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

They’re not going to sack you as they are so short staffed so just tell them you’re not doing the extra ones. You’re a soft touch and you need to get tough. Given the staff shortage nationally though I can’t work out why you don’t just get a new job!

They are breaching the working time regulations. i.e. the law. Call your union or ACAS.

Did you sign anything to opt out of the 48hr working week? I had to for a nannying job that was 55hrs a week. I didn't mind but the parents did make sure to point out that I could give notice to end the agreement. They put a month to cover time needed to make arrangements but I think it varies.

Tell them you can only do xx hours per week and if rostered for do more you will not be doing the extra.

And mean it. They will try and roster you. Just email them and advise that you will not be able to do x days as by Wednesday evening (or whatever that week) you will have done x amount of hours.

There used to be laws about working hours per week but since Brexit I don’t know what they are. Look on acas website it may say.

You don’t have to do what they say. If you want to do 35 or 40 hours a week max just tell them that.

Don’t be persuaded to do more. They sound horrible and they don’t give a monkeys about you so don’t deserve your loyalty. Stand firm. So not back down. When they see this they’ll stop trying to get you to do more.

Meanwhile look for another job. Your reason for leaving is that this is a zero hours contract.

OP, I'm not sure what advice you expect that you didn't get on your previous thread. Say no. Say they are breaking the law and you're not going to do it.

Isn’t there a law against this? Zero hour contracts are never a good idea. Just tell them you can only work 5 days a week.

Sorry, just reading through all the replies now.
Apparently any availability changes need 4 weeks notice. I told them I don’t care which day off I get, I just need at least one each week.
Funnily the manager has said he wants to give me a promotion and will arrange it in the next few weeks.
Some people are getting angry because I’ve posted before, but it’s not as easy as being made out, I have taken the advice and told them clearly I can’t work every day but it hasn’t got me anywhere

Just leave then? You'll easily get another job by the sounds of it?

What's stopping you?

Email tonight and say that as of the 6th of Dec you will no longer be available on Fridays. That gives over 4 weeks' notice. Then refuse to work Fridays (or whichever day you choose) regardless of how desperate they are.

But you're on a zero hours contract OP which means you can decline any shift. So unless you have already agreed to shifts, the 4 week availability notice is moot.

It isn't even you changing your availability- you could just say that as is your right with zero hours, you will from now on be declining any shifts which take you over xxxxx hours per week.

I would definitely in the same email state you believe they are breaching working time regulations (unless you have signed an opt out?) and hopefully that will make them back off.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time OP. It sounds like a nightmare and some of the responses aren't helpful.
Sadly, I can't offer any advice, but just wanted to say that you definitely aren't being unreasonable and I hope you get it sorted 🌺

Posting on here won’t change your situation. Only your action of refusing shifts will.

They are doing it because you are letting them.

With a zero hours contract they can literally say that from tomorrow they don't need you and that would be that right? But the same is true of you, you can say that you can't do x, y or z but then you have to be clear that you won't be doing it. You don't have to give any notice because you're not contracted to do any hours.

If they get rid of you they will be even more short staffed and really have a problem but they're really treating you badly. Forget the promotion it sounds like one of those promises that will never come to anything and is just there to keep you hoping and stop you leaving. They sound like a really terrible company to work for, please stand up for yourself and don't let them do this to you.

I work in care, and I understand what you mean and where you're coming from, however they're not going to change, the industry isn't going to change unless it's forced.
Employers like yours are responding to the shortage of workers by hammering those they have left rather than trying to recruit new ones and changing the things that make the job unattractive. It's not sustainable and it's ultimately a lesson the service users are going to pay for, but that's not your, or mine or any individual care workers fault or responsibility to fix.
My employer recently realised that they needed to up their game and have given us a pay rise and a bonus for covid service (for the extra hours we put in, being there for 2/3 days in a row as other staff were off with covid etc) and they announced at a staff meeting they're going to be paying for handovers from next pay run. They've realised that they stand to lose their staff because other employers are upping their game so to keep us, they needed to as well.
You need to leave, no, it doesn't look great on a CV, but then nor will working for a company that's got that sort of reputation, because word gets around. My advice is get out now, there's more choices in care with better terms available, you don't have to put up with it.

Check acas about working hours rules etc

I wonder if the manager is just spouting shite about a promotion so you continue to knock your pan in. Then he won’t bother with the promotion? Difficult to say, but he has a duty of care to his employees and if you’ve worked so much you’re exhausted then it’s damaging to your health and well-being.

I’d say that to him. That you are unable to work 7 days a week and that you have told him this before and as of x date you will no longer be doing that. And I wouldn’t give a months notice either. I’d tell him now that you can’t do it any more.

If he kicks off I’d be aware of acas legislation to quote at him if he tries to persuade you/bully you.

Some misplaced advice here. Agencies can and do get vindictive if you put your foot down over their pushiness and bullying. You'll have to amend your availability. I advise amending it to give yourself two full days together, make sure you're not pushed into eroding that with switchover s from nights too.

And yes. Quitting seems to be the only thing money squeezing managers really comprehend. They're so thick skinned to bulldozing burnt out staff they don't seem to know about keeping staff

I’d speak to them again and ask if they’ve got any more staff being interviewed yet as if not you are going to have to hand in your notice as the hours aren’t fitting in with your family life.

I think they won’t hire other people as they know you’ll do the work.

Give it a week or 2 and then hand in your notice if nothing changes. This time of year lots of places will be hiring so you should be fine getting a new job.

I wouldn’t worry about quitting people know care job conditions are shit and carers are in demand.
Get yourself a new job and be clear from start what you will work. Get a separate cheap phone for work. Do not answer outside work.

Seriously, if I interviewed you and you said you were quitting because of this then I wouldn’t care if you only worked there 2 weeks. Check the jobs page of your local council to see if they have in house carers. More reasonable with HR depts. Join a union. Just say no.

Someone was meant to shadow me yesterday but she just didn’t turn up, a month ago a new girl started then decided it wasn’t for her. They keep saying I will get a day off “when these new people start.”

Honestly think they couldn’t care less about me really and see me as a laughing stock

You are letting them walk all over you. How far in advance do you get your rota?

I'd put something in writing:-

"Whilst I am available and happy to work 5 out of all 7 days in the week, I am no longer able to work all 7. Please ensure if you rota me on shift that you cap my working days at 5 and leave two days per week clear. I am happy to let you decide which ones work best for you"

Worst thing they will do is give you less shifts. That's fine! And as someone else pointed out up thread they need you more than you need them.

Some people are getting angry because I’ve posted before, but it’s not as easy as being made out, I have taken the advice and told them clearly I can’t work every day but it hasn’t got me anywhere

Have to phoned ACAS as previously suggested?

Here is the law on zero hours contracts www.gov.uk/contract-types-and-employer-responsibilities/zero-hour-contracts

This means:

they are on call to work when you need them
you do not have to give them work
they do not have to do work when asked

Tell them in writing that you wont be in whatever day you want to have off and stick to it. Turn off your phone.

Also,

You cannot do anything to stop a zero-hours worker from getting work elsewhere. The law says they can ignore a clause in their contract if it bans them from:

looking for work
accepting work from another employer

So you can keep working there until you find another job and they can't stop you.

For Saturday to Friday, I get the final version on the Friday, 1 day before.
I don’t know why I’m allowing them to treat me this way.

We have 2 part-time staff leaving in 2 weeks’ time and I bet they’re assuming that I’ll do their hours.

I am going to send an email now saying I can no longer work Tuesdays. I bet they will try and say no as they’re struggling

@Krisjongun1

Someone was meant to shadow me yesterday but she just didn’t turn up, a month ago a new girl started then decided it wasn’t for her. They keep saying I will get a day off “when these new people start.”

Honestly think they couldn’t care less about me really and see me as a laughing stock

Here's the thing OP, as much as it may be hard to hear, they DON'T care about you. I get it, I worked somewhere previously where I did lots of unpaid overtime, one week I did 70 hours and got paid 39. I thought it would look good and I would be promoted. The place closed and I was made redundant, did they care? No.