Anyone else work 7 days a week? Can’t take anymore

[Krisjongun1]

I have posted before but things haven’t changed since I spoke to them, so please don’t be frustrated.
I have been in my job for 3 months, and my last full day off was 12th October. My next day off will be 13th November.

I have had a meeting with my manager and I was told that they are very short-staffed, and that they are not able to give me a full day off until there are new staff members.
This is not my fault or problem, other staff are given days off each week.

It’s not even about me saying yes to extra work, they put it on the rota and even if I say I’m not available, they say they have nobody else and it’s within my availability.

It limits the time I have with my partner and family. I earn a decent amount (for me), £1700+ net each 4 weeks, but I do over 50 hours a week.

I don’t see an option apart from leaving. However I quit my previous job after only 2 months as it was night shifts and I struggled with them. So I feel like I cannot quit after only 4 months (which it will be once I work my notice). Not sure where to go from herr

Here *

You'll have to leave if they don't change it. This will burn you out.
Is it a big company?

I also never finish before 7:30pm except for once every 2 weeks
They’ve had 2 new staff members who were meant to do some of my hours but they just didn’t start work in the end, but again I shouldn’t have to pay for this.
They have branches around the UK I think

How many hours are you contracted to work each week?

They may be able to spread your hours across 7 days to suit the business, but you can't be forced to work above your contracted hours surely?

Just quit and leave it off your CV?

You're doing care work? If so you need to be firm- reduce your availability. If you need to leave, just leave that job off cv next time

Are they following the guidelines here?

www.acas.org.uk/rest-breaks

What are your contracted hours?

I would refuse to come in once I'd worked those each week, tbh.

That is illegal, you must have at least 1 day off per week or 2 per fortnight. Plus 11 hours min between shifts. They're contravening the Working Time Regulations.

I'd get tough: tell them (via email) that from now on you'll work6 days maximum per week. Keep any conversation written so you have a paper trail. Although if they're that desperate it seems unlikely that they'll try to sack you.

I would tell them that they will either give me 2 days off a week or I'll hand in my notice immediately.

I would think about telling them you are thinking about raising a safeguarding concern. I think I’ve read your other thread and if you work in care, this can’t be very safe for you or the vulnerable people you are visiting.

I know care companies are struggling in some areas with recruitment but the answer is not to treat you like this. Why do you think they don’t treat anyone else like this?

other staff are given days off each week

How is that?

@CoffeeRunner

How many hours are you contracted to work each week?

They may be able to spread your hours across 7 days to suit the business, but you can't be forced to work above your contracted hours surely?

Under the Working Time Directive they absolutely can’t. She must have a block of either 24 hours off in 7 days or 48 hours in 14.

I’m on a zero hours contract so I guess that changes things.

Are the other staff doing the exact same role as you?

You're not a robot this sounds like torture you poor thing

On a zero hours contract you get to state your working hours not the other way round, start my emailing them your availability and say you can work X days and X hours,.

You can also simply say no, it isn’t for you to manage their hours.

I think you posted this before. I don't understand why you can't/ won't refuse the extra shifts, say no or quit??? There is no other advice to give really

I'm guessing you work as a zero hours home carer?

It's a rubbish way to treat people. Could you reduce your availability? Tell them there's one or two weekdays a week you are not available and if they schedule you in tell them every time you can't do it. Plus let them know you will definitely leave if they give you too many hours.

0 hr contract means that you don't need to work that much. You call the shots. Don't be guilt tripped.

You have a lot of bargaining power if they're that desperate, and leaving is a realistic option for you. If you walk out they are presumably screwed. So tell them what hours you're working and if they don't like it they can fuck off. (You might require them to pay you more as well ...)

@Krisjongun1

I’m on a zero hours contract so I guess that changes things.

Makes no difference.

Change your availability op.
Say you can't work any two days a week.
They won't sack you if they're so short staffed.
Also, pretty sure it's illegal to give you one day off a month.

I recently had a similar situation. Was working 12 hour days whilst getting the hang of my new job. However, once I got faster they just added more work.

The permanent employees are on a 10 hour shift so they just do what they can, but I'm contracted out by my employer so was working until the work was finished. Eventually, I just started leaving after 10 hours as I concluded that it wasn't sustainable doing 12 and if my boss disagreed then it was obviously not the right job. Barely a word was said about it so they obviously knew they had been taking the piss.

@Krisjongun1

I’m on a zero hours contract so I guess that changes things.

Yes, it means you can refuse any shifts you don't want.