I work as a teacher in a private school and recently they added an “hour bank” and “compensational hours” which means that they gather all the days the school was closed (prolonged holidays) and say that we are owning them those missing working hours.
They do this so we have to stay late over the weekdays and work on weekends for free (this is my third working saturday in a roll).
The problem is that this practice is illegal for schools in my country, there are rare exceptions that the school board approves but our school isn’t one of them. I wanted to do something about it, but if we go after legal actions or report them to the school district they can make us work during these prolonged holidays or discount them from our paycheck.
I am exhausted. I worked until 7pm last night (my hours are usually 7-4), woke up 4 am today and am heading to work. I don’t have time to myself but can’t complain because my situation is “better” than a lot of other teachers in the field (i earn very well and the school is overall great).
I mentioned it to my mom and she was like “Its part of earning XXXX a month”. Can’t I be upset? Can’t I talk about it without being reminded that there are people in worse situations than I am? Aren’t my feelings and exhaustion valid?
It’s exhausting and I don’t know what to do