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 ?

My neighbour works for the NHS on Bank. She usually does 3/4 nights a week. Have you considered supported living (adults with additional needs)?

Don't worry about being seen as a job hopper, the local care scene will know exactly why you are looking to move jobs. Your home is acting illegally re breaks and needs reporting, ring a few local home sand see if they have vacancies - best of luck

Thanks for all the replies. Will there be enough work on bank? Just in a position where I can’t afford to have less than full-time hours really.

We’re also expected to arrive early and leave late to do handover, unpaid again. Though maybe unpaid overtime is the case in many jobs sadly.

I agree look elsewhere, there are loads of care jobs around at the moment. I am not a carer but work within the service and in most homes I work everyone has a set break time at least during the day. In fact some carers seem to take umpteen breaks.

Haven't read everything but if you are on minimum wage and they are making people work over an unpaid break and attend unpaid training then they will be in breach of nmw regulations. Report them if that is the case. Sometimes hitting them in the purse is the only way to get them to change.

As others have pointed out, several things they are doing are illegal and ACAS could be helpful. Or CAB. There are good care homes, but lots of care organizations are crappy to work for, so a different type of employer (NHS, big organizations) or type of work might be the answer.

We’re also expected to arrive early and leave late to do handover, unpaid again. Though maybe unpaid overtime is the case in many jobs sadly.

This, unfortunately, is industry standard. I'm not sure why the staff are expected to foot the bill for handovers but it's been the case everywhere I've worked, that you are in handover 15 mins before your shift starts and each shift does this, often presented as a 'favour' each shift does for the previous one, so you get the privilege to finish on time.
It's almost I feel, because you're sat down and not physically engaged in care of a resident, the same as writing notes, so they feel they don't need to pay you as it's a 'break'. It's not, handover and notes are really important in good care.

Thanks everyone this thread has made me realise.
We deserve some respect and decent conditions, it’s not just because we should be grateful to be employed that we’re expected to put up with whatever.

Nhs would be better for you . I always started at 7 for example and that's when handover would start .. so I get paid from 7. Night staff would be on shift until 7.30 anyway so would get paid to handover to us and maybe go a few minutes earlier .

We got 60 minutes break for a 12.5 hour shift ( 3 x 30 minutes ) but this was unpaid . We would do an extra long day a month to make up for it .

In contrast I now work in private healthcare 12.5 hour shift with one 30 minute paid break however sick pay and maternity pay is awful where as it is generous in nhs .

I’m applying to nhs professionals currently so fingers crossed !