feeling pressured and stressed by colleagues in part-time TA role - also some health issues - advice needed

[CrushWithEyeliner]

I work 2 mornings a week as a Teaching Assistant I have a 15m old I can just about manage this and the money helps. In a nutshell they keep asking me things to my face without and pre-warning and making odd comments. For example today a colleague asked if I could attend a meeting tomorrow out of hours I said I thought it was too short notice for my childcare and she then said - I thought your Mother looked after your baby to which I replied - yes she does..I wanted to say but this doesn't mean I can randomly take the piss. They are also kind of pressuring me to do more mornings and then again making comments about my mother being able to stretch to 5 a week which I feel is wholly inappropriate. I am feeling pressured and don't know what my rights are really. I am dreading having to go in tomorrow and tell them no basically.

Also - another issue is I know there was an outbreak of impetigo in the class I assist and I wasn't informed until I asked today. DD was really ill with it a few weeks ago and I really want to know if it was a pupil I came into contact with as I think they should have informed me -knowing I have a young child. I am feeling confused and down and just wondered if anyone had any advice for me x

[flowerybeanbag]

crush I'm not quite sure what you mean about what are your rights?

If you are being asked to do more than your contracted hours and you can't, of course you can say no.

I'm not sure what you mean by needing 'pre-warning' of things or not liking being asked to your face, I'm a bit confused. Unless I'm not understanding you rightly then there's nothing wrong with asking you things to your face or without warning particularly - maybe the issue is more how you are being asked or something, the tone of voice or you feel there is an expectation you should do it or similar?

Is this your line manager saying these things or a colleague? I think you need to ask to meet with your boss, just say you are feeling pressured to increase your hours, which you are not able to do. You don't feel your childcare arrangements are the concern of anyone else at work. You are fortunate enough that your mother has very kindly offered to take your baby for a couple of mornings a week, but you certainly don't feel you can abuse that kindness by asking for more help and you are very happy on the hours you are currently doing.

Similar with the illness issue, you need to say that you feel you should have been informed previously as there is a possibility that your DD contracted it through your contact with an ill child at work. Someone else might have some advice about this, working in a classroom, pupil illness and your own children being infected, I'm sure it's very common and someone else will know normal procedure.

Hope that helps, try not to feel down, I think when you have that conversation, you will feel much more positive, as you will have taken back some control which it sounds like you feel you don't have at the moment.

[sophiewd]

YOu only have to work your contracted hours, if a meeting falls within these hours then you must attend if not then you don't.

[hotbot]

On another note, if meetings are held on a day that you dont work, the minutes etc should be easily available so you can keep up to date and informed

[hercules1]

It is your responsibility to find out what happens in meetings that you are unable to attend due to working part time. You need to read the minutes and if not done ask someone to make notes for you.