Are you respected in your job?

[Flowerblue]

I am not respected in one of my jobs (teaching assistant) but I am respected as a private tutor. It’s little to do with performance (I work very hard at both roles) and everything to do with perceived status.

Yep I understand that. It’s worse in my current role - but not an issue in my previous

Care assistant - nope.
Despite the clapping and the like we're still only worth minimum wage, called unskilled and forgotten about, it took a pandemic to be even remotely recognised for what we do.

To me that actually speaks more of the attitudes towards those who need care, that they're not worth more than unskilled, minimum wage workers to look after them.
I do believe though, that we're not unskilled, there's plenty of skills involved with caring for someone properly, they're just not recognised of being of any value.

I agree @MoodieMare . I’ve done more valuable work as a ta than as a tutor - talked children out of running away from the school premises, comforted them through bereavement, taught them to read fluently. But it’s not seen as a skilled role.

That’s sad OP. I really respect our DC’s TAs. They’ve had some really great ones that have made all the difference between them having a ‘just ok’ experience to a really good one. I see the TAs as integral to their school experience.

I think I am just getting a bit burnt out by it at the moment. I’ve been doing it for many years and I have enjoyed it. But I’m no longer proud to be one.

I'm even lower down the school pay scale than the TAs and LSAs, and have been in role for 3 weeks.
The head came to see me today to say my name had been brought up in a senior leaders meeting (palpatation time!), as someone who was making a real positive difference to the school. So, I guess I'm getting positive feedback, if not respect.

@Flowerblue

Yes the work of us 'unskilled' is often very undervalued, and mostly not noticed, that is until something breaks down.
It's also the way we're expected to behave professionally, with professional standards yet are not regarded as such when it comes to pay, conditions and attitude towards the roles.
As I'm sure you do I behave professionally, but as everyone's view on what professional is with these roles, it's very easy to get it wrong.

I'd say I feel respected in my job. I work in data protection and the (not so recent anymore) legislation changes mean organisations tend to take my role quite seriously. I think it's also key that for quite a number of processes to work, my review and/or sign off is required, which lends the role a sense of importance.

I do work really hard and would like to think this was a factor in me being respected at work, but sadly I don't think there's much correlation. DH works nowhere near as hard as me but earns more than 3 times as much in a similar field, for example 🤷🏼‍♀️

On a personal note, I think the role that TAs play is admirable and I'd respect anyone who can perform well in a role that I absolutely wouldn't have the aptitude to do myself. If you enjoy the work, try to focus on that rather than what other people think.

I'm a PA - it really depends on the day

I'm a teacher... so...

I respect my TA. She's a bloody star. We're really good at recognising when the other is about to be tipped over the edge and stepping in to pick up the slack.

Hahaha, nope. Mental health care worker.

@MoodieMare yep, been there. I studied to get to be a dementia care specialist and then mental health.

I spoke to one of Dh colleagues once who asked how I started on that track so late (I was 30). Told them i started with a health and social care Btec when I was 30 (I left school with just GCSEs as I had to work).

They laughed. Actually laughed and said "oh god, that's what the thick kids at my school who are too dumb to do A levels get pushed into, I can't believe a 30 year old would willingly do it!" I actually burst into tears.

When people ask what I do, I without fail get the head tilt and the "that must be so rewarding" patronising comment.

It's not rewarding, it's shitty 12 hour shifts for no pay, continued study at my own expense for no more money or recognition (nurse practitioner level), people assuming you are thick, no sick pay, zero hours contracts, minimum wage despite 10 years of ongoing study, oh and getting regularly physically abused by service users.

And don't start on the bosses. I'm nothing to them. Totally expendable and like when I got collared for complaining to the CQC once, I was told, "if you don't like it, leave. I'll have you replaced by a teenager in a hour"

Do you mean respected by your colleagues, the parents at your school or society at large? I think TAs are amazing, all the lessons of lockdown are so quickly forgotten but surely we all remember how hard it was to homeschool our children, and TAs and Teachers are doing that every day.

I do think in any job it is easier to hang on to negative comments or be troubled by our mistakes instead of cherishing our compliments and triumphs. It sounds like you have done some truly amazing things and really know your worth, try to treasure that rather than what ignorant people think, although I know it can wear you down over time.

for you and all our lovely educators

@WankPuffins that sounds completely appalling. I’m sure you know that you do incredibly hard and valuable work.

No and that's why I left!

College tutor - so no, especially not by our management. Although most of my students have respect for me as I go above and beyond for them.

Do you mean are you personally respected or is the role respected?

FWIW, TAs at the SN school where I work are very much respected, it's recognised that it's a hard job, they pick up all the worst bits of working with SN and are woefully underpaid, except for a couple who really aren't very good at it or are downright lazy.

@Flowerblue

I am not respected in one of my jobs (teaching assistant) but I am respected as a private tutor. It’s little to do with performance (I work very hard at both roles) and everything to do with perceived status.

Very similar experience to you.

Perceived status is everything.

It is intensely frustrating to be consistently and subtly undermined by the colleagues who are supposed to support you.

Yes, I've taken a lesser role in my industry as I want a less stressful job, I'm definitely looked down upon due to my role and that I'm female.
Funny thing is I have more experience and knowledge than my new colleagues have.
I like to drop a little statement in now and then and leave them wondering how I know so much.

I think I am but then I’m sworn at, spat at, kicked, hit, shouted at, called names and I wonder then if I am just a piece of shit to most people.

People clapped for us a lot, but I was still sworn at, shouted at, spat at, called names, kicked & hit by people.

We are not worth any more money according to many including those with the power to ensure a pay rise.

I personally don’t feel respected at all. It’s a good job that I love my job and my colleagues respect each other.

@WankPuffins

It's so saddening isn't it, being looked down upon for jobs that are so, so important.

I do wonder where all these people who are so down on our types of job think they'd be without people like us, many wouldn't be able to do their fantastic well paid and respected roles without these jobs, they'd be -

-Educating their own children.

• Looking after their own ill, elderly and vulnerable relatives.
• Cleaning their own offices/homes
• Not getting served in shops, restaurants and bars or at the cinema etc.

Society is built and supported on roles such as care workers, shop assistants and TA's, if we all walked tomorrow society would be fucked. It's pretty obvious how essential these services are because they're the only ones still running when everything else was closed. Because they couldn't close, because they're essential. (Hospitality excepted)

It's a sad world when you're mocked and looked down upon for doing roles that society cannot function without.

Yes but it has its drawbacks. Everyone has been furloughed this month except the MD and me to keep the business going. I'd love a month off, I've had 2 weeks off this year 😔.

@MoodieMare I do believe though, that we're not unskilled, there's plenty of skills involved with caring for someone properly, they're just not recognised of being of any value

This.

My career would never be called 'unskilled' work but having worked in caring roles before, they seem to me to be far more tangibly skilled than what I do.

I use my talents and knowledge to help people and I'm paid well for it, but I absolutely couldn't point to more specific skills on a list than would be used in care work or other front-line roles.

The word really makes me cringe.

I think care work is classed as “unskilled” as it’s not a professional role requiring higher level qualifications like being a registered nurse. As in you don’t need x number of GCSEs/A levels/ degree to start a job in care but I know that many go onto get NVQs etc.

Care work of course is a tough job with lots of soft skills needed, sadly in our society, only “hard skills” or paper qualifications seem to be respected. Which is daft as we need care workers, it’s such an important job. I respect anybody working in care, doing a vital job for low pay. I certainly couldn’t do it.

I have been told by more than one workmate that I am the most repected member of the team. That makes me sound big headed.

I respect everyone who does a good job, and everyone who does the kind of job I would hate to do. So I take my hat off to you all.

I feel that people who criticise others should try doing the job themselves.