Teacher looking for temporary work while shielding.
Discussion
I'm trying to help out my partner with some decision making and options so would appreciate any help.
She is an English teacher at a secondary school, she was diagnosed with Leukaemia 2 years ago and had a stem cell transplant Dec 2019, recently shielding as still on immunosuppressants.
She had expected to be back to full time work by now however Covid has seen to that, with children not being vaccinated it is seen as a very high risk environment and her consultant has stated this week that she won't be going back before January next year at the earliest, she was hoping for new school year at the latest
Her work has been pushing for an indication on when she will return, they are short staffed. She is working 6 hours a week from home at the moment as advised by occupational health on an hourly rate, her employer is carrying out their legal responsibility, no more, no less. They talk about helping her but they seem unwilling to engage in offering her alternative work she can carry out, she has spoken to her union rep to get help.
The issue is that working only 6 hours a week isn't paying the bills, not being able to go back to school is worrying her and she is considering taking a year unpaid leave and finding temporary work, something that allows her to work in a safer environment but neither of us have ever had to look for specific work like this or know where to start. Any suggestions or should she be pushing through something with her current employer?
She is an English teacher at a secondary school, she was diagnosed with Leukaemia 2 years ago and had a stem cell transplant Dec 2019, recently shielding as still on immunosuppressants.
She had expected to be back to full time work by now however Covid has seen to that, with children not being vaccinated it is seen as a very high risk environment and her consultant has stated this week that she won't be going back before January next year at the earliest, she was hoping for new school year at the latest
Her work has been pushing for an indication on when she will return, they are short staffed. She is working 6 hours a week from home at the moment as advised by occupational health on an hourly rate, her employer is carrying out their legal responsibility, no more, no less. They talk about helping her but they seem unwilling to engage in offering her alternative work she can carry out, she has spoken to her union rep to get help.
The issue is that working only 6 hours a week isn't paying the bills, not being able to go back to school is worrying her and she is considering taking a year unpaid leave and finding temporary work, something that allows her to work in a safer environment but neither of us have ever had to look for specific work like this or know where to start. Any suggestions or should she be pushing through something with her current employer?
I completely understand your situation. On paper at least, I am a teacher but this is very limited. I have also been shielding until recently and still completely immunosuppressed. But, being in a very safe environment, single bubble, all staff had 2nd jab etc I am back to work with social distancing etc
I suspect temp remote work will be very difficult, excess of agency teachers available etc. If need be I would be thinking about a formal approach, should there not have been guaranteed full pay whilst sheidling?/now signed off?
I suspect temp remote work will be very difficult, excess of agency teachers available etc. If need be I would be thinking about a formal approach, should there not have been guaranteed full pay whilst sheidling?/now signed off?
Thanks macstorm73, I'll pass that on.
She has had full pay for 6 months, then half pay for 3 months, then quarter pay for a further 3 months then nothing until February 2020 where she started doing 6 hours a week. The 6 months full pay (100 work days) she was entitled to, everything else she has had to pretty much beg for.
Unfortunately she had already used up all her sick pay allowance before shielding came in, so as far as they were concerned she was not being paid anything in March 2020 and therefore they didn't need to pay her anything to her during required shielding.
She cant really do any marking as she hasn't been involved in the curriculum at all for the last 2 years. Likewise online tuition is an option and she has tried but there is a lot of competition due to the current circumstances and she has no previous history or feedback to help promote herself.
She has had full pay for 6 months, then half pay for 3 months, then quarter pay for a further 3 months then nothing until February 2020 where she started doing 6 hours a week. The 6 months full pay (100 work days) she was entitled to, everything else she has had to pretty much beg for.
Unfortunately she had already used up all her sick pay allowance before shielding came in, so as far as they were concerned she was not being paid anything in March 2020 and therefore they didn't need to pay her anything to her during required shielding.
She cant really do any marking as she hasn't been involved in the curriculum at all for the last 2 years. Likewise online tuition is an option and she has tried but there is a lot of competition due to the current circumstances and she has no previous history or feedback to help promote herself.
MyM2006 said:
She has had full pay for 6 months, then half pay for 3 months, then quarter pay for a further 3 months then nothing until February 2020 where she started doing 6 hours a week. The 6 months full pay (100 work days) she was entitled to, everything else she has had to pretty much beg for.
Academy I assume? DoE were instructed to pay shielding staff as normal..
There are many Chinese companies which offer english tutoring opportunities online. Will mostly be younger students, though there are some higher level classes along with chances to train new teachers once experience with their platform has been gained. Peak hours are 11-14:00 weekdays and 08-14:00 over weekends UK time. In terms of pay, for a 50 min class, $20-23 US, plus the better companies offer bonuses for completing feedback promptly, good monthly attendance, and working some weekend slots.
I've never taught in a UK classroom, but having done so in Asia, can say online teaching is far better and the lack of contact with other staff makes it very stress free.
I've never taught in a UK classroom, but having done so in Asia, can say online teaching is far better and the lack of contact with other staff makes it very stress free.
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