To refuse to give this person a lift

[blackcatpurring]

I am a home carer. It's shit.

I'm working with someone who doesn't drive tonight. They have messaged me with this:

Hi, I'm working wifh you tonight. I don't drive so can you pick me up please? I live at 123 London Roa

AIBU to reply "no, make your own way to the first call."

"the care agency did phone me and ask before hand if i would mind "

Say no, they should pay you mileage. Cheeky bastard agencies with their fat fees.

I don't drive. Did home care years ago and I never expected to be drive around. And when I was offered a lift it usually was to my train station or bust stop.
Your work colleague is very cheeky. And on this basis I would refuse to pick her up.

*bus not bust

How far away is she ?

I agree it's absolutely pants and unfair on you, but I'd probably offer a compromise like saying if she can be at your house for the time you leave you'll take her from there and on the way back she needs to make her way home from yours.

If it's less than a couple of miles - well she'll just have to walk to get to yours or take a bus. If it's more than a couple of miles - well that means that you will be doing significant extra travel time that you aren't getting paid for and I'd feel happy to point both of these out if she complained about the arrangement.

why the actual FUCK did you apply for a driving job when you can't drive, you stupid piece of shit?

Lovely. As others have said, it was likely either that or lose benefits. Plus agency probably assured her that it would be OK. The issue is that the agency should be properly compensating those who give lifts to co-workers. I agree that it's rubbish but calling her a stupid piece of shit is out of order, whether or not you say it to her face.

sinceyouask what a horrible heartbreaking story. The benefits system really reinforces at every opportunity that you are a worthless, second-class citizen just because you need a bit of help, often through no fault of your own.

I know. Then you get "but there are no buses at 11 at night / 6 in the morning / that go that way" why the actual FUCK did you apply for a driving job when you can't drive, you stupid piece of shit

You're in the wrong job. Ugh.

YANBU.
You are not paid enough for the caring work as it is, why should you also offer a free taxi service? If the agency paid more they would find it easier to find carers who can drive. They are exploiting the good will of carers like you. Don't cave. You could say this:
Not possible. I don't ferry other carers around. It's not convenient for me.

Ynbu.

I'd be pissed off in your position. But I'd still send a polite message back as you have to work with this person. "Sorry but I can't do pick ups/drop offs".

I get your anger. You do a shit job for shit pay. You probably therefore have a fair few stresses. Do something nice for yourself this weekend OP.

"The issue is that the agency should be properly compensating those who give lifts to co-workers"

Exactly, so don't let the scumbags take advantage.

YANBU. It's the agency's fault, ultimately, for hiring a non-driving carer and giving her calls that she can't walk/cycle too. She should be speaking to the co-ordinator to let her know she can't do the call.

What did you say when the agency phoned you and asked if you'd give lifts?

I run a homecare service for a charity and we have recently changed our working practices to pay an above average hourly rate for all time , including travel time. We have always paid 45p per mile travel and will always pay any care staff extra mileage, and if necessary for extra time if they do favours for us such as picking up another carer with car problems. There are some good employers out there but the whole concept for large companies who view it as a money making exercise has lead to appalling pay and conditions for many care staff.
I have always wondered why more care assistants don't join a union. if pay rates are less than the NLW then employers risk prosecution - they should be reported.

Don't do it. I used to do the job you do. My domicilliary agency actually employed staff fully knowing that they can't drive and expected the rest of us to be giving these people lifts. I caused a huge stir when I started there and simply refused to do it. They couldn't sack me for it so just had to deal with it. It's not just the extra mileage on my car and the petrol but also my time. And that is very precious to me. Why should I be waking up extra early to go and pick somebody up whilst they get a lie in. Same in the evening. They could be in bed by the time I'd get home. Also, they won't ever be able to share their car with you because they haven't got one. You'd end up driving all the time whilst they are sitting having a rest between calls. The rest that you wouldn't be getting cos you have to concentrate on driving. If they worked in Tesco would the supermarket make another employee go and bring them to work and take them home? Care agencies get away with stuff like this because not enough people stand up to them. They won't sack you, they are too desperate for staff.

I know. Then you get "but there are no buses at 11 at night / 6 in the morning / that go that way" why the actual FUCK did you apply for a driving job when you can't drive, you stupid piece of shit

You're in the wrong job. Ugh.

how is the OP in the wrong job, she can drive and has a car and can actually get to work - its the other person who is in the wrong job

Ideally the other person would be a driver, and they alternate who drives - its like trying to be in a car share and not actually having a car!?!

Agree Billben - plus as well as the time, there's quite a high expense involved in running and maintaining a car, so effectively the non driving colleagues are getting the value of that for free.

Completely get where you are coming from. I have also done this and have worked with people who don’t drive/don’t have a car.

So unfair that I would use my time and fuel and they get chauffeured around.

Once I was due to work with one such person and they didn’t even get in touch with me beforehand. Just didn’t turn up to first call and when I called the office and they made contact with her she was just waiting for me to pick her up. She hadn’t given me her address - was a real case of ‘someone else will organise my shit for me’.

Carers are so underpaid as it is.

i'm glad i don't work with you i'm a home carer, i'v never had to pick up any one i work on my own, but it would not bother me if someone asked me to pick them up, personally i think your a shitbag

Pretty sure OP is delighted to have to work with you.

And it's you're a shitbag. HTH.

My DPs have a care package that included daily support from home carers. These carers are paid minimum wage or a little over plus a minimal amount for mileage in return they get insufficient time between clients and are often asked to slot in extra, urgent calls and so miss their meal breaks. Inability to recruit and retain staff especially drivers means that picking up another worker is expected. On the other hand the care agency charge eye watering amounts to the clients or Social Services, I know for a fact that DPs' agency charges 3x as much as they pay.
I really don't blame the OP for being unwilling to provide co-worker transport for free.

to not have to. fucking phone!

Yanbu op. I think care work at the moment is exploitative

And it's you're a shitbag. HTH.

How lovely educating the unskilled workers are you. Yet you think its okay for the op to call her colleague a stupid piece of shit.

"you stupid piece of shit"

Blimey, someone's got anger issues. I hope you're never looking after a relative of mine, or I'm ever working alongside you. Is there really any need to be so anonymously on the internet aggressive?