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 can say no but you can say tough. You absolutely can. You will not struggle to find other work..

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

They legally can't say no. Could you attach the link to the government page and copy the relevant part?

Of course they will try to say no. But you can use that word too and until you start to, they are going to carry on as they are. You are being too passive here. If they get vindictive and sack you, so what? care companies are desperate, I dont think you will have any problems getting another job.

I'm pretty sure it's not allowed under the working time directive anyway? I think they have to give you a full 24 hours off each week:

www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

If they say no to Tuesdays off, give your notice.
Most likely - they're desperate for staff and will give you what you want so you don't leave. But you need to fomally give your notice to show you're serious about it.
Other option - they let you go, you leave and find another job.
Third option - you continue working stupid hours, you burn out and have mental health crises or suffer from preventable physical health issues and then you stop working due to sickness.
You can't continue on like you are, you will burn out.
And I see this as someone who's done 12day stretches at work, I was delirious by the end but fortunately had time off to recover. You can't sustain daily working.

I'm pretty sure it's not allowed under the working time directive anyway? I think they have to give you a full 24 hours off each week:

www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

This

Call Acas tomorrow for advice.

There are staff shortages across most sectors right now. You sound like a fantastic employee and I imagine you would have no trouble whatsoever in finding another position.
This is 2021, not 1921. Please, leave.

Companies like this want to keep their staff. Especially the good ones. I've a friend who works in Care and because she is so good, and reliable and flexible, they basically just get her to tell them what she wants to work each week.

I know it’s not just me they mess about, as I have had 2 colleagues give 4 weeks’ notice to reduce their availability, for example to not work evenings, yet the company keep putting evenings on their rota still or phoning them up to work if they can do some evenings.

I overheard the coordinator talking to his colleague about one of the other carers ‘Can you not blag her to do those night visits’. Says it all

I’ve just sent the email about Tuesdays

Well done on sending the email Krisjongun1. Hope they accept it, but be prepared for some pushback!

Good luck.I would ring Acas too.
I work 55 hour weeks so know how exhausting it is.

I remember your last thread. You do need to stand up for yourself or you will burn out. In your position I would definitely be looking for another job.

I used to run those services and I promise you they cannot force you. The more you simply refuse the less they will bully you because they won't waste their time. I stopped all sorts of awful practices when I took over a couple of branches and it was very much the case they used to tell absolute lies to get people to work or bully them. (In the Care Co's defence they are often bullied heavily by management and expected to cover the shifts themselves if noone else does it ....horribly bad practices and ones I always changed ).

Common threats before I stopped the practice were

Telling or implying carers they would stop giving them shifts if they said no (or move them to a crap round etc).....no they won't, they need you more than you need them. Totally empty threats.

Trying to enforce notice on availability changes....they can't, no company will take you to court even if it is written in the contract, it never happens ever. Those rules are not worth the paper they are written on
The only one not to break is don't give less than 24 hours notice of not being able to do a round (unless it's actual sickness).

The promotion they are dangling will be a field care supervisor....they will expect you to work the same and add in mountaims of paperwork. Think very very carefully, it doesn't usually gain you a lot. Also they won't take it away just because you insist on a day off. It's an empty threat.

You can and should hold the boundary. When they realise you will they'll back off. Simply tell them you have told them you are not working and will not turn up to any calls on that shift if they put them there. Put it in writing in an email. I promise hold the boundary and they will back off.

They absolutely can't lose you, especially now.

Look the behaviour you've described is incredibly commonplace and it's based on sand. They can't and won't force you. Noone ever invokes the contract unless it's safeguarding or right to work based. If they claim its a safeguarding for a round to be uncovered its their responsibility not yours. They know this as well.

Care Co's are under extreme pressure and even the nicest of them will do anything they can to get you to cover a round when the chips are down (the manager as well who is putting the pressure). I promise you , say no politely and remember they need you. Its not easy to find a full time trained carer who can pick up a round tomorrow you have far more power than you think you do.

I have 8 more working days until I’ve got 2 days off. I feel sick really, I hope something comes of my email.

So pleased you sent it. Hope it works.

Thanks everyone, I hope this will be it

Please do not let them break you.

I used to have help from Carers and I saw how the Agency always leant on the most selfless carers. THe ones that do not like letting anyone down.
They exploit your good nature and will do it until you leave. Which is not the best outcome for the poor souls who need help.
Manu ended up changing to a Home so they could be in the same place each day.

Stand up for yourself and tell them you will only work 6 out of 7 days a week, Nothing bad will happen to you.

sorryI meant 5 out of 7 days

Sorry to hear what you're going through!
0 hours contracts are rough, but it does mean legally you can do just that.
Do you get paid holidays - if so take one? I do remember when I was a student the contract was worded the allowance was "for the hours usually worked" so despite being on an 8 hour a week with 20+ hrs on rota I did every week.
If you're finances allow it might be worth calling in sick/having (you or DC) a positive LFT and waiting on PCR etc. I believe I saw your previous thread and you're non confrontational, it's the softer approach but could make them realise how much you'd be missed if you burn out!
Best of luck OP

*I do remember when I was a student the contract was worded the allowance was "for the hours usually worked" so despite being on an 8 hour a week with 20+ hrs on rota I did every week I got the equivalent of 20hrs per week in holiday pay

@Krisjongun1 Are you in the UK or Ireland? The term Zero Hours contract is different in each.

There’s plenty of employers wanting staff (not enough to pay thriving wage though), no need to accept this shit.

If they email back saying you must work. You need to tell them clearly no and that you will not be doing that shift. If they want to sack you they can. They won't.

I remember your previous post. Essentially OP, you’re allowing them to treat you like a mug. And it really is far more simple than you’re allowing yourself to believe.

1. State your availability.
2. If they contact you to work outside of your stated availability, say no.
3. If they insist, continue to say no.
4. At the time of the shift, don’t turn up.

I’d also strongly suggest looking for another job, you’ve set a very bad president in this one for being walked over and you’re unlikely to change that in any positive way now.