I’m wondering if any of you on this forum are part time Teachers, going through breast cancer? I was diagnosed last November and went through surgery in December 2023, having taken time off to recover, I was told that I was entitled to 100 working days sick (according to the burgundy book). The pro-rata principle has been applied to this sick leave by my employer. Allegedly, I am the first person in my county for this to happen to!!! I applied for an extension to my sick leave to be told no, and I’m just wondering what other peoples experiences are and whether the pro-rata principal has been applied to your sick leave? I’ve been teaching for 25 years part/full-time I cannot be the only one?!. Many thanks in advance for your response.
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Hi - I don’t have an answer for you I’m afraid but as a fellow part time teacher this is one of the questions that I have just put to the trust I work for. Initially I was told the 100 days full pay and 100 days half pay is the same for full time and part time (so no allowance if you’re part time) they count the whole 5 days every week you’re off even if you only work 2 or 3 of those days normally.
I’ve questioned this and am currently waiting for a definitive answer from HR.
Will let you know…
I really can’t believe that you are the first person in the county for this to happen to. Have you contacted your union? MacMillan have advice on work issues so they may be able to help.
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That’s absurd !! I was a part-time social worker employed by a big county council I had 6 months full pay it was prorata . It’s discriminatory .
This leaflet may help ? Your rights at work when you are affected by cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support
As someone else said you can also ring MacMillans helpline they have money and work advisors .
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Thank you for your response and I look forward to hearing how you get on.
I have been discussing the matter with my union, they spent 20 minutes debating it - so it’s obviously not clear, but feel it should be prorata, although this isn’t stated in the burgundy book.
From what I can see The burgundy book states after 4 years service you are entitled to 100 working days full pay and 100 at half pay - Years service is accrued whether you are a part time or full time teacher, and SSP does not differentiate between part time and full time employees.the issue appears to be what constitutes working days for a part time teacher.
51.9. Subject to paragraph 51.10, no teacher employed part-time may be required to be available for work on any day of the week or part of any day of the week on which the teacher is not normally required to be available for work under their contract of employment.
I’m not sure if it is discrimination as I obviously I have had the same amount of time off as a full time member, but not the same renumeration due to the application of the pro-rata principle to sick pay. I’ve also return to work on further reduced hours, due to the lack of energy I currently have, so any future sickness or treatment will also be impacted by the 100 days, hence why I’m seeking clarification as I’m sure I’m not the first !
Hi,
I am a part time teacher and I have just returned to work after a year off, I was paid 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay, this is the equivalent of 100 teaching days full pay and 100 half pay, pro rata for the three days I work but also includes the holidays at the same rate. The holiday was the only part that didn’t seem right.
Please update if you are told anything different.
Take care
Thanks for your reply - this is what I have also had. My query arose as it was pointed out to me that the burgundy book doesn’t state anywhere pro-rata, and only working days (mine or the schools?). I really needed more time off, so applied for an extension and was turned down - due to it setting a precedent. I managed to go back on a phased return before the summer in order to “reset” my sick leave, but I’m still struggling with fatigue - even on just two days per week, hopefully it will improve! I will keep you posted, just seems a little unfair after all the years worked to not get the same sick entitlement when you need it most !
Im a teaching Assistant in EYFS in a private school. I’m in my 4th yr and get 100 days full pay and 100 days half pay. My full pay will run out just before my chemo ends in Dec and then will still have radiotherapy. My sick pay resets as of my contracted year which is Jan to Dec so i thought i might be lucky and go back to full pay in Jan but the policy states that i have to return to work for 14 days to qualify. I need to speak to them and see if anything they can do. I may not be fit to return that early. I presume I’d need a meeting with HR or OT to prove my fitness for work.
As they are private they may decide to be kind but they are under lots of financial pressures themselves. Unfortunately TA pay is not much better than LA so fairly sh*te and I’m in outer London. I have savings so wont qualify for any help. Too rich to be poor, to poor to be rich. #worried
Thanks for sharing your situation and I hope the school assist you, it appears that their policies are a little clearer, but I’m assuming you are a full time employee ?
I went back just before the summer on a phased return (my full pay was paid once this started), this meant I managed over 8 weeks (combined with the summer holidays) and hopefully have reset my SSP; so if I go off again it’s not considered a linked illness, not sure if it will work - but worth a try. Teachers contracts run differently to TA and sick is April to April with a strange continuation clause if you are still off on the 1st April! I’m trying to get to the bottom of the pro-rata business - as SSP isn’t pro-rata.
Good luck and keep us posted as I know financial pressures don’t help with all the decisions you have to make when on the rollercoaster, regarding treatments / operations etc… I too have savings (was trying to get a deposit for a house!) so don’t qualify for any help, but the money can easily run out.
@jewson I was pointed in the direction of PIP and ESA which I don’t think are means tested but may require other evidence of struggling at home etc
Maybe worth a shot.
Thanks I did receive ESA but as a single person it was no where near my salary and not enough to pay the bills ! I looked into PIP but felt I didn’t meet the criteria as I can still do everything I need to to look after myself - it just exhausts me !