"YABBER-LINER" - ALL ABOARD

Good, good, good morning Letty.

Hey Crew

VerbyBaby is OFF the ventilator and breathing on his own. MaMaVerby's spirits are high. The docs are going to see how the little guy fares over the next couple of days and then there is a possibility that they may be able to begin syringe feeding him through his mouth with MaMaV's expressed milk. They will do the dye procedure when they believe that he is strong enough to continue breathing without the ventilator, then, to operate. MaMaVerby is still not able to hold or cuddle her little boy yet - but she is able to hold his little hand and gently touch him - she sounds very positive and more reassured. She sends her love to everyone and says huge thanks to all - and if all could please continue to think, pray, omm, hope for her family.

<Bazza - she said to please hug you back>


ommmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Fantastic news, iz.

prayers continue.

how are you today?

Thank you, Izzie. More progress for verbivore and eby's baby! I will continue to pray for them.

Terrific news about baby Verby, Iz.

hey JPB - not much better, not much worse.




2 phonecalls from work today - was informed "we're going thru a process, you're not under pressure YET"
1 letter re absence in relation to having recent surgery (I missed 6 working days, absence is counted as 3 weeks)

letter says...

<snip>
As you know we are following the school's Maximising Attendance and Managing Sickness policy with the aim of supporting your return to work...details of the 2nd absence mtg which will be held on Tuesday 17th Nov at 11am at school.

At the mtg, the following points will be on the agenda to be discussed:
a) the circumstances surrounding your absence
b) the effect your sickness absence is having on the school's ability to provide for the education and welfare of the pupils
c) the accuracy of your absence record
d) advice from WB@Work that has been received incl. the implications of the medical advice on your continued employment, and the Dcc counselling service
e) any particular issues you wish to raise in connection with your sickness absence
f) consideration may have to be given to your continued employment at a Formal Hearing
g) the appropriateness of a further review period

<snip>
If you do not attend the meeting, without a satisfactory explanation, I need to advise you that it may still proceed in your absence.

At the end of the meeting I will consider what has been said and make a decision on what action, if any, I need to take with regard to your ongoing absence from work.
<snip>

guess I can't be sick a? If I don't go to work tomorrow my absence of 1 working day (last Thursday) will be counted as 6 days absence - absence is cumulative, hence with surgeries I am reaching the limit - can't afford to lose my job - doesn't seem to matter if I can't walk without pain, thus requiring surgery, or get ill. Hey ho.


tad p!ssed off would about cover it right now.

Well, I'd send a note telling them that the surgical absence was completed upon your return to work last week Tuesday and Wednesday. You're currently at home sick with the flu and deem it wisest not to expose them or the children to your germs. Request a rescheduling of the meeting for health reasons (yours and theirs) but reiterate that the two absences are unrelated and you see no reason to think that you won't fully recover from the flu in short order to allow you to return to your full duties.

If the meeting is held without you at least they'll have a response.

Morning all. I've just read your post Izzie and I'm disgusted with the stand your employer has taken, they would never get away with such behaviour down under. Don't you have a Union in the UK which can take up your case? Our Unions are very strong and they would make the person responsible for that letter apologize or have him/her removed from the position they hold. Makes my blood boil to read of such impertinent arrogance.

So pleased to hear babyverbivore is improving, have they named him yet? Keep smiling Captain, I know it is difficult, but your tenacity will get you through this crisis. (((Izzie))).

you and the school are prolly to be thankful there is a lot of water betwixt us at present...

hugs muffin.

s-boy as well...

Hey Crew

hmmmmmmm... thing is, my disdain makes no difference. One policy throughout the county (prolly the same thru the country) - bog standard.

I meet the trigger points - I have had two lots of surgery in a 12 month period... so this is my second absence meeting and me being ill now... will be a third absence.

DCC policy - there's no disputing it - I should know, I do the policies. Found it here on the DCC website - page 18 onwards
http://www.devon.gov.uk/sc-jun0807036.doc

N.2. Trigger Points
Triggers points provide consistency of approach and ensure the Governing Body and the Headteacher are aware of developing patterns of absence, and will define the points at which it is appropriate for managers to review the sickness absence history of an individual member of staff, in order to help improve the member of staff’s attendance at work. The trigger points should be equally applied to all staff.

The trigger levels are:

• 3 or more instances of sickness absences in any 3 month period

• 6 or more instances of sickness absences in any 12month period

• 8 or more days sickness absence within any 12 month period

• Any other recognisable pattern, e.g. always absent on a Monday or at certain times of year.

If any member of staff accumulates the above levels of absences, the Headteacher/designated Manager should initiate the process documented in this policy.

At the end of the day, school is a business, individuals don't matter, it's the system and the process and is about "capability" - if I have an illness that requires me having surgery or whatever, or if you have cancer, or if you just someone going off on a jolly - it makes little difference in the bigger picture - if you "regularly" absent... it's a capability issue. If you are found to be swinging the lead - they can dismiss you. If you're ill but still unable to do your job, they can dismiss you.

Basically - you can get sick, you just have to make sure that after you've been ill, you don't get ill again for longer than 8 days in the next 12 months. And if you do, the next 12 months starts at the end of the "being ill" period.

Headteacher is doing her job - not her fault - she's copied the wording verbatim. Personalities can't come into it. It's policy, not personal.

I'm not a member of a Union. Never have been. Can't see me joining one either. Policy is policy.

Makes me no less p1ssed off tho right now. Don't feel like being rational either.


I spoke to the doctor tonite. I'm not to go in - you'd understand if you could hear me!

So, I guess having got flu or whatever now I will immediately go on to a formal hearing if I don't return to work on Thursday because that will be 8 days since my last 12 month absence period started... I dunno, will call WB@work tomorrow. My boss says I have to book an appointment with them anyhoo

'tis all b*ll*cks really

but I need to quit whining. Whining will get me nowhere. I actually just want to feel better right now - that's all.


(sorry Missy, I've been cursing out loud)

I don't mind cursing out loud. I do it too. I was just surprised when I didn't do it the other day when I hurt myself.

I am sorry you are having to deal with this Izzie. It seems they would be more understanding given the circumstances.

((Izzie))

G-baby threw up twice at school today. I have to go pick him up from G-daddy's. <sigh> we'll see. I have a feeling it was his coughing that made him do it.

Hugs hun,
I'll be back later I hope.

Oh Izzie, I am so sorry I can relate to this all to well. For me it's not been illness but all about money in our district., and people losing their jobs all over the place. Either way people are people NOT just positions as they would like us to think. I wish you the best. Don't take it personally, even though it is hard. The business people are just that...all business and not in the least oriented to the needs of their employees. I'm not going to go off on a rant, you've heard it all from me before...but know my sympathy is with you. Now....you NEED to take care of yourself and get better!!!!

I'm happy to hear verbivore and baby are doing so much better. Pretty soon she will have that little baby home and spoiling him like he deserves

Love you Iz... In my thoughts
FQxx

Hi F/Q long time no see, hope you and your family are well. Feeling for your 'sister' with all this crap going on, no doubt you'll be on the phone giving her some moral support. (((FQ)))

time for bed...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSZCWapO0is

hugs.

I am peeking in...

doing a dance for Verbaby! And sweet Mamaverb. Thrills me that he is getting stronger. Can't wait to hear she is holding him in her arms and feeding him on her own. I KNOW it will not be long.

I can't even begin to tell you about my day. Long and crazy...but it is over.

I am heading for bed.

Izzie - truly praying - so frustrated by your circumstances. Wish Rock were closer so he could go take care of business...I would support him 100%.

nite folkses,
mis

Nite, nite mismi, sleep well, pretty late for a busy mother isn't?

It WAS late. I was cleaning...I get in these - cleaning jags - for lack of a better phrase. I can't stop. So - it will be a tired day. That's alright.

hugs - hope everyone has a great day (and that you rest well dear Dutchy!)
mis

Administrators seem to be the same everywhere, Izzie. The "patterns of absence" is a convenient gimmick that helps them think that they are doing their job. I hope talking to them will clear this up. I have always avoided management positions and stuck with just being a technical specialist. Management concerns are foreign to me.

Well that's really lousy, Izzie. Are you supposed to drag yourself in to work (even if you could) and share your germs with all those children? Sometimes what makes sense on paper sure doesn't make sense in practice. I hope this can be worked out for you.

Thought I'd come down with the flu myself but it's turned into merely a raging chest cold. Luckily with Christmas coming my department is unusually fully staffed and they are coping without me. My boss wants me better by the weekend as it's my weekend to work and nobody is going to want those shifts! Unluckily, of course, I don't get paid.