Being told that we now have to do lunch duties

[plexer]

Additional duties have to be inline with what you are employed to do which is look after the IT, your union is rubbish which one is it?

 

Ben

[X-13]

your union is rubbish which one is it?

 

Most unions are rubbish when it comes to support staff.

[tjay]

I was asked to do this years ago. Bit my tongue and headed out in the cold. It didn't take long for the teachers to realise that its usually break time that they like to grab me because something doesnt work and they need it for the next lesson. For the short time it lasted it was a royal pain as I had to pack up tools to go outside.

[CHR1S]

I personally would run a scheduled task 2 minutes into your duty to break something, every time your on duty, run the task.

[pcstru]

I know for a fact I would say no and wait for the disciplinary.

 

What next? Toilets are backed up and your office is nearby, can you get your plunger and clear the backlog pls ? They can stick any other jobs up their rectum Having a look at a photo copier is not a million miles away from your job role but sat outside watching the kids is taking the pi55 with the "additional jobs" clause.

 

Generally, a duty will be added onto all job roles and is a 'reasonable' request for a school to make. There aren't existing specialist roles who perform the function as a significant part of the job (so comparisons with cleaning the toilet don't stack up), nor (generally) do schools pick on a limited subset of individuals and force them (and them alone) to undertake the function (so it is not discrimination), nor is the task a significant part of your role, so they are not suddenly trying to turn you into a (presumably expensive) toilet cleaner under some kind of false pretence. I'd be surprised if a school made it a disciplinary matter but legally, making it a requirement of a job is, IMO, pretty safe.

 

I'm surprised at the vehemence of some of the negative reactions. Suppliers apart, we do generally all work in Schools - which are ... err ... full of ,you know, kids! Are you saying that if you were back in your interview for your job and the subject of supervising students came up, you would display the same reaction and (presumably) not take the job?

[plexer]

Absolutely, I'm not employed for that nor is this request in line with what should be expected so it's a no from me.

 

Ben

[witch]

One question - have the admin staff been asked to do this too?

If not, why not?

[F3000]

For us its voluntary as a few have mentioned with pay/free lunch, the Teachers have to do it and have to arrange a swap if they are on a trip etc. Thankfully a few of the Admin staff choose to do it at lunchtimes, so we have never been asked.

[twin--turbo]

Get a duty in the area of your office, the staff can ask you questions on the job.

 

That provides an extra body to back you on a confrontation.

 

You provide a service to your own department by keeping the area quiet

[NetworkNinja]

Same Here,

 

I Do 30 Minutes on the field once a week and get £10 to spend in the canteen for that week. Personally i think this is great because it saves me using my own money to buy food when i can get it free.

[Ephelyon]

I'd have to ask about the philosophy behind having children supervised by staff who are not qualified/trained/experienced/whatevered to do so.

 

If you do happen to be for whatever reason, fair enough. But if you're not, I'd advise informing the Governors that SLT is not fulfilling its safeguarding obligations and is putting children at risk.

 

The fact is that there are options available in terms of training and gaining experience that would make this sort of thing much safer and more viable (including the SWiS qualifications and MAPA), and there is no excuse for putting staff in this position without them.