Pitfalls and Precautions is a series that aims to educate teachers on professional conduct issues by highlighting situations addressed by the ATA Professional Conduct Committee.
During a hearing held a year ago, the Professional Conduct Committee determined that a teacher had misused sick leave on at least three occasions to either work in another school division out of province or extend an out-of-country family vacation.
Teachers have long known the importance of sick leave for day-to-day illnesses, medical treatment or as a bridge to extended disability. This is why, over the course of many collective bargaining cycles, teachers have worked incrementally to earn leaves in their collective agreements at the expense of salary increases. This individual teacher’s actions showed a clear disregard for the hard work done by the Association in both local and provincial bargaining.
Unfortunately, a small percentage of teachers in the profession will abuse these leaves and seek other employment like this teacher did. While the teacher may have indeed required sick leave to get well again, the fact that they worked in another school division out of province brings into question the validity of the leave. Further, their use of sick leave to extend a family vacation is an afront to the school division, their students and colleagues, as well as the profession. The collective agreement affords other leaves for teachers who wish to extend a family vacation over a holiday, or for reasons beyond their control, return late from their vacation and miss school days.
It is important to be honest when accessing leaves. It is not necessary to disclose a diagnosis when accessing sick leave, but the employer is entitled to a prognosis and the knowledge that the teacher is under the care of a doctor if treatment is to take place over a longer period.
Leaves are contained in collective agreements to support teachers at a time of need, and most teachers use them in that manner. Once a teacher has broken their employer’s trust, it is a difficult fence to mend. The teaching profession is a tough gig, one that relies on honesty and supports from the collective agreement. ❚
ATA Secretary to Professional Conduct Committees
