Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How's this for working conditions?

34 replies

TonesK · 20/10/2021 08:02

I have posted a few threads recently about my new job as a PA for a disabled adult and the stress involved. Some under different usernames.

I have now quit. I only worked 5 proper shifts, and had not been given a contract to sign. I have quit without notice, which I know is bad, and I feel guilty, but the stress was making me feel so ill, and I have to put my health first. I have offered to go and say goodbye to the client.

In addition to the stress of the actual job, it was the working conditions that made me quit.

  1. We should not come in if we are ill. Even with negative covid tests and feeling well enough to work, the client is vulnerable so Parent wants staff to arrange someone else to cover the shift. Okay in theory but there is no sick pay!!
  1. Annual will need to be taken as and when suitable for the client, like to coincide with client going away with his family. (This will usually be during school holidays) Parent told me she was annoyed that another staff member wanted to take a 2 week holiday.
  1. No breaks on a 12 hour shift.
  1. I have a medical appointment on the phone, because it is during half term I was going to have to be at work earlier than usual to cover the time client is usually at college. The medical appointment is at a time when on a normal week I would not be at work yet. I told the parent about the appointment, which in my opinion could have easily been taken while with the client, but parent said I need to (arrange myself to) swap shifts with someone. Maybe IABU here.
  1. Parent changed a shift on the rota so it started 4 hours earlier without asking me.
  1. Expectation to keep in contact when not at work, via WhatsApp, email and phone calls. There is atleast 1 thing every day. Parents have both phoned (!!) me without warning, including at 8.50pm on days I am off. I only do 2 shifts a week!
  1. Wanting to know what I am doing on days I have said I am not available (am I at my other job or...?)

There are other things aswell but I think these are the main issues and I feel so much better having quit, bit guilty for not giving notice but I should get over that.

I text the colleagues that I got on with to let them know and wish them well, and one of them called me to say that she quit two days ago, for similar reasons. That made me feel IANBU, as its not just me feeling this way! Colleague is working notice though, but she has been there longer and is not as stressed as me.

OP posts:
Burnt0utMum · 20/10/2021 08:10

YANBU to quit. Hope you find something more suitable soon.

SapereAude · 20/10/2021 08:12

YANBU.
Sounds like a total pisstake. Can you leave reviews anywhere? I would.

Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 08:13

@Burnt0utMum thanks! I still have another job and can easily pick up enough shifts there :)

OP posts:
JurgensCakeBaby · 20/10/2021 08:14

YANBU to quit but this made you stressed enough it affected your health in five shifts.....

Fetarabbit · 20/10/2021 08:16

There's little regulation or funding for support of disabled people, especially disabled adults. The state largely affects family members to become unpaid carers (forgetting that they often need to work outside of the home to keep a roof over their heads...), or for individuals to arrange care with minimal support. Of course the working conditions are unacceptable and good on you for leaving, but I hope in the future at least one government actually looks at this sector and makes positive changes

Lemonyfuckit · 20/10/2021 08:22

You are asking if you were unreasonable for quitting without notice - no I don't think so anyway irrespective of what your contract said, as those working conditions sound completely unreasonable. But in any case - was it a zero hours contract? - how much notice would they contractually have had to give you if they wanted to let you go? Because if it was a zero hours contract then absolutely definitely not unreasonable - it cuts both ways!

turnthebiglightoff · 20/10/2021 08:23

YANBU to quite but what expectations did you have about caring for a disabled adult? Did you take sick leave within your first 5 shifts?

Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 08:57

@turnthebiglightoff no I did not take sick leave, but colleagues were asking to be covered a lot for colds more that I've ever seen in other jobs so I asked the parent about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 09:05

@Lemonyfuckit No, it wasn't meant to be a 0 hours contract, but there was also issues with the hours on the contract, parent wanted "minimum hours" on contract to be less than the hours I actually worked, and the hours I was actually working were less than the hours they had agreed to give me before I spoke to my other employer about cutting down my hours with them!
Anyway, they contract had not yet been produced for me to sign.

OP posts:
Lemonyfuckit · 20/10/2021 10:22

In that case definitely don't feel a moment's guilt for not giving notice, they were utterly taking advantage!

MatildaTheCat · 20/10/2021 11:54

The parents need training on what is legal/ appropriate when offering employment. They must go through staff at a ludicrous rate. Sounds like they are mistaking what they are prepared/ have to do with what they can expect from a PA.

NorthSouthcatlady · 20/10/2021 12:00

They sound like CF and you are best off out of it. They seemed to want to do what suited them, rather than what is legal

Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 13:28

Thanks all. So glad people agree with me on this. I'll be sending through the timesheet and petrol expenses form today. Hoping they will actually pay what is owed...

OP posts:
ShaneTheThird · 20/10/2021 15:45

Yadnbu!

EileenGC · 20/10/2021 15:49

1, 2 and 4 I can maybe see their point.
6 is common in my job.
3, 5 and 7 really not on.

YANBU to have quit. Any of those points on their own would be a reason to say no, that's not working for me. But all of them combined? Good thing you've left!

bloodywhitecat · 20/10/2021 16:00

YANBU but it is not an uncommon way to be treated in my experience, even when I was on a care team with the NHS the conditions were bad.

Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 16:04

Employer is now asking for guidance on whether I should be paying them back for the DBS, training and time spent drafting contracts!

Pretty sure is illegal!?

OP posts:
EileenGC · 20/10/2021 16:06

I wouldn't be paying back anything because that was your time and your effort spent on preparing for a job you intended to do. They clearly didn't read up on 'guidance' when presenting those conditions to you, did they?

Fetarabbit · 20/10/2021 16:07

@TonesK

Employer is now asking for guidance on whether I should be paying them back for the DBS, training and time spent drafting contracts!

Pretty sure is illegal!?

They can't ask for any of that back unless it explicitly stated in anything you signed. Training for example, there is sometimes a return of service fixed to it ie if we pay for x you have to pay it back before you leave for y; but this would have had to have been made very clear before you undertook it. DBS and drafting contracts lmao, they are just trying their luck.
Tal45 · 20/10/2021 16:14

They are complete CF's, no wonder they can't keep people.

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 20/10/2021 16:22

@TonesK

Employer is now asking for guidance on whether I should be paying them back for the DBS, training and time spent drafting contracts!

Pretty sure is illegal!?

Well, that would have to have been in a contract, wouldn't it?

Doesn't cost much to submit a claim for illegal deductions of earnings...

ShaneTheThird · 20/10/2021 16:39

Cheeky cunts. No you didn't have a contract so you pay back nothing. I would counter that with small claims court for wages.

Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 16:48

@EileenGC number 6 feels like one of the worst to me. Like I want to switch off on my days off and not want to think about work. I work part time for a reason! (Study and other responsibilities)

Is your job similar? Do you feel able to ignore the messages?

OP posts:
Original poster
TonesK · 20/10/2021 16:53

@JurgensCakeBaby tbf I was already stressed as its been a hard year: losing my father and having a serious injury. But this stress was on another level! Obviously means I'm not suitable for the job, even if there wasn't all the other issues!

OP posts:
EileenGC · 20/10/2021 17:03

[quote TonesK]@EileenGC number 6 feels like one of the worst to me. Like I want to switch off on my days off and not want to think about work. I work part time for a reason! (Study and other responsibilities)

Is your job similar? Do you feel able to ignore the messages?[/quote]
Not a similar job, no. I work in the performing arts industry. It’s just how it is. If you ignore messages or calls you’ll miss out on work opportunities (we’re mostly freelance) or important updates. You’re constantly networking and there is no switching off on days off, but you do know that when you start training in this job. Every day I get a phone call about rescheduling a meeting, rebooking a room or workspace for someone, can you please organise X before 10am tomorrow, I’ve spoken to colleague Z and we’re swapping to another timetable tomorrow. 90% of these happen during my time ‘off’. I’m also studying at the same time so I do feel your pain!

Sometimes they give you notice though. I might work on Saturday, don’t know what hours or where/in which capacity, but they already told us we’ll find out Friday evening at 11.30pm. We don’t normally get so much warning Grin