Annoyed.

[nimthiriel]

As someone who's needed to take a lot of sick leave and who gets very stressed, I can most definitely understand staff wanting to take time off. I can understand staff being more likely to take time off at the end of the year when it's less busy, because suddenly it's less critical to have everyone there.

BUT. This late in the year, we are also far less likely to have CRTs (Casual Relief Teachers) brought in, as teachers who take senior classes are freed up to fill in.

So, in the last week of the year, we have activities. The day is broken upinto three instead of four sessions. Staff are meant to be rostered for a total of three for the week, giving us plenty of time to sort out desks and things. Unfortunately, this is combined with the lack of CRTs, means that if you're away, a teacher who may have already planned out their free time will be taking over for you.

So I really think that, in the last week (as with days that fall next to long weekends), you should need to provide a medical certificate if you're away. It's not as tough this is a strenuous week, but it's a time when we're all hoping to wind down, unlike in the middle of the term when we all go full-pace and expect to go full-pace, and we expect to get that extra or in-lieu.

Now is a time when most of us are looking forward to having the majority of the week free to do our own thing, much more so than most weeks. So, even though it's not a strenuous week, I am NOT happy about suddenly having 4 sessions on instead of 3. I was looking forward to spending the entirity of today cleaning my desk, loading my car with big things to take home, and working on my performance review. With a catch-up with work friends I don't hang out with much during the busy times.

so, if it's the last week and you're not sick or don't have some sort of medical or dental appointment, please don't take a day off! It just puts a spanner in other people's works and gets them annoyed.