Work full time post vs full time bank

[FTMFML]

AIBU to leave my full time contracted post to do the same as “bank/agency” work with no sick pay/annual leave but the ability to choose where/when I work?

For context I feel entirely burnt out with life/work at the minute. Full time NHS job with a toddler is much more painfully hard on my mood/stress levels than I had thought. I do not see her for 4 days in a row due to shifts and then see her constantly for several days in a row, when I’m with her I wish I was at work, when I am at work I wish I could see her.

YABU- what should I do to ease the burn out?
YANBU- sounds like a good plan at the moment.

You could try bank see how it goes I am sure if you don't like it other jobs will come along

Thank you, yes you are right unfortunately there is an abundance of posts on the NHS at present!

Not an NHS position but I have done similar giving up a full time role to work bank. I now enjoy parenting much much more and no longer feel like I’m being suffocated by life.

I was only able to quit my previous post as my husband has a well paid, secure role which covers day to day expenses. I’m now only working one day a week as Ive realised I don’t have the capacity for more before my daughter starts compulsory education.

Hey, I know how you feel, I quit the NHS completely because of nightshift burn out! If you can be sure that you’ll be able to access enough shifts on bank for your needs then it would be worth a try. I tried going on the bank, but was in a bit of a niche role, so there wasn’t always enough shifts available to me. Also, are you sure you won’t get AL? Even zero hours contracts have to provide a leave allowance now… Good luck, it’s so hard to get the balance right. X

No real advice OP but I'm considering the same at the moment so I can work around studying part time (with the aim of getting out completely). It's a scary step to take though - I keep hesitating to take the leap.

YANBU!!!!!

I know exactly how you feel!! I currently work in a care home and fuck me it's shit! The manager doesn't care and tells us night staff to 'get on with it' when we are severely short staffed and over 30 resident to care for with only 3 staff and sometimes even 1 nurse in the building. I'm so burnt out that I've asked to go BANK but they don't know that I've asked to go back until I can find myself another job (hoping for a teaching assistant job). I put a letter in last week asking to go bank and I've heard absolutely nothing! I am currently on the sick from yesterday because I nearly had a breakdown last Friday because I just didn't not want to go in.

I'm locum & nothing would tempt me back to permanent. Nothing.

Thanks all it’s great to hear different perspectives! Turns out you do get annual leave, it is looking like a good option to be honest!

I did exactly this when my daughter was younger. At my trust your hourly rate takes into account annual leave and you get an amount per hour to make that up. When I wanted time off I would work extra in the few weeks before to make up for the wages I was going to lose out on. Always tried to ensure I had a buffer of money in case of cancelled shifts/sickness/changes to childcare etc. I did it for around 3 years (and through the height of covid) then went back to a permanent half time role when I decided I wanted a bit more certainty and back up of holiday and sick pay etc. As I found out the hard way sometimes a buffer just isn't enough if you struggle for shifts then end up off for a prolonged period of time.
However the role I moved into was a totally different area of nursing and a higher banding too. Topped up my wage with one or two bank shifts a week and then moved into my role full time around 18 months ago. Good thing I did in the end as I'm now almost 31 weeks pregnant and would have only got SMP otherwise. But on the whole it worked really well for me while I was doing it :)

YANBU if you feel there is no other option but I would approach your line manager/ manager of the area you want to work first and see if any adjustments can be made to allow you a better work/ life balance. A lot of NHS areas are currently highlighting well-being of staff and you may find they are happier to allow you a set shift pattern/ flexible hours, rather than lose you.

Working in the NHS you do get a lot of benefits such as increased AL allowance the longer you are there substantively/ pension/ sick leave etc. I’d be reluctant to lose that only to work for the same hourly wage in the same job just doing different hours (your trust may pay bank more but mine doesn’t?).

Also consider if you can afford not to work or mind where it is you work- doing bank you are likely to be the first to be asked to move areas if places are short and bank shifts may dry up periodically. I have some fantastic regular bank workers in my unit that have worked almost full time the last year or so but as there has been a recruitment drive and we get more staff the shifts are now fewer and further between and by Feb we will only have a few shifts out a month. I’ll be gutted to lose those staff but that’s the nature of bank.

Finally, if you do decide to leave and are nursing staff, you may find you are better off with agency as opposed to bank due to the higher pay. Good luck.

I also only did night shifts when I was bank so the pay was significantly higher than what I was on before so was also able to work less hours each week, but obviously that doesn't suit everyone.

You could dramatically reduce your hours in return for some job security, sick pay etc and pick up bank as extra. Or, take a career break so you have something to fall back on if the bank doesn't work out.

I am doing half half of contacted vs bank in my similar role to make more money and have less stress but also still keep my pension and some sick pay