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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hand my notice in at work

226 replies

Notwavingimdrowning · 26/10/2018 08:50

I work in the nhs and although things are difficult at work at present ( lots of changes by the powers that be, lots of politics and no communication) I love my job. My problem is that I have just been given my Christmas rota and while I expected to be working some of Christmas or new year, I didn’t expect to be working all of it and other staff be off for all of Christmas and new year. In previous years we have worked short shifts and everyone was fairly treated and most were very happy with their off duty, me included. This year, I have been given night shift for 5 of the nights over Christmas. So, three nights in a row, a sleep day Xmas eve, then two more night shifts, Xmas day and Boxing Day, as well as long days New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I have been and spoken to my manager who agreed that it was very unfair and has now taken one night shift (Boxing Day night) from me. My January rota is also just night shifts, literally every weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights, not a single day shift at all. I really don’t mind nights and weekends, it’s part of the job, however I do mind every weekend and all night shifts and have spoken to her about this before.
Again I have been to see her and she said that she couldn’t please everyone and that somebody had to have the short straw, I’m guessing that the somebody is me.
I am seriously considering just handing my notice in. I know it sounds like I’m having a temper tantrum ! I don’t expect to have everything changed for me and I know that somebody else will then be allocated my shifts, which makes me feel utter crap towards my colleagues, but it’s the attitude from my manager and unfairness that is the problem. I cannot afford to just give up work really without another job to go to, but my husband will support my decision 100% and I will easily pick up bank shifts so won’t be penniless. I’m not trying to hold them to ransom, I really don’t expect anything to change and do not kid myself that I am irreplaceable, I’m just so unhappy 😞

OP posts:
eddielizzard · 26/10/2018 10:32

Grossly unfair. I would quit and say it's untenable.

caringcarer · 26/10/2018 10:32

My sister is nurse and has always either worked Xmas or NY. As her children were older she offered to do Xmas so those with small kids could have it off but she would not be happy to be told to do both. Your manager is treating you unfairly. I would consider going to union with workplace bullying claim. Then your manager will have to justify to your union rep why s/he has given you unfair shift pattern. Failing that move to agency work. I thought from what my sister has told me agency get paid more anyway but not pensionable income. Consider handing in notice if union can't help you and take all of Xmas off and do agency in NY. You are probably too nice and don't complain enough and your manager is taking advantage of your kind nature. Don't let them do this to you.

Miscible · 26/10/2018 10:34

The problem with your supervisor saying someone has to draw the short straw is that she seems to have given all the short straws to you. She needs to explain why they can't be shared around more.

Stopyourhavering64 · 26/10/2018 10:37

I stopped working on wards yrs ago as I hated nights and genuinely felt ill when working them !.. since then I've .worked on dialysis and oncology units...where it's been 9-5 ( or thereabouts) Mon-Fri ever since
I now work in a very specialist nurse role at B6 and again have bank holidays and every weekend off...

Gabilan · 26/10/2018 10:42

Speak to your union because allocating someone the short end of the straw sounds like: managing someone out; constructive dismissal; truly poor management.

This. Go to HR or your union because this sounds very like constructive dismissal. I'd probably quit anyway, but HR at least ought to be made aware that they have a shit manager on their hands who will cause them a problem one day. (Like Monday, when you hand in your notice!)

tomatosalt · 26/10/2018 10:45

I myself am waiting with baited breath for my Christmas roster. If I have that shift pattern I will be very clear with my manager that unless some changes are made I will be leaving.

FrancisCrawford · 26/10/2018 10:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elfycat · 26/10/2018 10:51

I'd go and hand in my notice today, so you finish before Xmas Eve. I have in fact done this over not being allowed any annual leave over a summer holiday and into September because I didn't have kids so leave was being allocated to them as the priority (my now-DH had been away on a tour with the army and I wanted a week off).

Yes this was nursing too.

Funny how all of a sudden they wanted to 'talk' about how to assist me.

And yes, go for unfair dismissal, that you are getting all nights - which you've spoken about before as being untenable, and all of the shit as Xmas. State it in your resignation, that you have tried to discuss this and have been dismissed - leading to you having no choice but to leave for work/life balance needs not being met by the trust.

Or if you decide to stay have another discussion and make a formal grievance?

Kaykay06 · 26/10/2018 10:52

That’s awful, nhs nurse here too. We do one or the other not both and some can get annual leave either week names in a hat so I’m off but all v fair and they keep track of who worked what etc. Also we only do nights or days in the same week and no more than 2 weekends a month/rota.

Speak to other staff and your union
Surely there is a fairer way of doing things and your manager needs to sort this for you. I couldn’t afford to leave but I’d not be happy in your shoes either.

RomanyRoots · 26/10/2018 10:53

I'd make one last stink and if nothing changes then i'd be gone.
You will easily get another job with better hours if you are a nurse.

reallybadidea · 26/10/2018 10:56

In my department all Christmas and New year shifts are offered on a voluntary basis first - everyone knows that you have to do either one or the other and you generally find that some are happy to do one or the other. If you don't volunteer then you get the leftovers. It works really well and there are very few complaints.

reallybadidea · 26/10/2018 10:57

Meant to say I wouldn't bother with the hassle of grievances, unfair dismissal etc. It will take time and hassle, just resign and move on.

TidyDancer · 26/10/2018 10:58

I'm NHS (although not medical so not directly comparable tbh). Our Christmas and New Year leave has been divided up fairly this time. Roughly, we're in two groups, one group has the 27th, 28th and 31st off and the other has the 2nd, 3rd and 4th off. Unless it gets changed in the meantime, which it shouldn't, then everyone seems quite happy about it.

There needs to be give and take with this, it's supremely unfair for one or two staff to be put upon just because (as so often seems to be the case) they are reliable and won't fake illness to get out of working on the important days.

rubyroot · 26/10/2018 11:03

It's such a shame that agency wages are better and money is wasted on paying agencies money- pretty perverted I think..

Anyhow, that's not the op- I wonder if you are being pushed out by your manager. Is this a possibility? Surely she must realise the consequences of her actions?!

Feefeetrixabelle · 26/10/2018 11:03

hand in your notice and make it clear that the unfair Ritas have made your position untenable

Feefeetrixabelle · 26/10/2018 11:04

Rotas not Rita’s- unless your line manager is called Rita Grin

Miscible · 26/10/2018 11:04

Will it affect your reference if you resign now?

Holidayshopping · 26/10/2018 11:05

That is awful-I would resign tomorrow.

notapizzaeater · 26/10/2018 11:08

I'd ring a few agencies and see how many bank jobs there are around then if plenty I'd walk.

Dvg · 26/10/2018 11:08

fuck that i would leave, disrespectful of them to just have you working all the crap hours that no one else wants to work.

FaithInfinity · 26/10/2018 11:23

I’m a nurse and I don’t think Yabu at all! Everyone expects their fair share but there’s no justification for giving you those shifts and some not having any. There’s plenty of bank and agency and as long as you’re happy doing that (you’ll probably have places begging you to apply when you go there) I’d do it. I worked somewhere like this. Ridiculous favouritism and strangely enough, almost everyone has left in the last two years...

wrenika · 26/10/2018 11:27

In your position - and judging by the comments about it being easy to pick up hours through agency or bank staff (forgive my ignorance but I know nothing about nursing!) - I'd hand in my notice now. Put yourself first. You only have one life and we never know what is around the corner. Pick and chose your work to suit your life, don't let them make you work every hour god sends.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 26/10/2018 11:33

I would go above her head first, see where that gets you. Unless they’re all twat badgers it should get you a fair rota. I would have my resignation in my pocket and if their attitude is crap, hand it straight to them.

I used to do the staff rota, if the person doing it wishes to be fair and reasonable they can be. If they have staff that are unreliable, then it’s THEIR job to address that and that does not include putting upon the reliable staff.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 26/10/2018 11:35

It's stupid saying somebody has to draw the short straw, while everyone else does OK. Everyone should have equally slightly shorter than average straws to make it fair!

Mummyundecided · 26/10/2018 11:43

Sounds grossly unfair, OP. Your manager is either taking the piss or (more likely) has cocked up the rota and now can’t get anyone else to change their shifts.
Raise with HR, but also look for something else. As a PP said, know your worth. You should find something fairly quickly, and in the short term, agency work?
You could go as far as raising a grievance - if you’re planning to leave anyway, but want to wait to be offered another job before you go it should buy you some time (and may result in a festive shift change).
Please ignore the PP who said resign and claim unfair (I think they mean constructive) dismissal. It’s always best to raise a grievance and see that process through first, as you will have documented evidence to back up your claim.
Good luck OP!