it managers - are you being asked to come in

[DrBeaker]

Weren't you complaining in another thread about not feeling part of the team, I may have found the reason (see above)

 

Seriously the risk is minimal, unless you have very serious underlying health issues I do not see any reason why people can not attend site, I am an insulin dependent diabetic and it doesn't phase me at all as I am effectively isolated, there is more risk to the teachers teaching the kids than to me.

With all respect everybody's personal life and history is different and there's completely different things in play here. For the record I've worked other places where the IT team is well-respected and valued and included in everything and you felt like part of the company. No place is perfect and we can't have it all ways I guess. We'll just agree to disagree and move on.

 

Especially considering how important mental health is lately https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-health/telling-someone-about-your-mental-health-problem not all of us are made of stone, some have issues which have been caused by a lack of support in the workplace in the first place.

[Primus]

With all respect everybody's personal life and history is different and there's completely different things in play here. For the record I've worked other places where the IT team is well-respected and valued and included in everything and you felt like part of the company. No place is perfect and we can't have it all ways I guess. We'll just agree to disagree and move on.

 

Especially considering how important mental health is lately https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/talk-about-mental-health/telling-someone-about-your-mental-health-problem not all of us are made of stone, some have issues which have been caused by a lack of support in the workplace in the first place.

 

No one sensible thinks you were wrong to make that decision. Your decision on this matter has nothing to do with whether others have historically treated you as part of the team or not.

 

We are seeing plenty of examples of younger people with no underlying medical issues dying as a result of COVID-19 unfortunately.

Edited March 31, 2020 by elsiegee40

[superatticman]

Whatever it is.....its not important enough to worry about. IT at a Hospital.....yes life and death. IT at a school.......nah.

[vikpaw]

@localzuk when you say your team is off, is there nothing they can do at all?

 

I’m interested to hear if people have got enough to do remotely i.e. all those jobs / projects that we never get round to. Or is this just because they are usually 100% fire fighting?

 

It’s a good opportunity for all to do some free online courses, or paid of work would pay. I heard there are a lot more available now in response to the crisis.

 

To @mikeprice ‘s query around which kids are attending / doing the work. Has anyone got families who don’t have devices or internet even? We’re seeing all the news about PE with Joe Wicks etc. but are there people who don’t have access to these things that need more support at home.

[localzuk]

@localzuk when you say your team is off, is there nothing they can do at all?

 

We can operate nearly entirely remotely for support, indeed we are doing - 2 of us on at a time, 1 off. We're also providing support to parents when they need it, remotely. However, we can't do anything onsite except what can be achieved by a visit on one morning a week if needed.

 

As the schools are all going to be operating through the Easter break too, we can't do our usual maintenance work either.

 

However, during the downtime, I have asked my 2 techs to use the time to learn something new. One tech is learning more powershell and some C#, the other is learning more about active directory and group policy. I've got multiple coding projects I have not had time to get done.

[elsiegee40]

A reminder not to resort to name-calling

 

And also a reminder to be sympathetic to the circumstances of others. Don’t jump to conclusions. Don’t make assumptions. And please try to word posts kindly even if delivering bad news.

 

You, yes you reading this post, have absolutely no idea what is happening in the life of another EduGeek. They make their decisions based on their own personal circumstances ... and a lot of that thought process won’t be articulated in an EduGeek post.

 

I am going to send a couple of PMs and will read back and possibly edit or remove some posts.

 

Now PLEASE support each other. Nobody needs nastiness or a blame game right now.

Edited March 31, 2020 by elsiegee40

[elsiegee40]

No further comment or justification concerning mhaddock’s plight will be permitted. Edited March 31, 2020 by elsiegee40

[superatticman]

We can operate nearly entirely remotely for support, indeed we are doing - 2 of us on at a time, 1 off. We're also providing support to parents when they need it, remotely. However, we can't do anything onsite except what can be achieved by a visit on one morning a week if needed.

 

As the schools are all going to be operating through the Easter break too, we can't do our usual maintenance work either.

 

However, during the downtime, I have asked my 2 techs to use the time to learn something new. One tech is learning more powershell and some C#, the other is learning more about active directory and group policy. I've got multiple coding projects I have not had time to get done.

 

Yes there is no reason you can't exploit this to skill people up. Budget's permitting of course. Looking at Agile Project Management here. Am sure I have a Windows 10 study guide somewhere too.

[mukz]

I have tasked my techie with upskilling herself on O365 and Windows 10 Management.

Before we left, i gave her 3 switches, 2 old machines and a hydration kit to start doing some self learning in exchange for her not having to do firefighting with students and staff who need help at home etc.

 

Myself and my deputy are busy upgrading all our servers that we never get a chance to do - so far we have upgraded 7 servers - about to do our hybrid server upgrade to exchnage 2016 and also our MIS server.

This is probably the only time we have had an opportunity to do this without constant interruption.

[jmak]

Before we left, i gave her .... a hydration kit

 

 

To practise fire fighting?

[smurfomatic]

Just been asked to set up a laptop for a new member of staff (well, in fact two, but I only have one spare). Not particularly happy at this, but (as said above) the site is empty so will be at minimal risk of infection!

[Simcfc73]

I've been in today, I was the only person on site and it was creepy as hell.

[LeMarchand]

I've been in today, I was the only person on site and it was creepy as hell.

 

 

???

 

Probably NSFW.

[DrBeaker]

I've been in today, I was the only person on site and it was creepy as hell.

 

I'm the opposite I love it when it's empty. So peaceful and quiet.

 

Really doesn't bother me like it does some people I work with who won't work by themselves/if it's empty.

 

I've got a pic somewhere of the morning light hitting the corridor first thing in the morning, looks really nice.

[mavhc]

It's just you, and maybe billions of deadly invisible viruses, what's creepy about that?

[mikeprice]

Being in school alone is great - did it loads of times

 

However, word of advise - do NOT do any work alone in a science lab with a skeleton in it

Every time you turn you back on it it will creep slightly closer to you

if you measure the difference it will APPEAR to be the same - but you will KNOW it is doing it

 

 

Faster damn projector cleaning I ever did!!

[mavhc]

That reminds me, where did I leave that skeleton on wheels, I swear it wasn't the classroom with the sloped floor

[Simcfc73]

I was told about the grey lady when I first started (we are a very old boarding school) but cant say I've ever seen her... yet.

 

I did find an old copy of the school newsletter from the 50's which told the story of a ghost that used to walk the boys boarding house and wake up the new boys and shout at them. This went out to parents too so you really had to dislike your kids to still send them here after reading that.

[Scotbynature]

Well, just had the call from the business manager. I have been ordered to go back onsite every day from 8 till 4 to make sur ethat I am doing my job, the same job I have been doing from home successfully for the last two weeks, working late into the night some days. Its a disgrace. I am now he only member of staff, teaching or non teaching, that is going to be onsite every day. I asked the question of is every other member of non teaching staff proving that they are actively working every day, I know one particular member of SLT said he was doing some visits home to check on some at risk pupils and then coming back to school to use the gym, well thats not working then is it. I have no idea what is going on anymore, I have got young kids at home and worry about getting sick and passing it on to them. Its fine for the SLT to make these decisions while they are safe at home. Rant over, for now.

[mavhc]

Tell them you can't go because you're self isolating

[kennysarmy]

Tell them you can't go because you're self isolating

 

Defintely!

[Ditto]

Well, just had the call from the business manager. I have been ordered to go back onsite every day from 8 till 4 to make sur ethat I am doing my job, the same job I have been doing from home successfully for the last two weeks, working late into the night some days. Its a disgrace. I am now he only member of staff, teaching or non teaching, that is going to be onsite every day. I asked the question of is every other member of non teaching staff proving that they are actively working every day, I know one particular member of SLT said he was doing some visits home to check on some at risk pupils and then coming back to school to use the gym, well thats not working then is it. I have no idea what is going on anymore, I have got young kids at home and worry about getting sick and passing it on to them. Its fine for the SLT to make these decisions while they are safe at home. Rant over, for now.

I'd refuse. Looking ahead, I doubt that they'd like to defend a constructive or unfair dismissal. Take notes and document everything now. The message is very clear. Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives.

[mavhc]

But what about protecting someone's job who really needs to ask you how the shift key works again?

[localzuk]

That goes against the government's lockdown guidance - you can do your job remotely, so you should be doing so. Can they say why they want you to break this guidance?

[Chaniel]

Not to mention that just because you're in work, especially alone, doesn't necessarily mean you'd be "doing your job", could be sat in the office watching Netflix for all they'd know.

 

If you have metrics to meet and they're being met, it doesn't matter if you're at home or at work. Just poor management if they've got to make sure "you're doing your job".