To think this is an unacceptable way for a company to operate...

[filee777]

I work for a homecare company, I love my job and generally bend over backwards for them, not just because I'm used to how hard a job it is but also because we've paid out for a lot of stuff this summer and have definitely needed the money.

But their business practice has become increasingly alarming. One of the girls got all the daytime hours she wanted, 16hrs a week in term time, in the day, no evenings and weekends.

When I started working there they said they would have day hours for me, which has turned out to be a barefaced lie but that's sort of the way it goes with homecare and I've made it worth my while by using the time to study and work around it.

Anyway, so it turns out the girl with the 'special hours' is going out with the bosses son and this was why she got such privileged hours. When they tried to give some of the hours to me, due to her being properly unreliable and dealing with exclusively with clients who find it very hard to have 'new' people, so the idea was to have two of us go in on a rotational basis incase the other went sick.

She didn't like this, the girl. So phones her boyfriends mum and she demands they change it back, not only this but that they make her the only person in the company on fixed hours. Everyone else is zero contract.

I sort of didn't mind this, it was her call and I didn't want to feel like I was nicking her hours.

Since then they have hired another girl who 'met the boss down the pub' where she was a barmaid and has been given 40 hrs a week, a contract way before normal and basically continues to get other people's hours despite finding herself 'ill' or 'without transport' on sunny Saturday mornings etc etc.

So there aren't enough hours for staff (basically) and upon talking to another worker, she said she was miffed with not getting enough hours so she phoned the boss who she used to go to school with and has also been put on fixed 40hrs.

So basically, I could get 10hrs a week despite working really hard for the company and helping them out and because I haven't pulled a pint, gone to school with or shagged the spawn of the boss, I have no job security.

Is this fair or right?

Am peeved.

But have you asked for fixed hours? It sounds like you have been easygoing about when you work, ie studying around the hours you were give, whereas the others actually made a point of asking for what they wanted.

Yes I've asked for 25 hours, they ask everyone what they would like to work and have a requested hours board, everyone in the company is on zero contract hours except now these 2 girls

I was also told when I started that I would build up to doing full days 5 days a week plus odd evenings and alternate weekends, I now do 4 days a week, I pulled the children out of nursery for an extra day because it was just pointless and I never get day time hours, I get all my hour at evenings and weekends!

What are your contracted hours?

Filee, look for another job. They are massively taking the piss.

Zero same as everyone else in the company, besides two of the girls who know the owner of the company personally and have privately told her they are not happy with their hours and been given special contracts.

Who you know, not what you know. I've seen companies run like this.

Manager fucks a girl at work, gets her pregnant, she gets all the hours suited to them and also a promotion with a raise. It's bullshit. they get away with it.

Leaving would be so difficult, I love the people I care for and they would struggle without me.

whothefuck is it legal though?

I mean they can probably blag it if its one person but surely when it runs into being only the owners mates being privileged then it's blatantly obvious favouritism?

The example I gave was at a massive logistics company. Loads of managers fucking the 'workers' getting them pregnant (even when they're married!!)

Promotions going to people who are always late etc because they're good at bum licking the management.

I think it is legal (don't quote me on that) Kicking up a fuss about it just puts you in a terrible position as you are seen as a total pain in the arse, you work will be picked apart (any small detail will do) till they find enough to get rid of 'the trouble maker'.

It's not fair. But it happens all over.

If your face doesn't fit as the saying goes..

Unless you have backing of a union type of thing you're on your own ya know. It's frustrating.

articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-11/news/39899309_1_favouritism-employee-boss

As you can see from that, it's kinda put up or shut up...

Sucks.

Oh well, have to see what happens, it's not right though

These call in, home care agencies are a law unto themselves and completely out of control. They are badly managed, staff are porrly treated which, in this sector espicially, is an abomonation. People are looking after vulnerable peoplpe in the later years of life, offering support to do personal and intimate care, washing and medications. They might be the only person that client sees all day. Don't they deserve a decent wage, stable hours and some bloody security.

It was bad enoughi n care homes, but the rise in these care at home settings is a ticking time bomb. Councils are tendering clients (which are our mothers, fathers, grannys etc) out to the lowest bidder who is 'employing' as many workers as nessecary so they are never short, even if it means lengths of time with no work for those so called workers.

Something needs to be done.

It's really hard but the nature of zero contract hours which I can only recall being so popular in the last few years.

Really a company should have to offer a reasonable amount of hours. My company dictate that you can't work for any other similar company either

Which sucks!

It's a crappy situation but it's not unlawful. It's admirable that you feel such loyalty to the people you are caring for, but your first loyalty has to be to you and your family. There is such a shortage of good carers, woukdn't you be able to find another job easily?

I'm getting my nvq with them and have already decided to upskill in order to get myself out of such a ridiculous situation. I was hired under false pretences and that's hard, but on the upside the company will support me through my degree and there are always extra hours in the holidays and that is when I will be working more.

So I'm just going to make the best out of the situation and keep doing a job that I love despite feeling a bit hard done by in some respects

I suppose I just wanted a bit of a moan because it is shitty and my nature is to give my work my all... Which makes it harder I suppose.

filee777 I'm sorry that you are a victim of one of these organisations. This practice known as 'Nepotism' (or 'jobs for the boys') Is unfortunately part of work place culture where small organisations work in isolation.

I'm not sure of it's legal or not but it's definitely wrong and unethical. Unfortunately regulation and accountability are somewhat tokenistic and as long as they a fulfilling their contract with the local authority, they will probably be able to continue running the way they do.

What I worry about with these places is how the service users experience care. If they are not running the organisation properly, fairly and transparently then they are unlikely to be delivering a quality professional service on the ground.
There will be one or two carers who are probably great, but at the same time, under valued, underpaid and overworked.

I'm guessing you are one of them??

What I'd advise you to do is just keep a record of anything that you find unethical or bad practice. Particularly if it involves delivery of care to service users, and unless it is a safeguarding issue, safe it up until you leave. Then write a letter of concern to your local Adult Social Care Service that commission them. Make it professional, succinct and get some advice from someone who knows the language if you can.

These shits organisations think they are in a good position but the LA can end their contracts quickly.

From the point of view of your position, hang in there if you can and finish your NVQ. There will always be opportunities for good qualified care workers and not all organisations run poorly or pay as badly.

Just get a game plan for the next few months and start looking around at other work opportunities. You WILL be able to get something else. Just keep your head down so you can get your qualification and a decent reference, even if it means smiling and tolerating a bunch of chumps for a bit. You are not one of them.

"These call in, home care agencies are a law unto themselves and completely out of control. They are badly managed, staff are porrly treated which, in this sector espicially, is an abomonation."

Yes. Its very risky and the people that run some of these agencies seem to have very little training themselves, would not be able to provide care on the ground to their clients if they had to fill in for their own staff and have their priorities incredibly twisted. The whole idea of people setting up companies to make the maximum profit out of people caring for other people is awful.

It was a dire idea to privatise this sector and the consequences are only going to get worse.

Yup having been on the receiving end of the 'care' agencies provide I can agree wholeheartedly that if an agency treats its workers like crap, the 'service users' will also be being treated like crap.

Have you thought about finding a carer job directly?

Thanks for the support, I'll definitely keep a note of everything.

As I said I am training up as a carer which does tie me to the company for 2 years, but it's a food opportunity to do my level 2 and hopefully my level 3 also in the next year.

I am also studying social work at uni with the aim of becoming a full social worker in just over 2.5 years time, so I am not too concerned anymore at being messed about with hours, I have other stuff going for me which is I think essential. I can't have a life of barely seeing my kids and husband because I am taking all the unsociable hours going just to make up my wage!

Good for you.

The experience in poorly functioning care settings will give you some really good insights into Service User experience/organisational culture and P & D issues. Brilliant for essays and maybe even dissertation.

You will be a much better social worker for it. And, to be honest, having experience and insight into poorly run organisations with overstretched resources will prepare you well!

There are other Social Care Jobs out there OP and as a student social worker someone will snap you up. Just get your level 2 to keep you ticking over for now - if you really want it. You won't need an NVQ if you are going into SW.

No I don't think I will need an nvq either but the company would like me to do it and it all looks good on a cv!