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I feel sick to my stomach about work

53 replies

GreenPebbles · 17/10/2024 17:45

I work in the care industry. I always enjoyed helping people however there are so many issues. Especially from management and I often dread my work and my days. It's just sometimes it gets too intense. Days can be too long too at times.

The higher ups in my organisation wanted me to do courses that are manatorory and I wanted to do this studying too. I even signed up for a course back in 2019 however I was sunable to complete it.

This isn't any word of a lie. The physical work and hours can be too too too much sometimes. No one has any idea. There were times when I brought packed lunches to work and brought them home again because I never had time to eat my lunch and that would be after working all day. There has been. Times when I wore the same period pad from the time I got ready in the morning til I got home again at night.

I don't have a long commute to work. However sometimes my days are just so long.

I know nurses who work 12 hour shifts in a hospital setting but it's often done over three days.

In the care industry I could easily do them kind of hours buts it's done over 5 days. Sometimes weekends too.

I don't have any babies and children and usually when the school term is off on holidays the place is run on Skelton staff and there's so much falling onto me. I dread the school holidays. Because it can easily be 12 hour days or more for 5 days and sometimes even weekends thrown in on top.

The higher ups called me in for a meeting yesterday and gave me a warning. Not only a warning but a deadline to get courses done by the end of February.

This is one thing.

My boss on the floor is f*cking deluded telling me to do this. The work and the hours that she often has me doing is unreal.

No body knows how I am and I feel. Nobody knows what this is like. I am often exhausted. It nearly feels like I have to wait for a day off just to even digest a meal.

I don't mind signing up for a course but I won't be allowed to do this. Already I am scheduled for work next week for the mid term break working Monday through to Sunday and the Monday to Friday and I likely won't see a day off until the 2nd of November.

How am I supposed to do this?

Am I supposed to work like this and then whenever I finish a stint like this throw my exhausted head into books when I have choose between sleep or shower or food.

Christmas is coming up too so that will mean Christmas parties galore for all of the bosses.

I can remember a day not so long ago staring for about 9.30 and I was still working at 11.30 at night. That is inhumane.

Or Ami supposed to go home after one of these stints and sit on the toilet in pain with an infection of some sort of wearing the same pad all day and open up books.

OP posts:
YabbaDabbaDooooo · 17/10/2024 17:48

Sounds awful.

Time to change jobs maybe?

Advent0range · 17/10/2024 17:50

I think you may need better boundaries,say no to extra shifts. 4 is the Max I can manage in a week!

KizzyDora · 17/10/2024 17:50

Change workplaces or jobs. Loads of places are crying out for care staff.

Timeforabiscuit · 17/10/2024 17:55

I think you're going to have to advocate for yourself, at the moment they are just piling it all on you because it's the easiest thing to do.

Say that you do not have capacity to complete the course as you are already over your limit work wise.

You know these hours and work pattern isn't sustainable - but no one is going to speak on your behalf - you will need to make the higher up uncomfortable, honestly, it won't hurt them!

TeaMistress · 17/10/2024 17:57

You sound exhausted OP and burned out. Is there a HR department you can discuss this with as your boss sounds like they are being unreasonable. If HR won't help can you see your GP and get signed off with stress / exhaustion. You can't be expected to go on like this. The care industry is crying out for decent staff so you probably wouldn't have any trouble finding a new job. Alternatively have you looked at roles within the NHS?

loropianalover · 17/10/2024 17:58

Can you outline any conversations you’ve had with work about this, what shift patterns you have asked for, have you said no to shifts? Have you stood up for yourself at all?

I think you should get signed off by your GP as you sound completely burnt out. Not having time to change a pad or eat a meal until your day off is no life. How can you care for others when you are in this state yourself.

wonderstuff · 17/10/2024 18:10

It sounds awful. Am I right in thinking they are expecting you to complete courses in your free time? That is not okay. Are you in a union? If there isn't a clear way to advocate for yourself and ensure you are working just the hours you are paid or contracted for then I would be looking for another job, sounds like this just isn't sustainable.

GreenPebbles · 17/10/2024 18:16

wonderstuff · 17/10/2024 18:10

It sounds awful. Am I right in thinking they are expecting you to complete courses in your free time? That is not okay. Are you in a union? If there isn't a clear way to advocate for yourself and ensure you are working just the hours you are paid or contracted for then I would be looking for another job, sounds like this just isn't sustainable.

Yes. I am required to complete courses in my free time.

Some weeks I do have a balance to my work and hours but it's still not very great.

Then other weeks and it's intensely full on. When I do get time off I am often so so tired and sick as well. I get migraines and gut issues and a stint like 2 weeks solid can really take a lot out of me.

I can remember staying over before and I was woken from my sleep in the middle of the night and then that was my start time for the day. The person who was supposed to releive me of work didn't come until 4pm. So I had about 11 hours done at that stage and my day still was not over.

It just takes so much out of me when I do get free time.

Now I am expected to throw my head into books.

OP posts:
TeaMistress · 17/10/2024 18:23

This also sounds like your employer is breaching working time regulations rest requirements. Start the process of getting signed off and then look for another job.

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 18:44

Leave! You're not chained to any job.

A lesson I've definitely learned by my age, of I'm not happy in a job, I apply to another one

GreenPebbles · 17/10/2024 20:12

I went into work last week and did the whole week and then on Friday I went into work and I had to stay overnight until Saturday. It was so long.

The same thing is happening again this weekend.

And I am so sick of it. The managers will not scale back their schedules and the work is falling back onto me.

Then next week I am required to go to work for two weeks solid.

It's still not even 'party season'.

And I am expected to do a course.

The headache on me is a akin to being hit with hammers.

OP posts:
Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:16

GreenPebbles · 17/10/2024 20:12

I went into work last week and did the whole week and then on Friday I went into work and I had to stay overnight until Saturday. It was so long.

The same thing is happening again this weekend.

And I am so sick of it. The managers will not scale back their schedules and the work is falling back onto me.

Then next week I am required to go to work for two weeks solid.

It's still not even 'party season'.

And I am expected to do a course.

The headache on me is a akin to being hit with hammers.

Have you started applying for other jobs?

OrangeGreens · 17/10/2024 20:19

Is this a minimum wage job or close to it? If so you would get similar pay and an infinitely better work life balance in hospitality, cleaning, reception work etc. And you wouldn’t need to retrain for any of those.

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:25

12 hour shifts for nursing is pretty normal, and not spread out, 12 hours per day, multiple days per week. You should however get sufficient breaks and time to use the toilet and eat. If you're struggling to manage the courses they're insisting you get completed, then I'd be looking around for other jobs asap

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:31

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:25

12 hour shifts for nursing is pretty normal, and not spread out, 12 hours per day, multiple days per week. You should however get sufficient breaks and time to use the toilet and eat. If you're struggling to manage the courses they're insisting you get completed, then I'd be looking around for other jobs asap

OP is not a nurse

Doyouthinktheyknow · 17/10/2024 20:35

The positive about care work is there is always alternatives and you need to focus your energies on that.

Their expectations aren’t reasonable and you should consider this a prompt to move on. Not all care homes are equal, far from it but there has to be better!

Even look at NHS! Is it care certificate or NVQ they are expecting you to do? In the NHS we support with study days for that although some is in your own time. You have support though. The hours are more reasonable as well!

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:36

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:31

OP is not a nurse

"I know nurses who work 12 hour shifts in a hospital setting but it's often done over three days."
I was clarifying this point

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:38

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:36

"I know nurses who work 12 hour shifts in a hospital setting but it's often done over three days."
I was clarifying this point

Can you clarify what you mean when you say its done "multiple days a week".

As the nurses I know just do three days of 12 hours a week when they are doing long days.

Showbel · 17/10/2024 20:39

@GreenPebbles to put this bluntly, you need to leave for your own health. Especially if you're having gut issues and migraines - your body is reacting to the stress you're putting onto it. Find something better. This isn't sustainable

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:40

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:38

Can you clarify what you mean when you say its done "multiple days a week".

As the nurses I know just do three days of 12 hours a week when they are doing long days.

OP's post suggests 12 hours spread over 3 days.

Multiple days means more than one...

TeaMistress · 17/10/2024 20:40

GreenPebbles · 17/10/2024 20:12

I went into work last week and did the whole week and then on Friday I went into work and I had to stay overnight until Saturday. It was so long.

The same thing is happening again this weekend.

And I am so sick of it. The managers will not scale back their schedules and the work is falling back onto me.

Then next week I am required to go to work for two weeks solid.

It's still not even 'party season'.

And I am expected to do a course.

The headache on me is a akin to being hit with hammers.

Well your employer can sort out cover for party season. They are going to have to because you won't be there to be their drudge. Ring in sick tomorrow and give yourself some breathing space first and foremost. Go to your GP and get signed off. Start looking for other jobs.

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:50

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:40

OP's post suggests 12 hours spread over 3 days.

Multiple days means more than one...

No I think you read that wrong

I think she meant that nurses do 3 12 hour shifts over a three day period. So 12 hours per day, over 3 days. = 36 hours total

Which is right.

Look at it again.

Anyway OP just apply for other jobs

Applemayjune · 17/10/2024 20:51

OP have you applied for other jobs? There are a lot of care jobs out there

filka · 17/10/2024 20:58

How many hours per week are you working? It sounds like too many. You need to put that on the table when discussing compulsory studying in your own time with management. Or...look for a new job.

StMarieforme · 17/10/2024 20:59

Sheneil · 17/10/2024 20:25

12 hour shifts for nursing is pretty normal, and not spread out, 12 hours per day, multiple days per week. You should however get sufficient breaks and time to use the toilet and eat. If you're struggling to manage the courses they're insisting you get completed, then I'd be looking around for other jobs asap

I think Op meant 12 x 3 whereas she is doing 12 x 5 or 6.

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