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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this is a pisstake

85 replies

intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:37

Have started work in a residential home for people with MH issues and LD's. All staff are required to do "sleep ins" where you do a long day, say 10 till 10, then stay over till 10 the next morning. That's bad enough but for the second half you get paid £25 quid. I'm a single parent with 3 dogs and I can't do 24 hour shifts. Is this normal in care homes?! I can't move in to my workplace! I've got my own home to deal with Sad and Angry

OP posts:
Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:39

Sleep in my hole. It's an unpaid night shift

OP posts:
Punkatheart · 14/07/2011 17:41

You can't be 'on call' twenty four hours a day. Look how much it works out per hour. They are breaking the law.

TartyMcFarty · 14/07/2011 17:42

YANBU. Care workers are appallingly paid full stop.

bagelmonkey · 14/07/2011 17:44

It's illegal. The European working time directive forbids them making you work that kind of shift. Not to mention the 'pay'

reelingintheyears · 14/07/2011 17:44

Did you not know the hours before you took the job?

DogsBestFriend · 14/07/2011 17:45

Did you not know that when you took the job on? There's no way I'd have done so (also a lone parent with 3 dogs).

Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:46

So I have strong grounds for refusing to do them? I'm doing 55 hours most weeks as it is, I don't want to leave as the residents are so sweet but I have too many home responsibilities.

OP posts:
Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:47

No I knew they'd be long days, the contract I signed said no sleep duties then they added it on after

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posterofagirl · 14/07/2011 17:48

Sorry to correct most of the people who posted already but this is pretty standard in residential.
£25 is a sleep in allowance, if you get up you get paid normal pay.
Op will have signed an opt out agreement for working times.

skybluepearl · 14/07/2011 17:49

we get 35 for a sleeping night at work

Sausagesarenottheonlyfruit · 14/07/2011 17:49

It's not illegal unfortunately, as it is qualified as 'live-in' rate.

Utterly unfair as it takes no account of the fact that you don't exactly live there and still have to pay your own home costs, not to mention childcare etc.

They are exploiting a loophole, I would advise a request for flexible working hours. Is there a reason you must take this job, i.e. will you lose benefits if you're seen to refuse work?

Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:50

I didn't sign that poster. There was a box to tick if I wanted to opt out of working time directive, I didn't tick it

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SortingHardHat · 14/07/2011 17:50

As poster says, this is pretty standard in care homes. If i'm right the 24 hours counts towards your 40 hours anyway so do two of those shifts and the rest of the week is yours.

Andrewofgg · 14/07/2011 17:51

If you don't take our share somebody else must. And that somebody else - with or without children and dogs (and the last bit makes me think ^is this a piss-take?> but I will assume not because I want to make a real point - also has a private life which is just as important as yours, even if it does not centre round dependents.

Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:51

Yes I'll lose my benefits. Was thinking of going part time then I might actually get the 37 hours I'm contracted to do Grin

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duckdodgers · 14/07/2011 17:51

Yes they can do this, it will be down to terms and conditions, there is no way you can do a day shift and then straight onto night shift - it is against the European Working Time regulations but you can do a "sleepover" - technically being on the premises should you be needed.

My DH works from 9am on a Saturday to 9 am on a Sunday supporting an individual in their own home - during the day he gets a set amount per hour and then at night he gets paid a sleepover rate, sometimes he is up with his client, sometimes he isnt.

Andrewofgg · 14/07/2011 17:52

Should have been if you don't take your share but you probably twigged that.

Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:53

I wish Hardhat. I'm doing 2 15 hour shifts plus the 24 hour shift

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DogsBestFriend · 14/07/2011 17:54

Of course it isn't a piss-take Andrew. The OP can hardly leave 3 dogs unattended for 24 or more hours, any more than she can leave young children. Hmm

MrSpoc · 14/07/2011 17:54

If you took the job as no night shifts and now they want to add it, if you leave you can get them done for constructive dismissal or go back to the boss explain you do not accept the new terms and they should pay you more if you were to do it, i.e instead of £20k you want £25k

Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:55

Right well I'm going to tell them I can't do it. They'd have to be stupid to let me go because of it, they are short staffed as it is. It's beyond ridiculous that someone has to move in with me just so I can move in there

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DogsBestFriend · 14/07/2011 17:56

I'd be taking legal advice (ACAS and Union too) about any change in contract to which I hadn't agreed in writing, that's for sure.

What do you do about your children and dogs when you are taking part in overnight stays?

DogsBestFriend · 14/07/2011 17:57

ACAS

Original poster
intelligenceitself · 14/07/2011 17:58

Read PM DBF

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Andrewofgg · 14/07/2011 17:59

I see the problem with the children, although not why OP should expect to unload it onto a colleague. But the dogs? If having a dog - or three dogs - is keeping you on benefit when you could be earning a living there is no issue. Get rid of them. If you cannot find a new home for them at once have them put down.

And that is so obvious that it makes me think the whole thread may be the extraction of the urine.