Difficult work situations - AIBU to leave because of this?

[reallyhatingwork]

I am working as a home care assistant.

I don't really mind the actual work. The problems are really that I have to double up on shifts with other care assistants; at the risk of sounding really precious I find this so difficult!

They will nearly always want to start the shift early which means it's impossible to plan time - so if for instance it says on paper your first call is at 330 they will want to start at least 20 minutes before this.

If I drive some of them smoke and even though I ask nicely if they would mind not smoking in the car the car still smells of smoke if they stand outside it and then get in the smell is overpowering. Then, if they drive they just smoke anyway as obviously it's their car. They also listen to loud music - really loud. It gives me such a headache.

I'm also genuinely frightened when some of them drive. They drive like absolute maniacs, hurling over speed bumps, screeching round corners, grinding to a halt at junctions. I was sick yesterday (car sick) as one of the women just drove like a maniac and I was really scared.

Two of the women swear ALL the time! I don't mean the odd word in frustration or annoyance but just as a sort of adjective? I don't like it, and it makes me feel intimidated.

Maybe I should raise this but I know what people say in theory and what happens in practice are really different.

What would you do? Like I say reporting isn't really an option - it wouldn't change anything.

Smoking in a work vehicle is illegal. If you are in a car being used for work it is a designated place of work.
If you have had a risk assessment done for your pregnancy they must be breaching it.
The dangerous driving is also a breach of health and safety.
I suspect the CQC would be interested in these breaches.

I know ilove but again it's difference between the reality and what should happen. The rule is no smoking in uniform but it's someone's own car and technically their time too you know?

If they are travelling on work related business the vehicle is a place of work and it's illegal to smoke in it. Nothing about it being their car or not being paid for travelling time counts.

I know it isn't easy in reality but you have the right to a smoke free vehicle

I know in practice it's just in reality I know they'd refuse and I'm quite shy and feel uncomfortable pressing the issue especially as someone has already said there's a lot of issues!

Sorry you don't feel you can push the issue. As I said I think the CQC would be interested in a refusal to comply with the law, particularly one which doesn't safeguard you in pregnancy. If they refused they might be somewhat bothered to be contacted by CQC to explain themselves.

I'm not sure what CQC is

It isn't just the smoke, though - I guess the issue is having to spend long periods of time with people who do things I really dislike and find frightening or intimidating. There isn't a way round this - well the single calls but I can't do these for another few months and I can't last that long.

The CQC inspect care homes and businesses.

If you are leaving because you feel intimidated you need to make that clear to your employer.

Thanks although I'm not sure that would be fair. It's more my issue really. I do hate the job though!

It really isn't your issue. I suspect the next person might well feel the same.

There is a massive staff turnover which means the people they DO have working for them maybe aren't great?

Problem is the managers are nice! But that doesn't help when I'm hurtling round corners at 50 mph!

Can you ask to work with a non smoker?

I can't think of any! But the smoking is fat from the only issue

The massive staff turnover tells me that people are leaving because the working practices are making them unhappy. And if no one will speak out things won't improve.

I used to do this kind of work when I was doing my nurse training. Could you travel to calls on your own , rather than travelling with the other carer? I know you would be using more petrol but at least you wouldn't have to put up with your colleagues smoking & bad driving? I very rarely travelled in the same car with others because we usually had to go off in different directions after the double call.