Kathy and Highondiesel Yes, KIT days aren't for teaching, I wasn't 'told' to teach but rather the idea has been bandied about (background: I teach in small, understaffed department in an area of art and design, and we have trouble finding qualified studio teachers for some topics so it is very difficult to simply say no though I might )
Foufoucault -- agree, v hard to say no to a bit of work on maternity leave! that's exactly why I kept helping out with admin beyond what was expected (until the breaking point, hah) That said, I've twice had admin duties stretched over the years to cover colleagues' maternity leave, so it is normal practice in my department to be covered by colleagues. We get replacement money, but not enough to replace the entire role. Even if we did, only staff members can realistically take on some admin duties.
To replace some of my own teaching, I had a TA that I groomed to take over a chunk of studio classes (though I know that someone else may be roped in to do some of it if this happens I'll feel as though my efforts were hijacked) Its not always easier to have a TA working with you when you are training them to replace you it is extra work But nice to have some knowledge/control about how things will go -- Kathy how annoying that you weren't even consulted the second time round!
Foufoucault, to answer your question: the job was originally f/t, I negotiated a .8 position, partly because I was still working on my PhD, partly because in my field & especially teaching studio and being into practice-based research, it is good to keep a hand in freelance work and journalism-type writing not just academic pubs. I realized very quickly that a .8 role is basically full-time with 80% pay! Total rip-off! So I requested to have my role taken to .6 after a year. This can balloon to nearly full-time on and off but remains reasonable in the summer and vacation periods -- would definitely recommend it if you can take the downsides. Where I teach, these include having to fight to fend off too much teaching (something I'm obviously not so great at) and limitations to promotions (that last one is not the case in other departments I know, but this is the culture in my department at the moment.)
phew apologies for the novel.
Is it just me or does it seem that people who gets lots of research done tend to be unreliable at admin, or a bit crap/not so hot at the teaching?? Maybe CAWK needs to include a point about strategic 'expectations management' in teaching & admin
Sorry to hear about your difficulties with hyperemesis on the job, Kathy I can imagine how it would much harder to officially tone down the workload than to stop it altogether is there a health and safety officer in your department who would be sympathetic to establishing some boundaries to your responsibilities? The same person who does the pregnancy H&S check -- would it be possible to set up a meeting with H&S person alongside your HoD say to sort out something more official?