase in workload for others. If you think thata equitable or desirable then frankly I cant understand your logic at all.

Donthateme... can't help on schools and roles etc - but you seem to have that covered with your Dept head. (Although I would have thought that part-timer could have been asked to come in on two half days in the week so was in at least 4 days a week - that would probably have helped significantly).

However - have you thought about using something like Googledocs for your marking and or notes for your split classes? You can arrange this so that both you and your colleague can edit it (Although I would be making sure that I had a back -up copy of a previous version for records) - things like eg missed homework could perhaps be marked down on that... could even use to start to draft up reports etc. Something like this might just help to reduce the additional work.

I haven't said it is equitable or desirable. I have said it is for your management to ensure work is equitably split.

Perhaps they think if you have time to be on Mumsnet during the school day then you have spare capacity?

Ooh do you think bitchy little asides are a substitute for reasoned argument beryl?

Even full timers get break times you know .I am allowed off the school site and even allowed to use my iPhone you know! Amazing isn't it?

If I were going to resort to your level of debate, I might suggest you're full of animosity and resentment that some people earn full time salaries and pensions and also get breaktimes .

Oh and before your next snidy comment - its my lunch time now- that ok with you?

Mistlethrush- thanks for the helpful input; I am sure there are methods which can help streamline some systems. My main concern is that in teaching there is no substitute for the face to face talking and planning. It's just not an easy job to chop in half!

Anyway thanks to all who have understood the issue of this poor management and offered helpful advice.

Ug. Have been there, done that. Working in FE, the split teaching bit was incredibly common and could be a bit of a nightmare if not orgainsed well.

Just a suggestion that worked for me. For those split classes, I would always have a folder that was available to both me and the other teacher(s) (yes, sometimes it could be 3 of us). The folder would have the Scheme of Work, ALL the lesson plans and printouts of any homework/worksheets all arranged in calendar order.

The lesson plan was modified. At the bottom is had boxes for noting lateness (by how many minutes) /absent students, notes on the class itself (had we got through everything planned, if not, where had we got up to, what extra work had we done, homework handed out) and a large box for noting behaviour issues or things that need to be noted i.e. what (and who) worked and what hadn't. This folder went with me to every class.

The additional bits of the lesson plan didn't take much time to fill in, most of it was done then and there i.e. noting the minutes late as the latecomer arrived. However, it's an invaluable resource for both keeping the communication going with your colleagues and your class management. The student's find it a bit disconcerting when they walk into your class to find you say "Hell Johnny, I notice that's the second time you are late this week, where's the homework you didn't hand in to Mrs X yesterday? Have you forgotten it? Well, here's another copy of the worksheet she gave you."

If you both keep up the note taking, it also acts as an aid memoir when writing reports.

OP, what's your problem?

You don't seem to be able to cope with anyone disagreeing with you. All I have done is point out that you seem to be displaying personal resentment towards your colleagues, when all they have done is legitimately a) got pregnant and b) applied and be granted flexible working.

You have asked for evidence of this, and I have provided you with examples of your own comments.

I have rightly pointed out that if there is unfairness, your management need to sort it out.

You seem to be wanting to turn this into a FT / PT debate. I don't really care. I'm not sure why you feel the need to get personal or to stalk me around MN, and btw, my income or pension are absolutely none of your concern.

You suggest that my employer might think I have spare capacity because I have a break time??!

And then accuse me of getting personal?!

I suggest you familiarise yourself with employment legislation - you might learn that it's perfectly legal even for full timers to take their breaks, pop to the shop, even post on mumsnet!!

As for your comment about whether people disagree with me or not- I think you're reading a different thread in your head. There is not really anything to disagree with. The woman who line manages me and the other colleague, ie our head Of dept, agrees that this is a very poor decision by management, probably a thinly disguised attempt to save a bit of dosh, and she thinks it's extremely unfair and unprofessional that the decision has resulted in me in particular (and other dept members) being dumped on. She is also worried that without proper arrangements for liaison (which she says should have been made when 'the flex working was agreed) the pupils' learning may suffer.

Yes, a very poor decision by management all round.

My op was seeking advice about how I should pursue the issue, NOT debating whether there actually is an issue or not.

Thanks to those who responded with helpful advice.