Capt_Mainwaring

Thank you, @Meoir Shee

Honestly, I give up. May as well be having a conversation with my cat!

OK, so if its an extended absence, it's not someone pulling a sickie is it. Totally different ball game.

I am not PS. Far from it (if that is aimed at me). Your points have swung one way and another, you've backtracked, and it just feels like you're having a dig at teachers.

The facts are: People get sick- cover is needed. The schools are putting cover in place in a good way (via supply teachers and assistants). There is a process for dealing with persistent sickness that is not genuine e.g. Long term- Bradford Scale. This situation is not exclusive to Schools or the CS. It's a factor in all businesses and it costs money. You have to budget for it accordingly. The teaching profession is getting more and more difficult due to ill discipline by parents, causing disruption in schools and added stress for teachers. This could contribute to worsening sickness absence.

And very well it works too. I really don't know what more to add to this debate! Seems like I'm talking to a brick wall.

So provide some evidence then, other than 'man down the pub' evidence as you've described it.

How are we paying for their free time?

Used when it's a particularly weakly formed argument based on hearsay. And you used those words yourself for your post this evening.

By the man down the pub.

I think we might be saying the same thing. Agency rates (hourly / per day) are more than the equivalent hourly rate of someone on a full time contract.......

Why?

Agency rates are bound to be more than salary. And not a pile on from me, just trying to counter an argument based on pub talk.

FFS. The Bradford Scale is the discipline. So many points and you're out. Why would anyone want to risk their career because someone else may be pulling sickies?

And that's why they're paid the big Bucks.