Taking time off for School plays

[lillie23]

Anyone else's employer allow them an hour here or there to go and watch your children in a play? My DS has a few plays and assembly's in the next few weeks that parents are to attend. But I always feel bad asking my employer can I take the time off, but I am willing to make the time lost. Or do you not ask and don't go to School plays?

I always go to assemblies or plays. Sometimes our school has meetings to go through the forthcoming curriculum etc and they're in school time. I go to those too. I work from home and so can juggle my own day and make up time as needed. Our school is a 10 minute walk away. I do tell my boss and he literally couldn't care less and is absolutely fine about it. He understands these things are important and is happy for me to attend.

I have never had a problem getting time off for these things in current role as I have hundreds of hours of goodwill built up and a very supportive boss.

I couldn't get time off. I was a teacher.

I have flexible working so not an issue, in previous jobs it was fine if it was at the start or end of the day and you made up the time, but if you were leaving in the middle of the day you'd need to take time off.

Where I work you can get flexitime with permission. You make the time back. But it depends on your role. Otherwise its annual leave, unpaid or you can't go.

Yeh i am in civil service and its completely flexible for me to go to that sort of thing (within my flex limits of course)

I just go and let them know, and I work from home that day. I do sometimes feel like it's taking the piss a bit, because most weeks there is inevitably something I need to do within work hours, whether its a doctor's appointment, school play, or an extra school pick up because grandparents are ill or something. I'm not sure what the alternative answer is though - even if I was part time I'd have to juggle to make these things as they would inevitably not be on my usual day off. I do make the time up, but don't monitor it specifically. If there is a big deadline I'm happy to work extra hours in return for this flexibility so I think it all balances out in the end.

I go if I can and make the time up; my boss is fine with it.

Private sector- me too

I don’t work flexi but my manager is really reasonable and would allow us to just go to something like this, I don’t take the piss and would usually just work through my lunch though so I don’t feel guilty. It’s not often, once a term or something like that, a special assembly, a sports day, a leavers assembly etc. If it was more regularly I would just book an hour or two of leave.
I get a certain amount of paid carers days a year and a generous holiday allowance, plus things like drs appointments etc you get 2 hours for when you need them.

I go if I can and make it up. My husband also does and is actually at Voice in a Million at Wembley Arena now and had to leave work a bit early to get across due to tube strikes and no problems. I manage a team and always try and be flexible, it is good for the team and find people do make it up as they appreciate the flexibility.

I can normally go. I have make time up or book a few hours annual leave.

Depends what’s going on at work. One of DH or I will try to make things. It’s MUCH easier now I can WFH.

Also fine for me, as long as I’m not missing anything important. But my flexibility works both ways - I don’t work on Wednesdays, but I did today because of the budget, and I won’t take a specific day off instead.

I don’t keep track but over the year I suspect it evens out.

I make sure my team all get to their kids’ nativity and summer plays. It’s just twice a year so we get round it.

I have been able to go to 3 events across both of my DDs education who are now 16&18. Unfortunately teaching seems to never lend itself to your own children!