To wonder if this is too many hours

[Shouldiwearmyhairinaponytail]

I know it depends entirely on the person but it just feels like a little too much for me.
It’s in care, and fortunately I’m soon reducing to only 2 days a week with them as I have got another job part-time somewhere else.

Next week I have-

Monday 8am-1pm and then 3pm-8:30pm.
Tuesday 9:30-10:15 and then 2pm-8:30pm

Wednesday 8am-12:30pm and then 3pm-8pm

Thursday 12:30pm-9:30pm

Friday day off
Saturday 8am-12:30pm then 3pm-7pm

Sunday 8am-1pm and then 3pm-5pm

There are little breaks here and there but mainly split shifts. I think it’s too much to be out that length of time each day, I’ve already told them this but they still give those kinds of hours each week which is why I’m changing to part-time. Having to be outside all day in this weather is awful too. Do you think this sounds like too much?

Depends what you can do on the break in between shifts?
Pop home and get the housework done/ cafe for lunch/ a bit of Xmas shopping and it's fine.

But if you've got to sit in the staff room/ your car as it's too far away to do anything then it's rubbish.

Yes I can sometimes go home for lunch or I go to a cafe/go shopping or something so I’m lucky I do get that I suppose

That shift pattern would not appeal to me. Split shifts are just awful.

It’s community based and I don’t drive so having to be out in the cold and wet every day is awful, especially with this wind.
I tell my company every single week that it’s too much for me but they just keep trying it on
All I can do is count down the days I suppose

It would be too much for me with only one day off.

Do you mean you're doing home visits as you said it's in care and you're outside a lot? It looks like the biggest issue is that - are yo u catching buses between calls so they're putting you on long shifts to accommodate that?

Care is terrible this way. So many agencies won't respect your availability and push constantly at any times etc. I left my last care role because I was continually expected to do twice the hours. People leave because the agencies don't respect their employees.

That's a lot. When I used to do care work ), my hours were like that, often until 10.30 at night. All the to-ing and fro-ing is no good. All agencies do the same split shifts, and they all seem to ring people all the time, wanting them to work more hours.

I found the job very rewarding but the hours, pay and management were crap.

No travel time between shifts usually, but most calls don’t take the full duration so it gives you time to make the next call.
I can’t wait to reduce the hours

I think it’s too much

Monday is 10 and a half hours! Split shifts suck as you can't properly relax or plan anything for the time in between. YANBU.

It's shitty, I'd be exhausted.
That said, they are meeting the legal requirements for at least 11 hrs between shifts, and at least 24 hrs off in a week. So they have read their legal requirements.....
I hope things become much better when you reduce your days, and they don't give you 4 half days scattered all over the place.

It's not the hours it's the split shifts. I used to be a chef and splits are just awful.

It looks absolutely awful, I would not last a week.

Split shifts sound awful, you’d never feel really free in the time in between because you’re clock watching to start work again

And community work as a non driver sounds equally awful, public transport takes forever and isn’t reliable (I know, I rely on it!)

One free day a week was fine when I was young and living at home, just trying to save up to move out. But I couldn’t do it now I’m older with more responsibilities

They classed 8-4:30 as a ‘half day’. That’s a normal working day for a lot of people !

You're working over 50 hours a week? Is none of that overtime?

And yes, it looks like an awful shift pattern. When I worked in care, they stopped doing split shifts (thank God!) and had a rolling rota system, which was much better for work life balance and having a life!

Try finding a care role that’s just in one place. I work in care but my whole 12 hrs are in one place, we work 3-4 days a week which makes full time but you get so much more time off. I’d hate split shifts or community work. Yes, there’s ALWAYS overtime that needs doing, but just up to you to say no to that if you don’t want the extra. Contracted hours are set so there’s no need to do more if you don’t want to.

Have you posted a few times before?
What hours does your contract state. If it’s zero hours then accept shifts you want eg mornings and be unavailable for rest. What’s worse they can do you are leaving for a new job anyway.

My daughter was doing similar shifts and had very little quality of life with her partner and children. I encouraged her to apply for a HCSW post in the NHS and request family friendly hours - it was the best thing she ever did, she says. People like to say the NHS is awful but they are pretty good employers.

Find a different job.

Similar here as I'm a chef 12/13 hrs with a lunch break are the norm.
I do get 2 days off though.

Why are you agreeing to 6 days a week? That’s madness. What does your contract say? Are you salaried or paid hourly?

@Shouldiwearmyhairinaponytail

No travel time between shifts usually, but most calls don’t take the full duration so it gives you time to make the next call. I can’t wait to reduce the hours

I'm actually surprised they've taken you on to do house calls when you can't drive. You're clearly spending a large portion of your work time travelling not caring for people.

What is your contracted hours? Surely there comes a point where you say look in contracted to work 35, I'm not working 50