I know what the "official" answer is, but I wonder if I could have some opinions on a fair/practical way this should be dealt with?
2 members of staff both attending (different) weddings where they will be bridesmaids to a close family member. Both need a Friday off work.
We are a school, so ordinarily there is no leave in term-time, but these have/will be agreed by the HT as exceptional circumstances.
One member of staff is support with an appalling sickness record and takes lots of time off when DC are unwell etc. She is paid overtime for any extra hours she might do, is paid for sickness, but time off with DC is unpaid.
The other is a teacher, never had a day off sick ever and obviously does lots of extra hours without extra pay.
There are two opinions at the school
- Everybody must be treated the same, therefore if we pay one we must pay both, or if one is unpaid leave they must both be
- The circumstances, track records and contracts of the two members of staff are completely different and therefore it would be reasonable to pay the teacher, but the support should take unpaid leave
Ultimately HT will need to make a decision, which should remain confidential and no-one would know if the two were treated differently, but these things have a way of not staying secret. What do you think?