Hi wondering if anyone can help as I’m going round in circles and I’ve barely been sleeping.
I work within education as a TA. Last year was very stressful for me within work as I tried something and it didn’t work out within the school. Without going into too much detail, at the end of the summer term I was accused of something which wasn’t true and was given a Management Advice notice which the Union said they’d never heard of one being actually used. Although this wasn’t an “official” warning it was one step away.
Anyway because of the stress of the situation I took the last week off sick with a doctors note. Every member of staff at the school
was horrified when an email went out (apart from to me - naturally) explaining (in the Head’s opinion) the situation but obviously painting the school management in the best possible light and all but naming me as the person the email was about. Everyone knew it was me the email was referring to and I had so many members of staff contacting me offering me support etc.
I went to the doctors and they wrote me a sick note for the last week of term but only covering the last week of term and not the summer holidays. The note was a bit OTT to be fair but the schools business manager kept in touch sporadically over the summer holidays. During the holidays I’ve been considering my options, and I’ve decided that I just can’t face work anymore and I want to leave. But I haven’t yet handed my notice in because I was waiting for other pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.
Now those pieces are in place - it’s very very late in place - I now need to hand my notice in in work but we’re back in school tomorrow where I will have to face my accusers which is seriously stressing me out. I don’t have a full copy of my contract only my initial one which was a maternity contract and then I became permanent member of staff after I reinterviewed for a regular TA post the following year. I’ve contacted HR at county to get a copy of my contract and they’ve said the only one they have on file is the maternity one. Either way my maternity contract says I need to give a months notice OR;
”A reduced notice period may be negotiated in certain circumstances at the discretion of the Head of Service. Neither party is precluded from terminating the appointment without notice when permitted to do so by law or by the terms of this agreement.” - quoted directly from the maternity contract.
So basically what should I do in this situation? What my gut is telling me to do is call in sick tomorrow get to the doctors and get a new sick note, then speak to the Business manager at the school and tell them my intention is to seek a reduced notice period and contact the head of service at the county and talk to them about a reduced notice period. But is this the right move or what would other people do if you were going through this. I appreciate this insight as I just can’t think straight at the moment due to the stress. I would appreciate opinions, thank you!