Bit F*cked off with work atm.......

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

had a staff meeting for the night staff this afternoon (all 4 of us LOL). Lots of things covered nothing particularly pertaining to me (I think anyhow). When we were asked if we had anything else to say I thought I'd just thank the other 3 night staff for being so fabulous over the last few weeks when I've been feeling like sht and exhausted (for those that don't know - I'm 10 weeks pg). Basically they've been doing more than their fair share of the cleaning and domestic stuff around the house - although I've still been getting all the residents up in the morning that I should be.

Manager (who was also there) said "oh yes, I was going to ask to speak to you about that, a few of the staff, including day ones, have complained that your standards have dropped and you've been rather slack". I told her that I was no (thankfully) starting to feel much better and would pull my weight with my share of the work again. I don't personally believe that my 'standards' have dropped - I just haven't been able to do all the 'extra' bits that need doing.

She said that if I was struggling on nights then I'd have to talk to her, and she would consider putting me on days. I'm NOT going onto days

a) there's no way I could get up in the morning for the 7-3 shifts

b) there's no way my wages would cover the childcare costs - DH works from 1pm (ish) until 9pm - and if I was doing the afternoon shift (3-10) I'd need childcare for that.

Basically I feel like they're taking the pss. I worked 50 extra hours last month - because we're so short staffed and I worked extra the month before - and have already worked nearly 20 extra this month........then I get told my "standards" aren't good enough atm..........

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

I was asleep in bed when you posted to ask Uwila - was at work last night.

Well the girl I was on with last night and I were having a good laugh last ngiht - talking about the staff meeting and how everything that had been 'brought up' in it was really just about me or her.

So...............she spent 1 1/2hrs cleaning the lounge and dining room, moving all the chairs to hoover under them etc etc (apparently one of the 'problems' is the cleanliness of the home has gone down.....and supposedly that's all down to us LOL). Changed the table cloths and all the other stuff, And I spent over 1hr cleaning the 3 bathrooms which we have to do on nights too - EVERYTHING got cleaned - the place stunk of flash and furniture polish by the time we'd done with that .

I "only" got 4 up to do (as opposed to the maximum I could have of got up which is 6) but I made sure I spent AGES with them and did an immaculate job. She and I both 'checked' each others jobs that we'd done to make sure there was nothing that could be 'picked up' on and I think we both agreed when we left if they find ANYTHING to bring us up on about last night then they can p*ss off LOL.

[Uwilalalalalala]

HRH, how are you now? Things improved at work?

Remember that you are also entitled topaid time off for doc aappointments, ante-natal classes, midwife apptments, physio, etc.

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

Bozza - don't worry I won't overdo it - I know my limits - that's why I "let" my colleagues do a slightly higher proportion of the work load in the last few weeks.

And when I was pg with DS2 I was putting up flat pack furniture - 2 large bookcases, a chest of drawers and 2 bedside cabinets all on the same afternoon.......I stopped short of the triple wardrobe as I knew it would be too much for me

[Bozza]

I was a little concerned to read this:

"but I'm feeling more human now - and I'll bl**dy well show 'em what I'm made of"

Be careful qoq. Think about what you are doing and don't overdo it.

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

Uwila - not sure if I can be bothered doing that - it's bl**dy hard work doing extra night shifts - really takes it out of you - and wrecks what little 'family' time we have together at the moment LOL.

[Uwilalalalalala]

Another thing in case you don't know it, find out which weeks are used to determine your maternity pay and work some extra hours in those weeks... boost up your 90% anyway.

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

thanks - have to say I'm feeling a bit more positive today. My "standards" may have dropped in the last few weeks (while I've been feeling like sht) but I'm feeling more human now - and I'll bl*dy well show 'em what I'm made of .

Have to say part of me feeling better stems from going into work today to see my NVQ assessor. While I was there I was browsing in the staff diary - where messages for all staff are left.

One read "please make sure back door is locked at all times, xxxxxx got out today and was found on xxxxx road".

I was reading it - and was really shocked about it - showed a colleague (who works occasional nights, cleans, cooks and works other day shifts too) and she said "who's that". She's a completely dizzy woman who doesn't seem to have a clue about caring. Ok this xxxxx has only been in the home for 2 1/2 weeks - but you'd think that someone that works almost everyday for at least 2/3hrs would know a new resident by now.

Made me realise that perhaps I'm not doing so badly.......

[arfishymeau]

Is it a private care home HRH?

Don't forget that they are the company - they make profits and as an employer they know what their obligations are.

It's really easy to fall into a trap of 'helping out' and putting in extra effort - but IME it never pays back (and I know this sounds awful, but I've put in the extra effort with lots of large companies and still been shafted) - look at where you are now. You put in the extra effort, you've slowed down to 'normal' because you're pg and you're being chastised for it.

Your extra hours and extra effort put extra cash into the company. Part and parcel of being an employer is taking responsibility for employing people, and that includes appropriate treatment of pregnant women.

I know this is a bit of a rant, but it annoys me so much to see people taken advantage of. They are in the wrong and you should stop letting them take advantage of you.

[Uwilalalalalala]

I'm with Colitz. Look after yourself, HRH. No lifting anything heavier than a toddler. The reason for this is that your ligaments get soft and stretchy during pregnancy, and so if you lift heavy things you can do permanent damage to your ligaments. This is bad and surely not worth risking at this silly job who doesn't appreciate the real effort required to pull your weight when you are pregnant.

And if you ignore this advice and lift anyway, make sure you lift with knees bent and back straight (but you probably know this).

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

right off to tidy up too - thank you

[colditz]

bah. Is now 8pm

bah

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

thanks for that (pssst - you've been reading the thread backwards haven't you - don't think the risk assessment bit came in until later in the thread ).

PS - GET YOUR ARSE INTO GEAR AND TIDY YOUR HOUSE

[colditz]

I hasven't drunk my tea yet lol

[colditz]

Babies due on or after 1 April 2007
Maternity entitlements and responsibilities: a guide - babies due on or after 1 April 2007

This guidance covers the legislation around working during pregnancy, maternity leave, maternity pay, and return to work. The rules which have changed are:

• all employed women are entitled to additional maternity leave (see Maternity Leave section);
  
• the payment period for statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance has been extended to 39 weeks (see Statutory Maternity Pay section);
  
• the notice a woman must give if she is changing her date of return from maternity leave has been increased from 28 days to 8 weeks (see Keeping in Touch section);
  
• optional keeping in touch days have been introduced enabling a woman to work for up to 10 days during her maternity leave period (see Keeping in Touch section);
  
• we have clarified that all women have a right to return to work after maternity leave regardless of the size of the employer (see Return to Work section).
  
  
  Risk assessment
  
  Your employer must carry out a risk assessment of your job to find any possible risks to you and your unborn child. These risks might be caused by:
  
  
• lifting or carrying heavy loads
  
• standing or sitting for long periods
  
• exposure to toxic substances
  
• long working hours
  
  Your employer must then either remove the risk or remove you from being exposed to it (for example, by offering you suitable alternative work). If neither of these is possible, your employer should suspend you from work on full pay.
  
  
  *
  
  Discrimination and pregnancy
  
  It?s unlawful sex discrimination for employers to treat women less favourably because of their pregnancy or because they take maternity leave. Such treatment includes things like:
  
  
• trying to cut your hours without your permission
  
• suddenly giving you poor staff reports
  
• giving you unsuitable work
  
• making you redundant because of your pregnancy (you might still be made redundant for other reasons)
  
• treating days off sick due to pregnancy as a disciplinary issue
  
  Your employer can?t change your terms and conditions of employment while you?re pregnant without your agreement. If they do, they?ll be in breach of contract.

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

colditz - no need to do anything now......you got a downstairs of a house to blitz - and I have to get on too.

[colditz]

If you are unable to do your job because you are pregnant (and that means no heavy lifting full stop, because you will utterly fuck up your pelvic floor muscles!) then they have to find you a suitable, same pay, same prestige job. If they can't do that, they have to sign you off on full pay, not sick pay.

You will be amazed how quickly they will realise that they know the law when you show them you do.

Have a H&S risk assesment, use the hoists if hoists are provided and safe to use, if they are not, request a different job that has the same hours. Bending isn't a problem, lifting bloody is!

Give me a few minutes, I will see what I can look up.

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

here you are Colditz - I guess I'm more p*sssed off at the attitude than actually wanting to do anything about it (can't be bothered to do much about it TBH hardly seems worth the effort) - but you've always made me see the bright side of my work (and home!) problems before now

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

that's what I was thinking sk - I don't want to push it with the h&s assessment....but I still don't like being told that my standards had dropped

[smittenkitten]

hi HRH. you are entitled to a risk assessment, but if you feel happy doing the lifting and working nights etc then don't push it. if you were unable/unsafe to work because of the pregnancy then you would be signed off - don't know what your sick pay is and whether you can afford it. they cannot change your working hours or subject you to any detriment because of your pregnancy - that is automatic sex discrimination (kerching!). hopefully this will all blow over now that you are feeling better, but hopefully this will give you confidence in dealing with your boss. Alternatively, is there any other night work where you live? 24 hour call centres provide a seated and comfortable alternative if you like the idea of talking to people (though it is less caring).

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

Uwila - I'm staff.

bahh - can't believe I'm sitting around moping about this instead of enjoying my gorgeous DS's (they're happilly 'entertaining' themselves inn the lounge at the moment!).

Re the moving and handling - we're all care assistants - and all care assistants have moving and handling to do - so there's no getting round it really [frown]

[Uwilalalalalala]

If she pushes you for when you are leaving, tell her the day the baby is born. Then if you are feeling rough 4 weeks before, well just chang your mind with a sick note from the doctor. You are entitled to sick time off, but if you miss work for a pregnancy related illness in the 4 weeks preceding your EDD then they can force you to start your maternity leave then, but not sooner. If you can not lift heavy thing when pregnant (duh!), then I think (and I'mnot sure so get this verified) that they have to give you a more suitable role but they can not go round changing your hours and forcing you to go home against your will.

It is sexual harassment whenever you are treated differently for being pregnant because men don't get pregnant, therefor you are being penalised for being a woman. Of course you must choose your battles. Some aren't worth fighting.

[Uwilalalalalala]

Are you staff or contract?

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

darn it I'm still p*ssed off about this.....thank god I'm not working tonight or I'd probably be tempted to call in sick !

[HRHQueenOfQuotes]

And of course once again the timing for this is just wonderful......just as I was planning to speak to her about my wages. Turns out (through 'banned' chat about salaries with other members of staff - including my supervisor LOL) that when I signed my contract back in June I should have received a 20p pay rise. For one reason or another I've not found out about this until recently, and decided to wait until we'd got our 'official' payrise in our October pay.......well I got "a" payrise....but now I'm earning what I should have been earning before - so really still not on what I should be.

My manager is such a fickle b*tch that I daren't speak to her now that I've been 'pulled up' about my standards dropping.

[FredArthur]

HRH - your manager is appalling and needs to be hit over the head with a copy of the Employment Rights Act. It sounds like your colleagues are OK but the person in charge has got this "oh no, pregnant woman, what can I do??" panic going on and needs to get over him/herself.

You might want to mention to him/her:

a) you are not obliged to tell them this far in advance when you are going on maternity leave but as a favour you will tell them as early as you can.

b) you hope she/he isn't implying that because you are pregnant you can't do your job because you know that the company woulnd't do anything like that that would of course be discriminatory against you as a pregnant woman

You might want to mention the Employment Rights Act 1996 to them. A lot. I know it sounds silly, but it's amazing how much good mentioning the law does, particularly to people who are getting difficult because you're pregnant.

Otherwise, you could just do what I did and be sick on them.