School superintendent docks teacher's pay after she took 1 day off to get married before a 3 day weekend: 'My principal didn't care and approved my PTO'

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Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Nov 16, 2024 8:00 PM EST

PTO can be such a contentious issue in already contentious workplaces. If your company is functioning well, an employee should be able to take off whatever days in the year that they please with the paid time off they've earned. If they've earned a 2-week vacation and take a 2-week vacation, the company should not be in utter disarray and on the verge of declaring bankruptcy by the time that employee returns. If that's the case, they do not have enough employees, plain and simple. 

Some companies want to control their employee's lives so much that they don't allow them to take time off before or after a holiday. That was the case for this teacher, who decided to get married the Friday before Indigenous People's Day weekend. Even though her principal initially approved her PTO, the school district superintendent threatened to dock her pay because she didn't work on the most important day of her life. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10429154560
    via Kateryna Hliznitsova (Unsplash+)

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    They threatened to dock my pay because I got married
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 03
    I got married last Friday 11/8. We picked that date because it was done at a courthouse and it was the only week day my husband could take off. We planned this back in August and I already requested the PTO day with my principal and he didn't care and approved it.
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 04
    I get a letter today from the superintendent saying my pay would be docked because I didn't get HER approval to take a day off before a "break" (...it was a three day weekend) and I was violating my contract. She said I needed to give her a "good enough reason".
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 05
    I already get paid next to nothing here and I was so angry when I read it my students asked me if I was okay (my face had to be so red). I emailed her back saying it was my only choice, didn't mention I was getting married to get on my husband's insurance because the school's s ks. She said she woud "make an exception and that would suffice" but threatened my pay would be docked if I did it again.
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 06
    How dare they? I was getting married. It was a condition when I got hired I would need that day off. My previous jobs all you needed to do was get principal approval. I didn't have time to read the handbook over with a magnify glass, I also have to teach!!! Okay. Rant over and believe me I will be applying for better jobs next year. But I am starting to doubt those exist.
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 07
    IAmGrootGrootlam We aren't allowed to take a day before or after a holiday. If we take a sick day we must bring a doctor's note and personal leave not allowed. Usually it ends up being a day without pay if you do.
    via u/IAmGrootGrootlam
  • 08
    Zealousideal_Cut9198 F that nonsense. I really hate the micromanaging of this profession.
    via u/Zealousideal_Cut9198
  • 09
    ArcticGlacier40 Talk to your union rep if that's an option. If not, labor board maybe? I'm pretty sure it's illegal in any profession to dock someone's pay for taking a day off, especially if it was already approved.
    via u/ArcticGlacier40
  • 10
    Also was it clearly written in policy that anyone needing a day off needs to get approval from the super superintendent? That seems so bizarre, why does it not just stay with the principal?
    via u/ArcticGlacier40
  • 11
    CalmSignificance639 Not illegal unfortunately. Many unions, mine included, have a clause about not taking days off before a holiday unless sick.
    via u/CalmSignificance639
  • 12
    mundanehistorian_28 OP I did and they said it was in the contract but in a different section from where I looked. I also asked why didn't my mentor have to get approval to go to the Bahamas the day after break which is also in the contract? Oh right because she's buddies with the SI. Luckily my union rep told me because the principal approved it and no one else told me otherwise I'm covered.
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 13
    Tiger_Reed I always just call the morning of and say I'm either sick, have an emergency, or something because of things like this. Like, I'm providing you a date ahead of time as a courtesy, I don't HAVE to do it... So, I no longer do. I havent had any issues since.
    via u/Tiger_Reed
  • 14
    mundanehistorian_28 OP Good call imma do this from now on!!
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 15
    Less_Physics_689 Reminds me of a time when I was in college and I told the teacher that I would be absent next week because I was getting married. Her exact words were "you will find little sympathy from me."
    via u/Less_Physics_689
  • 16
    zunzwang I was in Guatemala adopting my son. The Guatemalan govt made a mistake and needed an extra WEEK to fix the error. My wife and I had to stay in Guatemala while the error was fixed. That week bled into our back to school inservice.
    via u/zunzwang
  • 17
    I came back to the building, missing one day of inservice. I landed at 1 am and was in school at 8 am. I was docked the day of pay and my principal gave my classroom to another teacher. I now had to float because the school didn't have enough rooms. I teach high school, so I changed rooms multiple times a day. I feel your pain.
    via u/zunzwang
  • 18
    Rich_Celebration477 Your admin has TIME to do this. How little must they be doing if emailing you to hassle is a priority
    via u/Rich_Celebration477
  • 19
    mundanehistorian_28 OP My thoughts exactly......like how do you care this much when there are 5 fights a day
    via u/mundanehistorian_28
  • 20
    Stunning-Mall5908 Congrats! It is called a contract. I worked under these conditions for 30 years. When my grandchild's surgery was rescheduled to a day after spring break the new superintendent docked me a day. As someone who never took time prior to that, that man created a monster. I did not hesitate to take MY time when I needed it. I implore you to do the same.
    via u/Stunning-Mall5908
  • 21
    Dragonchick30 I hate this sh. Any other profession, you would have taken your PTO and that would have been the end of it. If the district is so concerned about teachers taking off and extending their breaks, then punish those who consistently do it, not a blanket rule.
    via u/Dragonchick30
  • 22
    fridayjones Also, do take the time to go over the employee handbook with a magnifying glass. Knowing what you are required to do and what isn't in your contract is power that you can wield to your benefit, I promise.
    via u/fridayjones

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