To not go To work Friday?

[7moresleeps]

I have name changed due to this subject but I really don't care if the people involved find out I have posted this.. I have just had enough and want to curl up into a ball and cry!

I have just completed my childcare apprenticeship in my area, The children have been lovely and the staff have been Horrible, Horrible since the day I started. :(

. The boss always refused to me as " Just the apprentice" and when it came to putting staff pictures on the website she said to everyone that she put everyone's photos online apart from mine because I was " just the apprentice" I wasn't upset because she didn't put my photo online I was upset the way she refused to me as " just the apprentice". She said this in front of everyone.

. I have worked 8 - 6 most days and I was only contracted to work 8.15 a 5.30. When I had a meeting I mentioned this to the boss and she replied " your the apprentice, you need to be flexible in your hours" ( I never got paid for the over time and when I did stay on there was only 2 / 3 children left and 2 other members of staff) when I again mentioned this she got rather nasty.

. Some of the staff call me Cinderella and encourage the children to do the same This is because when they go for walks , play outside I have to stay behind and clean ( Hoover , Mop, put toys away etc) the preschool, Nursery and Baby room ( and bathrooms) and then sort the children's teas out all by myself And if I don't get everything done in time the dept manager gets nasty and makes horrible comments and then ignores me. The children's parents have said they thought I was the cleaner!

. I have never had the opportunity to sit down and join in with games with the children or babies.. The staff always give me lists of what I need to do that day ( clean all the toys in every room, sort the sleep room, be in change of the dishwasher and washing, file the children's artwork away) the staff just sit and watch / engage with the children.. Because of this I have never had the opportunity to build a bond with any of the babies or children.

. The boss has said if OFSTED turn up for an inspection I must go home " sick" as she doesn't want me around that day.

. The boss told me she wouldn't be keeping me on after Christmas because I have got my apprenticeship and it would cost her too much.. She told me that I would be loosing my job in the middle of the PARK with Parents and strangers around. That was the first and only time I have been out for a walk with the children.

. I have been having issues with my health condition recently and because of it I have been finding myself the sudden need to be sat on the floor because I am in so much pain, when this happens the staff tell me to get up and get on with it. The doctors and my specialist have said I am getting more " episodes" of this pain due to stress. They also moaned to my tutor because I have taken " too long" to complete tasks - They gave me 45 mins to do my " Cinderella duties" and do tea for 40 children, my health condition makes me take longer do to things, they know this.

. I have once very calming mentioned to the dept manager that I wasn't happy with her calling me Cinderella and the way she has been treating me and she said that she wasn't happy the way I had spoken to her, so I got called into the office.. I have only stayed at that place this long because I didn't want to make then think they had " won" and I needed to get my apprenticeship.

. I really don't want to go back to that place, I feel like I can't take this bullying anymore and because of it I am dreading Christmas. On Friday they have planned for me to sort the storage cupboard and clean and iron everything ready for the new year .. They will be having a specials Christmas breakfast party with the children when I do this.

On Friday they are only due to have more staff than children on Friday and I am at breaking point.

AIBU?
I mentioned all of my concerns before and suggested a rota for cleaning and meal times and they said they don't need one because I am the apprentice and I should do it.

Or alternatively go to doctors tomorrow morning explain to your doctor and ask for a sick note and email it over, on the grounds of youre medical condition being worsened

I know my doctor happily signed me off until I was able to go back to on work (3weeks)

I worked in a nursery like this once OP and decided to document everything that was happening. I finally gathered up the courage (normally a very quiet person who would never complain about anything) to approach the manager with it all and she was absolutely shocked - then angry and I got sacked on the spot.
I had to fight her to get wages due to me but got them eventually after threatening solicitor action.
I have felt so proud and in control since then and found out later it had encouraged other staff to speak out against the nursery managers and practices too.
OP please keep reporting them until something is done as it sounds like this is the way they treat all their apprentices and it should not be allowed to go on. Bullies should never win.

This is workplace bullying - plain and simple.

If it doesn't affect you in any way - DO NOT go in, I wouldn't even bother contacting them, I just wouldn't turn up.

Also absolutely log an official complaint, even if it just stops the next apprentice being treated like this.

I think you need to speak to your tutor and get their advice on what to do. They need to know for the next placement, and it will be on record if there are any more complaints.

I'd do that tomorrow rather than wait till Friday.

Ring ACAS and sue the bitch

YANBU at all. The Cinderella stuff is bad. Don't go in.

This makes my blood boil. I used to arrange apprenticeships
The deal is quite simple. The employer basically gets a free member of staff or one at rock bottom price. The caveat to this is that they have to put time and effort into training them. The apprenticeship framework is designed to make sure this happens. And a huge amount of checking should go on to make sure that the quality of education is there frankly.

I would just suck it up. It's only half a day. And won't you want the reference?

Refering to you as Cinderella is bullying, and the Apprenticeship providers haha a legal duty to safeguard you. Send a copy of your complaint to your tutor and don't go in on Friday ( or not at all this week, if you can afford it). They sound vile

Presumably the nursery has Staff Policy on bullying and harassment.
Ask for a copy and instigate a formal complaint. Tell your tutor that you're Intending to do this.
I was bullied out of my last job by a trustee chairman; I couldn't do a damn thing about it because they're not answerable to anyone.

If it's a private company then sadly they probably don't give a shit as the nursery and you both pay them. A respectable college would have investigated and then taken it
Up with the nursery.

I would be sick next week if it won't affect your apprenticeship. They also gave you a blessing, they didn't keep you on so you can go do your job in a place that will actually respect you.

I would put in an official complaint with the college as high as I could go about it so I felt I'd done what I could to help other people who may be put in the same position then I would move on and be glad I would never have to work there again.

Thankyou for all the helpful comments, I have sent another written complaint to my boss, Tutor and the training company I got the apprenticeship with.

I am off " sick" today as I am completely fed up with them ruining my life inside and outside of work. I have completed my apprenticeship.. The. Certificate is in the post, I have a CV and I have a new job Starting in January .. I am not letting them ruin my life anymore.. I am fed up being treated like a slave and bullied into doing all the dirty work.

I phoned in sick today and when the boss asked what was wrong I told her the sickness bug ( it's going around like crazy in the nursery ATM ) she said to me " if it's only one of - sickness or only diarrhoea you can still come in because you won't be suffering with both" I told her I wouldn't be coming in and I have had a lovely day at home knowing I am not getting shouted at and bullied into doing things!

I wouldn't go back at all anyway. You can sign yourself off on sick for a week before you need a sick note, so call in and tell them you are off with stress and you will arrange to go to the doctor after you have self certified for a week. That will take you to the end of placement anyway.

The exact same thing happened to me back in 2002 when I was doing a Childcare NVQ. I was treated the same way you have been, made to clean up everywhere and serve meals and was treated like a slave when I should have been doing activities with the children. The way the boss spoke to me was appalling, but no one cared. It got so bad that I eventually just quit the course and did a Business Admin one instead.... So good on you for sticking it out OP! And the best of luck in your new job

I would also write a letter to Ofsted to complain about your cruel treatment. It's very telling that didn't want you around incase of an inspection.

Cinderella fucked off to live a wonderful life in the palace, whereas those sad cowbags will still be trying to get their kicks by bullying their next slave..

Well done 7 - you've shown amazing resilience and now you can enjoy your Christmas break

I know it's done with now, but I'd write a letter to the nursery's LADO. I work in a nursery and the local authority (as have the majority) that should a person has sickness OR diarrhoea you should still be off for 24/48 hours (the time differs in each borough) as it's so contagious