I have a serious ethical dilemma

[OrderofWork]

I am School Business Manager in a school that's facing a serious deficit for next year. We've been scraping through for the last few years but various things mean that as of April, there are going to have to be some serious cuts.

ATM, head is looking at cutting LSA hours.

My personal feeling is that the office is overstaffed. We could save one (almost) f-t employee at a higher grade to the LSAs, so similar cost saving to cutting 2/3 p-t LSAs.

IMO cutting the office staff would have far less impact on the children.

So, that's what should happen.

However, no-one else seems to have noticed. The HT, SLT, governors haven't even considered it. These are people who have worked for me for a number of years and of course it could be me who goes (or has hours cut)

So, do it tell it as it is or keep shtum?

The head might also be thinking about cutting office staff as well, but just hasn't told you, in order to save your worries. How many other people are aware that there might be possible staff cuts due to the funding issue?

She could dodo but I don't think so. The LSAs have already been told that they're "at risk"

I would consider as the SBM you should be senior enough to bring this to the attention of the Head.

Of course I can Trebushay, it's my job to do so. That's why I have an ethical dilemma. Do I take something to the head that could result in me losing my job....?

Surely an ethical dilemma is when you are trying to choose between two options, each of which has a claim to be the morally right thing to do? Here you have one ethical course of action (pass on the info) and one self-serving course of action (protect own job). It's just a moral decision you have to make, there is no dilemma.

Which is not to say it isn't hard, of course.

Ok, I have a moral decision to make.

You should tell. Absolutely. It's your job and you have to put your responsibility above your own interests. There is no dilemma here, just a choice.

You'd honestly tell you're boss your own job was expendable?

OP, I'm sure they will have looked at this option as well. Admin is often the first thing that gets cut.

Your own ethics will probably seem clearer to you soon. But I think it's fair to say that the people in question will consider all options so don't feel it's your duty to put the information on the table. If they're reviewing the situation, and I am guessing that people more senior than you will be doing this, then it is up to them to look at all viable options.

I don't know lorelei9. I manage the office and like all school offices we do a pretty good job of being indispensable. I don't think anyone really understands how we spend our days though and I do think we could manage with fewer people/hours.

They really haven't considered it, or if they have and have dismissed it, they're wrong (IMO)

If your job is to ensure efficient usage of the budget, then it's absolutely your responsibility, and yes I would do it, because I have integrity.

If I were you, I would draw up a short report with several different options for reducing your deficit. Say....option a) cut x hours TA support b) cut x role from office and split duties between a & b c) cut x extra curricular provision d) stop funding x non-core provision from the school budget and charge parents e) increase revenue by hiring meeting rooms/hall to community groups f) develop chargeable outreach service in x specialism to other schools, etc.

So you raise the possibility of the option, but not in isolation.

I have integrity, usually. I also like to feed/clothe/house my children

I wouldn't say anything. Get on with doing a great job and prove to everyone how much value you are adding, why your contribution helps the children.

You'll have all sorts of moral crusaders tell you it's your responsibly to tell senior management where to cut jobs. Yeah right, when it isn't them, they would say that wouldn't they!

why should it be you making their decision easier in that regard? Turkeys voting for Christmas springs to mind!

Can you think Of ways to constructively repurpose some of the skills in the department? Do you anticipate any increase in activity in the future where you may regret letting skills go from the Dept that might be valuable in the near to medium term.

My organisation let a load of people go, only to realise they cut too deep and have lost some great people through poor insights into their skillsets and what was actually needed.

It's your job, so do it. That's all there is to it, really. Except first, protect your own back or they might decide its you they can do without.

Are you concerned that the reason no one seems to be suggesting it to you yet is because they've come to the decision that you personally are someone who could be cut? So it's being planned in the background of you. It would be pretty difficult for them to be upfront with you that they were also thinking of reducing office staff, and you seem a likely candidate.

I think in your role it would show indispensable professional initiative to write a short report on ways in which your department could assist with the overall deficit reduction: any ways of cutting overheads via supplier contracts etc, any income generation schemes (are the sports courts hired out at weekends etc) , or a staffing restructure.
Are you really really sure you could lose staff?
I wouldn't oust the person who saved me money.

If your job is Business Manager then of course you should raise it, it is probably unlikely that your job would go as the office would still need a 'manager' but you could propose cutting hours in the department.

I think that if you are the one to point out the potential money and hour savings that could be made, it demonstrates that you are essential (because you know about everything that goes on in your department, not just your own job).

Is there more than one business manager? I don't see how the school can operate without one. Why is OP the person who should go.

I'm an SBM too. I would definitely be involved in looking at staffing costs and contribute towards suggesting areas where we could save on salaries. That includes all types of school staff.

If you feel that your office is over staffed, you should definitely raise this with the HT. I'd approach it with a proposal of what the school needs in terms of staffing in order for the office to continue to run efficiently.

Surely it's unlikely that your job would be at risk. Not to be big headed but I do a lot of work in my school that would not easily be picked up by anyone else (budget management/forecasts, premises, health and safety, policies and procedures...). Good luck!

You're right Hendo, it's unlikely my job would go altogether, but hours could be cut

Hi sorry I didn't come back yo this. I do think if you are the one to go with a reasonable plan of how the money could be saved it would be less likely that it would be your hours / job that is cut.????????However it doesn't make it any easier. Good luck