Miserable Midday Supervisor Job

[AlPacino]

Need some advice.

I started work as a MS two weeks ago and I’m miserable. My back is killing me from dragging around all the tables and chairs and I am constantly left on my own to somehow clear the hall from one bubble for the next bubble. It’s really stressful. I’ve been told that a lot of staff have left because of back pain. I cannot injure myself for the job.

However a lot of the MS staff go on to be TA’s in the future. I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot by quitting so soon. I don’t know what to do.

Not the most fab job in the world is it, and I did it long before Covid and cleaning between bubbles!

Your employer should have a risk assessment for staff H&S, which you should have been given, along with the H&S policy. See what it says if anything. You are entitled to raise this issue with them. Do colleagues have the same concerns?

Was there much competition for the job, do you know, ie how valuable are you to them?

You could also join a union who will represent you; I suggest UNISON.

Just rereading your post: how come you get left on your own? Are they understaffed , is it bad planning or personal politics? These could have all been true at the school I worked at!

@Augustbreeze I get left on my own because they have decided they need 4 people on the playground and just one in the hall running around like a mentalist. Yes we all feel the same. It’s bad planning and not enough staff. One of my colleagues has such a bad back that she has prolapsed discs....

Wow! Are school aware of this?

Who are "they" who've decided they need four outside? A manager or the other supervisors?

Yes they do know and they were pissy with her when she told them about her back...

It’s the manager who has decided they need a bunch of people on the playground.

You need to tell the manager(who is it, a teacher or not?) that it's impossible to clear all the stuff away on your own. And dangerous.

I have said that and all I got was a snotty reply. I’ve started applying for other jobs....

Might be best. Have you worked out how you'll explain leaving the job so quickly at your next interview?

Oh yes I’ve done a LS role and my lower back was in agony from all the bending. It was the best thing I ever did though, as I quickly went from LS to TA, to a pastoral role. So maybe stick it out if your back gets a bit better.

I would advise looking after your back, having had a slipped disk (pre working in schools). Perhaps go to GP (if poss st present?) and get some advice so it's on yr record. And then you can inform school of the advice.....

I’m going to say I’ve injured my back moving all the tables.

I thought that about the dr, thank you...

I’d like to be a TA!

I am a midday (also work all day at school from half 7 as I work at breakfast club and after school club and am also a TA in class)

Just want to say I love my job don’t give up! It used to be my favourite job out of all of them! Once covid is over and back to normal it’s great I promise!

I work in a primary school and would suggest talking to the Head.

If you are interested in becoming a TA, don't give up.

I would say that you absolutely love the job but that moving the tables is too much for one person, that you would like to avoid leaving if at all possible, is there a way forward?

@HeyBaby2020 I do love most of it, but the hulking around of the tables is miserable. It’s the same outside of COVID at our school, I’m told.

@rawlikesushi I thought about that, but as there are only two of us I suspect it’s going to be non- negotiable. There is nobody else to do the tables. I did bring up that doing all of them on my own hurts yesterday but it was just suggested that a TA helps me a bit. There is still too much heavy lifting for me.

How do schools get this stuff so wrong? Ask for manual handling training, a manual handling risk assessment and occupational health input. Isn't there a janitor or caretaker who can help you? Please don't ruin your back. A bad back is absolute misery.

It sounds like you're right to look for a new job then. Didn't you know what the job entailed when you applied? It's not worth damaging your back for, I agree.

At the interview they said am I ok with heavy lifting, and I asked how heavy the lifting is, like is it difficult for one person to move the tables etc. Turns out doing so many tables and benches twice a day is unimaginably hard work. Each table probably weighs about 4 stone at least. And there aren’t many of us to help. Apparently they used to have 7 midday staff members but cut it down to 2!!!

Leave before you ruin your back and find a different LS job. Good luck.