Teacher needs time off

Hi, I am a teacher who’s Mum has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. She is currently in hospital but is extremely confused so needs help at all times. I have just had a half term so I’ve been there every day but am due back in work tomorrow. Does anyone know what my rights are as a teacher to take time etc? Thanks 

Parents
  • As Telemando says, your rights as a carer may well be limited.
    Before I retired I was a line manager in the NHS and this was not an infrequent situation. I would quietly point out to my staff that they were only entitled to 2 or 3 days compassionate leave. I would then ask them how receiving such bad news was affecting them and their ability to do their job and ask whether they'd considered talking to their GP about whether they should take some sickness absence until they were feeling less anxious and depressed? Most of them took the hint :-) 

     

    Good luck
    Dave

Reply
  • As Telemando says, your rights as a carer may well be limited.
    Before I retired I was a line manager in the NHS and this was not an infrequent situation. I would quietly point out to my staff that they were only entitled to 2 or 3 days compassionate leave. I would then ask them how receiving such bad news was affecting them and their ability to do their job and ask whether they'd considered talking to their GP about whether they should take some sickness absence until they were feeling less anxious and depressed? Most of them took the hint :-) 

     

    Good luck
    Dave

Children
  • I’m a retired teacher and I know how difficult it can be to get time off even when you are ill yourself without it having a detrimental affect, Good advice to talk to your union rep. If you haven’t one at school your local union officer should be able to help. I’ve known people take the GP route as well. It’s worth a try if you have an approachable and understandiing GP. I guess it depends a lot on how supportive your headteacher is and the size and type of school you work in as to how flexible your timetable can be.

    i hope you get this sorted out quickly. Don’t forget you can self assess for a week but a word of warning that could be a difficult route. Better to keep your doctor and school on board I’ve found.

    Dont forget to look after yourself as well in this difficult time.

    Sundial