Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Work refusing to let me leave

345 replies

Summerreid · 04/07/2022 16:26

This has happened twice now where I have needed to leave during the day and work have refused, saying there is no one available to cover (secondary school teacher.) Just wondering if anybody knows what my legal position is.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
SmileyPiuPiu · 04/07/2022 17:58

I don't think they can physically prevent you from leaving if that is what they have done

Original poster
Summerreid · 04/07/2022 18:05

Surely it’s fairly obvious I didn’t just fancy a day out shopping!

Both occasions have had a call to collect unwell DCs and haven’t been able to go (no one else to get them.)

OP posts:
Finfintytint · 04/07/2022 18:12

What would happen at your own school if no one could collect children asap? They’d probably wait until someone could?? Same for you. Pick up when you can.

BobLemon · 04/07/2022 18:19

Okay, well then no, they can’t refuse.

It’s their prerogative to try to negotiate/debate with you though and evidently they have been successful in that.

If it needs to happen again, you don’t need to take no for an answer. There’s advice on gov.uk.

Carrotmum · 04/07/2022 18:19

I think that this is one of the known drawbacks of being a teacher isn’t it. Unfortunately a classfull of children can’t be left unsupervised, if no one else is available to take the class, even if your own child is unwell. The other school wouldn’t put your child out on the street they would just keep them til you could get there ( like they would do for any other parent who couldn’t just leave their work when they wanted).

overtiredtoday · 04/07/2022 18:20

I had to leave my job as a support worker because of this. I worked 1:1 with someone who I couldn't (and wouldn't!) leave even in an emergency. I couldn't even have my phone on me. DH worked away for weeks at a time, and we didn't have anyone else we could rely upon at the drop of a hat. I ended up in an office job instead which bored the hell out of me , but I could safely leave if I needed to answer the phone or pick DC up on odd occasions.

UnityO · 04/07/2022 18:22

The legal position is that you are entitled to a reasonable amount of time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependent.

Is there anyone else who could go and collect the kids if needed so it's not always you? - partner? Family?

MrsOwainGlyndŵr · 04/07/2022 18:22

I'm guessing they aren't all that unwell?

DenholmElliot1 · 04/07/2022 18:23

What happened with your ill DC then OP? When you couldn't go to get them?

EmmaGrundyForPM · 04/07/2022 18:24

YABU. Unless your dc has been rushed to hospital, then you shouldn't leave because your child is unwell.

Until mobile phones and emails became ubiquitous, schools often couldn't contact parents if a child was ill and had to hold on to them.until the end of the day.

Crazykatie · 04/07/2022 18:26

It’s a question of degree, if your child was injured and being taken to hospital it would be reasonable to go, if the child felt poorly, or had been sick the child’s school will deal with it, if you are committed.
In emergencies schools always have a staff member available but it should only happen rarely.

SmileyPiuPiu · 04/07/2022 18:26

I think there's some jobs unfortunately that you can't leave until someone comes to cover. Surgeon I guess is one. I imagine if your child was seriously injured they'd just ask a receptionist to stand in the classroom or something?

venusandmars · 04/07/2022 18:32

It's a challenge in any job. What happens if there is 'minor' emergency? (i.e. not the house on fire, the kid in hospital type of scenario). What happens if a child needs picked up from school - who can you call, who is on standby, which parent can be more available? It is all a part of the planning scenario for any working parents.

dolphinsarentcommon · 04/07/2022 18:32

You need to have a backup plan for when they need sending home from school, unless it's a dire emergency.

Sorry OP, very unreasonable to just want to leave

Adelishious · 04/07/2022 18:34

Not an emergency, at all. Child unwell can stay in school til end of day. May also make child think next time about how ill they actually are. Granted sometimes it can't be helped.

TreePoser · 04/07/2022 18:34

If my child were in your class I'd be so annoyed with you.
Teachers are paid well enough to afford childcare and back up childcare.

collieresponder88 · 04/07/2022 18:35

If you are a teacher the. You should have a back up plan for your kids being ill. Teachers need to be there during school hours no matter what

Rookiemistake · 04/07/2022 18:37

YABU

Jalisco · 04/07/2022 18:37

Summerreid · 04/07/2022 18:05

Surely it’s fairly obvious I didn’t just fancy a day out shopping!

Both occasions have had a call to collect unwell DCs and haven’t been able to go (no one else to get them.)

If you weren't able to go, then what happened to the children? If the situation could be managed without you, then leaving was a preference and not an emergency.

Luidaeg · 04/07/2022 18:37

Summerreid · 04/07/2022 18:05

Surely it’s fairly obvious I didn’t just fancy a day out shopping!

Both occasions have had a call to collect unwell DCs and haven’t been able to go (no one else to get them.)

No it wasn't obvious

Mirw · 04/07/2022 18:37

Unless it is a life or death emergency, you are onto buttons. If your children as sick, then it is up to you to make other arrangements for pick up, for example, their dad or a grandparent or a friend. Your employer is entitled to dock your wages, take away a leave day or even ask for a fit note if you insist that you need to leave.

MolliciousIntent · 04/07/2022 18:37

TreePoser · 04/07/2022 18:34

If my child were in your class I'd be so annoyed with you.
Teachers are paid well enough to afford childcare and back up childcare.

Are you high? You think teachers are paid well enough to afford to have someone on standby at all times during the day to collect in case of emergency?

1VY · 04/07/2022 18:38

SmileyPiuPiu · 04/07/2022 18:26

I think there's some jobs unfortunately that you can't leave until someone comes to cover. Surgeon I guess is one. I imagine if your child was seriously injured they'd just ask a receptionist to stand in the classroom or something?

This. You’d not expect the bus or train driver to stop the vehicle and get out if their child was sick. There are many jobs where you can’t just leave whenever you want to.

You will need to have a back up plan in place for someone else to collect your children - a childminder, friend or relative.

As others have said, in a real emergency ( your child rushed to hospital unconscious in an ambulance ) someone would cover for you. But not the routine illnesses that happen to all children ( feeling sick, having a temperature, bumping heads in PE, having a nosebleed etc ). You need a plan in place for these.

ldontWanna · 04/07/2022 18:38

Well , legally they can't stop you. However, you could be at risk of losing your job if you leave without "permission ".

When they say there's no cover , do they mean that there isn't someone that can teach a good lesson based on your plans or that there isn't even someone to watch the kids ? Is it common to be short staff/bare minimum?

Yes ,you need a backup plan. So does the school really.

Merryoldgoat · 04/07/2022 18:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.