Holidays being taken away

[LordGarmadon]

I work in a specialist education unit with complex young people. We have both residential and day students.

Most of the staff are on term time only contracts.

We worked remotely over the Easter holiday getting packs in place for students remaining at home and reopened after the holiday for the attending students and boarders.

We've been informed that half term and bank holidays are cancelled.

We will not be getting paid for this nor will be have accrued lieu.

I know this is unprecedented and extenuating circumstances but surely this is in breech of our contracts?

I know we are lucky to be employed but this is creating problems with my own childcare and we've been running flat out for months.

I've asked for unpaid leave but have been told that, due to us being an essential service, we have to be available.

What does your contract actually say about hours/days/varying terms?

Contract is a term time only contract. Only paid for 39 weeks.
Set hours and days per week.

There's no mention of working holidays in extenuating circumstances.

Union, as soon as possible.

I would not be doing anything that is different to what is in my contract. Yes, these are weird circumstances, and while some of us may not be in work at the moment, it doesn't mean you can switch off from it like normal as if it were a holiday. I work in a secondary school and we are closed but for working remotely I have brought work home, am dealing with work emails, doing training etc, planning for when we're open. As well as this, I've got a year 9 to "teach" at home. He needs a lot of input for some subjects. I also need to make sure they're getting enough fresh air and exercise. My DH is working as normal and is out of the house 12 hours a day or later sometimes so everything to do with kids and home is left to me. I certainly am not chilling as if it's the summer holidays which is what it sounds like your employers think during the times that you work remotely.

My own contract requires me to do 10 days during the school holidays over the year. I have already done one during lockdown and will work some more during the school holidays as I would if school had been open but I am not doing ONE DAY over. There HAS to be a clear boundary between work to do with school that you do at home during your normal school working hours and your proper home life where you can switch off completely. Come 5 o'clock I won't look at any work emails, I refuse to.

I would tell them that if they want to you to work in any capacity during the half term holiday that you will take the time elsewhere, when would they like you to do it?

Honestly they are taking the complete piss.......They just can't do that.

Is it because they have staff off sick and they need you in? I just don't understand their reasons for this.

Union or ACAS early conciliation would be my first step.

Our staff to student ratio is high at the moment due to so many students staying at home. So no staffing issues at all.

Right, it sounds like this isn't right at all. I'll need to look into this and find some confidence to raise the issue.

If you add in the hours additional, does it make your hourly rate under NMW?

Not mine but I'm certain some of the assistants' salaries would fall below NMW after this.

If your contract has no provision for flexibility then you can refuse.

It's in the new SEN and vulnerable children advice. It says they need constant provision during covid.

I completely understand the need for greater care of our vulnerable students at this time...
BUT...
How are we supposed to care for our own families? How are we supposed to offer adequate care if we're all burnt out?

I have no idea who will care for my children over half term.