Rubbish work conditions or am I ungrateful?

[Anitawiglit12]

I know I am fortunate to have a job, but I feel that people deserve respectable working conditions and I don’t feel like I currently have them.

I do a 10-hour shift overnight. We are allocated zero break, granted there is sometimes 5/10 minutes to sit down here and there but it’s not a fixed amount of time where you can go off and take a break allocated to you.
It’s even worse for the day staff, they have an hour unpaid break taken out of their wages but don’t even get to take their break as they’re so busy.

I’ve been there 7 weeks and not received my contract. I was off with coronavirus recently and have received zero from them. Still waiting to hear from the test and trace support payment, but my job hasn’t paid any SSP even though they’re legally required to.

Every time I ask for anything I get told by the manager that she’s been very busy and will look into it, this is one of them.

I asked back in May for 4 days off in Mid July to see family. Heard nothing, asked her about it and been told she’s just been very busy etc. And she’ll have a look.
Still nothing. The rota for that week says I’m off for 3 days anyway so I book something for those dates. I worked set days each week. Then suddenly yesterday my days were changed without any notice so the trip I have booked is now void.

We’ve been asked to attend training next Tuesday unpaid and in our own time. Again I was off that day so planned something, now I can’t do that either.

A lot of places pay enhancements for working overnight but we get zero, even for Christmas etc.

The manager put up a sign saying nobody is allowed to contact her mobile under any circumstances unless it’s an emergency. I’m not advocating ringing her at 2am or a anything but just seems unapproachable.

Just getting a bit fed up with all this, the manager seems a bit like she couldn’t care less. I know there’s no point of me complaining and not doing anything, do you think it’s best to look for a new job or should I just be more grateful? Does anyone else have circumstances like these ?

Somebody I worked with regularly died unexpectedly and wasn’t informed by anybody until I went round looking for them and a colleague told me he had died.

Care home?

Yep, that’s the one !

That sounds utterly crap, how difficult would it be for you to find another job?

Hmm. Thought so. Start applying elsewhere. They're not all bad, but the bad ones can be horrendous to work in.

There are many care jobs advertised but I’m worried about it being the same thing. Don’t want to get a job hopper reputation either, I left my previous role after only 4 months because the hour’s reduced to only 16 so just wasn’t enough to live on which was a shame. Just need to find a place I can stay at for a while.

Apply elsewhere, there's good employers out there. No allocated breaks is normal in most jobs, you just grab a loo break or coffee when needed.

Is it I didn’t realise, I guess just as I’m newer to care. I’ve worked previously in schools and you were always given a 30 minute lunch break. I will start looking for other jobs.

There are websites where staff leave reviews of what their workplace/employers are like. Check those or ask around. Word of mouth can be really helpful. With care homes, their reputations, whether good or bad, usually precede them.

Our place has a good cqc rating. But it’s a small privately owned home so no reviews available sadly. I’ve had a look at reviews for the larger companies, very mixed but I suppose it depends on the home.
But there are places paying £10.25 an hour instead of £8.91.

dd had half hour break when she had CH job, 12 hour shifts.
Plus many staff get ciggie breaks.

That’s good that she had a 30 minute break. I struggle to stay awake around 4/5am and a break would allow me to have a short nap but we are expected to stay in the main room, not allowed to sit in the staff room etc.

Most do have good ratings. If there were more unannounced inspections instead of preplanned prewarned ones, I think that would change.

In the UK it is the law to get 20mins break for every 6 hours worked. Phone ACAS for advice.

Unfortunately I've had the same experience as you in some care jobs.
My advice would be to try and get another job and maybe try smaller homes, IME they've been better, especially when the management work 'on the floor'.
Sounds like either it's an ingrained culture or the manager isn't coping because they've got too much on their plate.
According to some in society, we're supposed to put up with this rubbish because it's a 'vocation' and we're supposed to be grateful that someone is kind enough to pay us for doing it. The only way places like this are going to up their game is if they lose their staff and struggle to recruit and keep more.

If you have the chance, look into joining NHS Professionals. They pay an enhanced rate at weekends and nights, there’s lots of areas to work in. You can work when you want, and so can fit it around your life.

The manager arrives early and always has time to have a cigarette outside for 45 minutes, plus she has an assistant manager. Not had a return to work or anything or asked if I’m feeling better, the first thing she said when she saw me after being off was why haven’t you done x job. Hopefully I’ll find something else.

Ring ACAS for advice.

@Justmuddlingalong

Most do have good ratings. If there were more unannounced inspections instead of preplanned prewarned ones, I think that would change.

Exactly! Even unannounced inspections, you always get a heads up and suddenly everything starts being done properly, stuff gets fixed and certain members of staff get the day off lest they tell the truth!

OP, I see you say you work in a small care home already, guess I've been lucky that the 2 small ones I've worked in have been much better than larger ones, good care homes as far as being good employers do exist, but people rarely leave, keep looking and ask around as a PP suggested.

Thanks I will look at NHS. No weekends off now, I’ve been put down to work every Saturday for the foreseeable.

As earlier poster said you are legally entitled to a break (however it doesn't have to be paid) after 6 hours. Legally you are also supposed to receive your contract no later than day 1 of employment.

It doesnt sound like a good company. Definitely look elsewhere. Look at reviews on glass door and indeed at other organisations

@motogogo

Apply elsewhere, there's good employers out there. No allocated breaks is normal in most jobs, you just grab a loo break or coffee when needed.

It might be 'normal' but it is still illegal.

I’m sick of having to fight for sick pay I’m entitled to as well, maybe if it were a larger company they’d be more likely to do things by the books at least.

There’s some excellent care homes and some terrible ones; looks like you’ve ended up in the latter.
As PP have seen, they’re not complying with employment law with the break situation and it sounds very badly run.
I hope you can find better employment soon.

Definitely join your local hospital Bank employment and look at their vacancies