Finding work overwhelming

[SummersBreeze]

I work within the caring profession. I had a contract with hours and duties laid out. I found that that were easily overwritten by my boss. So much more was tagged onto what I have to do. I find that I'm just a dogsbody

• I'm supposed to mind disabled people
• prepare their meals
• clean the kitchen
• work on industrial loads of laundry
• look after pets

amongst so much more.

I need to rely on my boss to come in an relieve me of my day and often that doesn't happen. Basically there are so many weeks when I am working undeclared and unpaid overtime. I'm forced into doing this because my boss isn't coming in to relieve me. When she does come in, I am still required to continue work until she decides whatever time suits her to let me away.

Basically I can start my days anytime between 9 and 11 am and finish any time between 7.30 pm to 10pm. That's it typically.

Sometimes I am required to do overnights too and that can be difficult because I am working 2 days in one and often with minimal sleep. 3-4 hours a night. It can be very difficult. So many times it feels like I have a hangover even though I am not drinking. That's probably tiredness and stress.

I was called into the office today to say that I am required to update my skills and go on courses and they gave me a course to sign up to online. All well and good but when I finish work if find that it's a breather space for me. An hour or two off before I go to bed and do it all again the next day.

I'm finding the idea of a course so overwhelming. It wouldn't be too bad if my position wasn't so demanding and intense. Maybe if I had a better work life balance and I might enjoy finding time to study.

I started work yesterday for an overnight and so it was an early start this morning and I don't know what time I am going to be finished at tonight. I suspect a late one because the boss is on the road today and she probably won't be back until 8 or 9 if I am lucky.

Typically I am working 8 to 13 hours a day, 5 days a week. Then sometimes I am chased for weekends too about once a month. I was doing last night and I saw the rota and I'm down for the whole week including Saturday so my next day off is on Sunday.

This is just insanity. How am I supposed to find a few hours in my week to study and update my skills? It wouldn't be too bad if I had a work life balance.

There was an evening about 2 weeks ago when I was allowed to finish for 6.30 pm in the evening and even though I was working since 9.30, it actually felt like a half day. I was delighted to have an evening to myself. These are often very rare.

You need a new job.

It's 9pm and got a spare second and I am still at work.

FUCKING hell. Waiting on ms cunt boss to show her face.

Fucking cunts. Went into work last night and here I am still working on Monday night. What is so wrong with allowing a work day come to an end.

I want to go home.

HOME

The says I have due to working with disability i often get attacked from residents. My hair pulled, face punched, tummy kicked in, there's even one resident who will bit a tit on me when they are not allowed sweeties.

There has to be an end to a work day. Some relieve. That's all.

Now they want me magic time out of thin air to work on a course.

I don't have time to shower from one end of the week to the next. They can fuck off.

If the courses are required for work then they need to be done during work hours.

What would happen if you were to email your manager/HRwith the hours you have worked and ask for the extra to be paid?

If you were to calculate your hours/pay would you be being illegally paid below the minimum wage?

Have you actually raised these issues with your management/HR?

You need to get another job. Do not put up with these working hours.

There are loads of care jobs right now, there's a real shortage of workers.

That has got to be illegal surely? You can't work all night and then working all day today too. When are you supposed to sleep?

Join a union. Draw your own boundaries within your contract and stick to them. If hours are the issue, only work contracted hours. If you haven't finished a job but time is up then go! Bosses will take the piss if you let them. No is a complete sentence.
Look for a new job.

I can't just walk because people need minding. I need someone to come in and relieve me of work.

10 flo Fucking clock I was allowed to finish with a 7am start this morning and breaks were piss fucking poor.

I'm exhausted

I went to work yesterday evening. I was allowed to go to bed for about 1am. So I did get to sleep but it was broken sleep. I had one eye open. That type of sleep because if someone woke I was required to get up. I had to start again for 7am. 10 o fucking clock finish time.

Any other job and I would be allowed to clock out and go home by 7pm at the latest. If I was a nurse working 12 hour shifts the work week will be over 4 days and not 5 days with an extra day tagged on here and there.

I have a change of clothes - yesterdays clothes and worn in the same fucking bag as my lunch bag for crying out loud.

I’m so sorry your going through this, it sounds extremely stressful.
i think you should look for a new job. Even if you have to take a few days holiday to write up your cv and cover letter - it will be worth it.
you can’t carry on working in this way, it’s not good for your health.
it sounds like the organisation you work for is in too much of a mess for much to be sorted by HR quickly or significantly to make enough of a difference for you.
they will post your job back up in 2 mins, so I would focus on getting a new role where you can have the work life balance again.

good luck Op x

It’s hard to understand why you’re still there, honestly. Why is that?

Quit your job and report the provider to CQC and adult services at your local council. This is awful for you to work in. Imagine if that was your home and you had no choice but to live there day in day out being 'minded' by exhausted pissed off staff. It's the stuff of nightmares.

It sounds like they should be employing more people to cover the workload here. Agree with PP that it's unlikely this situation with get better so I'd be finding a way to leave

Perfect.

OP, you can't be expected to be in a fit state to provide good care. That's not a reflection on you, it's the reality of the impact these hours must surely be having on you.

Do you work in a registered care home, or a private home?

Leave. Care workers are like gold dust at the moment, and there are many employers who would love your skills, your time and your values.

There's some weeks where there is a balance but I now suspect I work for psychopaths and its only provided to keep me sweet and calm and on board. Then there are weeks where it tips overboard into 50/60 hours sometimes even more.

I was so pissed off last night. I was working early and I was supposed to finish by 6/7 pm but it was pushed out and over and it was 10 by the time I was allowed to finish. That day is just too long and draining. The office was onto me too several times during the day. One for paperwork. Then to order me to update courses.

They want me to spend my own money on courses and but I will also be refused time to carry out course work.

It's all just a mess.

I was so sick last night.