I need some urgent advice. As I am extremely stressed at the moment!
I am also a teacher, currently teaching k/1, in an isoslated rural school. I am currently 35 weeks pregnant (nearly 36 weeks) and have been feeling fantastic up until today when I had a big blue with the principal. I'm not due to go on leave, until I am 38 weeks, which is 2 and a half weeks away. Last term I asked my principal if I could use some of my incentive leave (which I get for working in an isoslated school in NSW) to travel to a friend's wedding. The leave I required is on the Monday and Friday before my maternity leave starts. My principal had not confirmed with me whether he was able to get a casual for the days I wanted off, so I asked him about it again today. He basically told me I was rude and incosiderate for wanting to take leave just before my maternity leave starts. Unfortunately, my friend is having a shot gun wedding, because she too, has fallen pregnant and wants to get married before she has the baby. So I didn't get much notice, otherwise I would have taken maternity 1 week earlier. In addition, to calling me rude he also questioned my priorities as a mother to be, going away three weeks before the baby is to born. Which I had already checked with OB and he said, as long as we had plently of stops I should be fine. In the end, he basically told me that if I wanted the time off, I have to amend my maternity leave and start it now. I have felt physically sick and have had diarrhoea since leaving his office this morning and don't want to go back to work now becuase he was so horrible to me and has made me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome at work. What do you think I should do? There is no one I can talk to at work because there are only three teachers in the school and one of them is an older lady who thinks I should have stopped working at 30 weeks.
I would go on mat leave now hun! stress like this is no good for you at this stage in pregnancy. Most people would have finished earlier than this so he should be glad you have stayed this long.
I'm currently a contract teacher in Victoria, and I've been told that due to the new agreement I'll be made ongoing in the next 8 weeks when staffing for next year is worked out (fingers and toes crossed). I've been at my current school 4 years at end of 08, a 1yr contract, and a 3yr (currently, - contract ending in Dec)
If something happens and I'm not made ongoing, my contract (3yr) will run out in Dec. I'm due at end of Feb. Would I have any entitlements to mat leave if this is the case?
BLBG as far as Im aware you are only entitled to mat leave if you are ongoing and have worked 26 weeks in 52 preceeding the date you are taking leave from... I would imagine that if you are on a contract that you will not qualify unfortunately.
If you are a union member call them and get some advice but also be aware that if there is a position in the school next year, and because you have been on contract there for 3+ years they do hae to offer you ongoing (unless it is covering another family leave application etc..)
Good luck with it.
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Thats great MrsMac! Heehee!
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