Not allowed time off for second interview advise please.

[prettypurpledaisy]

I was invited fo an interview on Wednesday. I informed my boss in writing that I would be absent from work that day. I have to be honest I did not do it face to face for two reasons, firstly she is totally unapproachable and secondly I am a coward.
Had interview, went well, got a phone call to ask if I could go in again after half term for another day to get a feel for the school and that they would pay my school my salary for the day. I spoke to HR woman and left it at that.
Later in the day my boss came and told me (not in a friendly way) that I would not be allowed a second day as it was ridiculous to have two days absense for a Cover Supervisor post. I was upset and muttered 'what a fabulous place to work' She then shouted at me in front of students that I should have spoken to her face to face anyway.
Do I have any right to attend this day or am I stuffed? Sorry this is long.

I think it sounds like the problem might be that you didn't speak to your boss face to face in the first place, I'm afraid that would irritate me as well.

In terms of the law there is nothing saying you have any right to time off for interviews unless you are being made redundant. What the normal procedure/rules are for schools/your school in particular I don't know, maybe someone else has experience of this, or maybe you could check the written policy where you are or ask an HR person.

In terms of advice about what you should do regardless of your 'rights', I think you need to mend the situation a bit with your boss. Speak to her away from students or anyone else, in a calm manner, explain the situation, apologise for not coming to her in the first place, say that your salary will be covered by the other school and say that if there is anything you can do on the day before to ensure that your absence causes as little disruption as possible you are happy to do it.

If that approach doesn't work and you don't have any right to time off for interviews in whatever policy it is where you work, you might have to consider being off sick.

I'd take a day off sick if its that important. I know its not ideal and not fair to those that are really sick but if thats your only option, i would take it. Also, she has no right to shout at you full stop

She shouted at you in front of your students! How very unprofessional.

The interviewers have offered to pay your school to cover you?

She has no right to make comment on whether a second interview is necessary under these circumstances if your employers will not be out of pocket.

Flowery I know I ws in thewrong not to speak to her, but at our meetings she said that she needs a form completing if requesting time off as she is inundated with these type of requests so I did that. She really is unapproachable and I was so pleased I had an interview I didn't want her sour puss to spoil it. After half term I will attempt to speak to her but we have never really got on.
Ezrasmumummy I am contemplating complaining about her behaviour towards me as it was totally unproffesional. I suppose that deends on whether I get the other job!!

Please amend spellings to read was in the wrong,unprofessional and depends. Thank you

In local authorities it is often the case that employees get time off to attend interviews if with the same or another local authority. It is always, always different in schools however. Schools can adopt or not adopt the policies and procedures, so as flowery says, best to to speak to a HR person.

I wouldn't go sick though, presumably the 2 schools are with the same local authority and attending an interview when you've rung in sick would be very easy to detect. It may well be regarded as a disciplinary issue. Far better to be upfront and honest with your manager.

Good luck.

Good point about sickness llareggub, definitely conversation with manager is the way to go. Check the official situation first so you know where you stand going in. It does sound like she wasn't particularly professional.

Do try and have a word with her ppd, I know some people are unapproachable but if you can get thing sorted with her it might make your day to day working life a bit better regardless of whether you get this job.

Good luck with the interview

Update is that the interview has been rescheduled for Thursday, not sure what difference two days makes but there you go. There is an English trip on Tuesday but can't think I will be going as noone has asked me. Anyway I have my interview so will try extra hard to be successful in order to get away from my current job. Thanks for the replies, feeling slightly better now but only just.