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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it is unfair I am expected to do this

51 replies

mnposter123 · 07/08/2017 16:57

I started work for a home care agency about 2 months ago, for a bit of extra money.

The problem is a lot of women who don't drive also work there. And because we have to drive from house to house, we have to pick them up and drop them off.

It just seems so unfair - I'd love door to door collections and pickups. Last night it was raining and the woman lived miles away and it added 40 minutes onto my working day - 20 driving to her house then 20 back to mine.

AIBU?

OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 07/08/2017 17:44

I would just say no. This doesn't work for you.

It is costing you time and money, that isn't reimbursed at the full rate to put you even, and it is causing wear and tear on your car and tyres, that they won't be reimbursing either. And the extra mileage will raise your insurance rates. Your job is not to get other people to their jobs. your job is to get yourself to your own jobs and do them, end of.

Let them pay for taxis, learn to drive, or find jobs that don't require them to drive.

Stand up for yourself. Care home agencies have enough trouble recruiting people. You will be able to stay employed for standing up for yourself on this, even if they're annoyed. Not your problem.

ShotsFired · 07/08/2017 17:45

Are you able to totally fill your car up with stuff so there is no room for passengers?

Or if you have to drive her about during the shift, keep the boot and backseat full; and always be planning to stop on your way home for another large item which will then fill the passenger seat.

Or be stopping to visit someone so can't take passengers (this might be easier!Grin)

rosietosey · 07/08/2017 17:45

Can't see how this is fair if the other workers are paid the same rate as the drivers are.

They get to leave later and are home sooner, and don't have fuel, wear and tear etc. costs.

But that's stating the obvious.

Original poster
mnposter123 · 07/08/2017 18:01

Exactly rosie Sad

OP posts:
missiondecision · 07/08/2017 18:03

Talk to your manger, it doesn't work and your insurance doesn't cover you to do this.

Booboobooboo84 · 07/08/2017 18:13

It is unreasonable but it's only going. To continue unless you put your foot down and say you can't do it anymore

Filler44 · 07/08/2017 18:25

If you are happy to do for proper remuneration, tell them
If you don't want to do it tell them
Lie and say your car has broken down so you need lifts
If you haven't got the balls for any of above, leave.

smurfy2015 · 07/08/2017 18:27

I am someone who has carers and the way my agency works is to get the job they need to have a full drivers licence, access to a car, mobile phone as a basic.

It's a job that should be paid a lot more but isn't, my calls are double handed and outside my house is a meeting point as lots of space on central town estate,

Both carers arrive to 1st call At 7am and they go off together in one car and swap drivers after the next call

I think you are being taken for granted by colleagues who are getting driven around for free, as you say you would love picked up and dropped off as well. The management should be paying you extra for milage, insurance and wear and tear as you have expenses your non driving colleagues don't and they are expecting you to absorb them which isn't on.

You say you took this job on 2 months ago, how did they get around before that or was it the person who left whose role you are now potentially filling not just from a work point but maybe as nominated driver too. Sorry if that doesn't make sense I sometimes have problems expressing myself

LindyHemming · 07/08/2017 18:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

rosietosey · 07/08/2017 18:30

smurfy,

You said all that beautifully and very well thought out, your post makes perfect sense.

Elmersnewfriend · 07/08/2017 18:31

I think the National Minimum Wage team at hmrc would be very interested in this. I'd put in a whistleblowing report if I was you... https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/national-minimum-wage-enquiries-and-complaints]]

kazillionaire · 07/08/2017 18:36

First off, they are relying on your goodwill. The company know you won't leave someone alone at night and expect you to take them home well for one you are not insured even with business insurance and you should not be driving people around. The company should be giving them day rotas or not employing them unless they are happy to use buses. Meet at the first call and when you get to the last one it is up to them to get home, tell the company that you are not a taxi and that the other person will need to find their way home. We had similar at my work and they are a local authority and the end result is that walkers are only employed for day calls, it is completely unenforceable and if the company get a sulk on remind them that there are many more care jobs out there, they are taking the piss

Kailoer · 07/08/2017 18:45

Op, I'll try and say this gently but this isn't your problem

You can get yourself to work & back

How the others do that is for them to sort out, possibly with support from the employer (taxis booked by employer but paid by employee, a smooth exit out into a different job)

Stop trying to cover for your colleagues and employer : by doing what you have, you've solved a work problem for them at at rediculous cost to yourself

The next time you see a colleague in the rain at 11pm, honestly love, it's maybe horrid to do, but they're big adults & the employer has a duty of care here too

HotelEuphoria · 07/08/2017 18:56

They are taking the fucking piss your employers. They need to pay you a higher mileage rate for wear and tear and hen your time. If they don't sack them off, they will have to pay it then.

HeebieJeebies456 · 07/08/2017 19:01

Car sharing during shift - makes sense
At end of shift - people make their own arrangements.

If they would like to pay mates rates to you instead of getting a taxi....
then they better speak up!
i'd charge them cash on the night --for your time/fuel/new tyres/MOT/ins/choc/wine

Or just drop them off at the nearest taxi office

Not your circus - not your monkeys.

Rossigigi · 07/08/2017 19:11

Smurfy your post said what I was thinking.

topcat2014 · 07/08/2017 19:20

I go to work to earn money - not to spend it.
The cost of getting to and from my office each day is my cost.
Anything else is the employers - at 45p per mile.

Of course the care industry cannot find workers if it cannot grasp this basic fact.

Op - refuse to continue - being generous with a week's notice. The employer has a duty of care to it's staff - you are not the employer.

Yes, if someone's own car is in for service, for example, I would offer a lift around that day - but, non drivers taking a job needing a car - WTF were they even employed!!

Euripidesralph · 07/08/2017 19:22

I'm afraid it's relatively industry standard in a certain level of care company

A decent company will expect the non driver to get to the first care call and go from there

You don't actually have to have a licence to be a carer simply to be able to do double up calls or make it between calls on public transport (mainly the London area)

The only query I would have is two things, one is whether you have a higher hourly rate as a driver ? Some companies do and some don't ?

The other is was it discussed with you at recruitment....I made it clear to drivers the situation if they were on double up rounds

Saying that it's unusual not to receive some recompense to pick up and drop off ....there's a multitude of ways to do it , they can't pay you directly prior to first and last call as it affects nmw and there was a huge cause a few years ago that has now made that rule that very few care companies will pay before and after work as standard

The only other thing is I used to find out that the non driver carer had told the driver they were expected to pick up and drop off and I'd said nothing of the kind

If I ever asked a carer to do that I made sure they got something in return have you checked the office knows you are doing it ?

TicketyBoo83 · 07/08/2017 19:53

Fuck. That.

MaximaDeWit · 07/08/2017 20:00

What if you told them you couldn't afford to run your car any longer ?

Urubu · 07/08/2017 20:09

Did they told you that during the interview / job offer process?

AfunaMbatata · 07/08/2017 20:19

Could you organise a drop off point at night? Near a bus stop or something?

AntiHop · 07/08/2017 20:22

Even as a non car driver, yanbu. I make sure I have a job that doesn't rely on having a car

Original poster
mnposter123 · 07/08/2017 23:11

Most Some of the women smoke too and although they don't smoke in my car the smell when they get in it having just smoked is awful.

I'm going to get tougher. I like the taxi rank suggestion.

OP posts:
Slimthistime · 07/08/2017 23:20

OP how did they manage before you joined?
They need to go back to that.