My job makes me want to kill myself

[Greenstag]

I don't have any active plans to kill myself. My f*cking jesus god all christ almighty, it makes me want to kill myself. This isn't any ordinary Sunday night pre Monday fear.

I am a childminder working for a family in their home. I had a contract with hours and days and orig silly it was Mon to Friday work 8 am to 6 pm but somewhere along the line it was all changed.

I worked last week, I went into work on Friday morning. It is nearly 9.30 pm on Sunday night and I am just after finishing since 9 o clock tonight.

I never signed up to work like this. I don't know anyone who works like this. I never once saw an over time pay or Sunday pay. It's all just minimum wage. At first, my job was to accommodate parents wishing to work but now they have just pulled the piss and this was t the first time they did this to me. Like working 7 days a week. I don't even get time off in lieu. It's back to work again tomorrow. Working weeks before I even see a day off.

It's just a work day should have an end in sight. A work week should also have an end.

I used to live what I did for a living but now I hate it. I want to leave this and just leave the industry. It's so demoralising too because one of the parents can be so moody and obtuse.

I just hate this. There's no appropriate breaks. Nearly every aspect of my own life is neglected. Family and personal relationships, my own health and hygiene.

I just hate this..............

I dont get a proper break or even a sit down meal. I tried to have some dinner this evening and the mother, all she did was bark orders at me and I ate standing up.

Like, prison life could likely be better than this.

Why can't you just leave the job?

Tell them you won't be doing overtime anymore, and that you'll be leaving when your contract says.

And look for a new job, fuck that you're not a slave.

Quit.

Why are you just going along with this?

Are you a childminder or a nanny? Either way, they’re taking the piss. Quit and get nicer clients.

This sounds like it's heading close to modern slavery. Certainly it's not a job you should stay in.

You must leave and ASAP. They are exploiting you, it’s probably illegal

End the contract and get a job in a nursery or from your own home during normal childcare hours

That's really shocking. Have you worked from Friday until now? Are you live-in? How many hours have you worked -v- how many did they pay you for?

I imagine you've considered quitting already, but that's still my advice. You can't work like that - it's inhuman.

Do you live there? Have you got somewhere else to go?

If you have a contract with your employers, and they are paying your NI etc I would think they have breached it time and time again -- you will be entitled to time off under your contract and if you are not getting any then they are breaking the law.

Why can’t you just hand in your notice then?

There are plenty of people that work those kind of hours, but the difference is, that they are remunerated properly for it. You need to find a new job - you sound very employable and I'm sure there are plenty of nurseries needing staff.

You really don't need to do this. There is a big shortage of good childminders at the moment. Stand your ground, you finish at 6. Start preparing 10 mins before. At 6 put your coat on and tell them you're going. Remind them that's your contracted hours. Do you live in? If so on Saturday get up early and go out for the day.

How long have you worked for them?
Do they give you an itemised pay statement?

Contact ACAS for advice https://www.acas.org.uk/contact.
Do you have a copy of your contract? Wage slips? And proof your NI has been paid, I believe you can check online at Gov.uk .

Yeah if you work just for them you aren't a childminder. If you're in London come and work for me, I'm desperate!

I meant to reply last night but I just wasn't well. I was so tired and I became ill too.

Now, I am not live in. Although with the amount of hours I do and sometimes the schedule that I have, I might as well be.

I'm finding it so so so so difficult. The hours can be far too much and the pay is too little and it's just I am my own person with my own stuff to do outside of work but sometimes there's just no time. I started DIY project last week that was just left abandoned and I had intentions of going back to it but I just don't know when. I am hoping tonight.

It's just so hard. Any other job and I would get a day or two off every week. This is too much.

I can see a lot of stuff that is just not right with the parents that I work for but I don't want to judge them either.

It's just not right to work long hours like this.

The only benefit to it is that it's close to my home and I know if I was to find something else I would have to commute.

Also I want to leave this work. Just leave the industry altogether because it can be so hard.

I don't know what else to do with my life.

The good thing about your job OP is it is in high demand. You will get somewhere else. Start looking around, you might be lucky and get another local job. A commute would be worth it for shorter hours so don't totally disregard that.

Short term I'd recommend writing out a list of demands or conditions and handing it to the employers. I am guessing communication isn't great and they are intimidating you, otherwise you would have spoken up before. That way you get to have your say and they can't talk you around. Let them come back to you with the offer, whether that's increased breaks or later start time or whatever. It will also give you confidence to have it in black and white. You could do a draft and post it here for advice if you want?

Don’t childminders generally work out of their own homes? Why can’t you do that?