Unfortunately I lost my job during lockdown and my industry will be one of the last ones to go back/zero jobs around.
I decided to become a carer to ‘give back’ and to test the waters if I fancy a career change into nursing. I also still have a lot of bills to pay and we’ve cut everything down to the bare bones.
For a full-time contract I have to be ‘available’ from 7-22:30 6 days a week. With family commitments/general well-being I knew that would be far too much. The other option being zero hour - they said during the interview/training process if I showed ‘willingness’ to help out the company I would have plenty of hours - but I have to be available for at least 11 hours a day 6 days a week.
At present I’m usually getting between 5-7 hours work 6 days a week in that 11 hour period (I usually start at 7 and finish around 6pm with various ‘breaks’ between).
However every day they ask me if I can work until 22:30 either for that day or in the next few days. I’m often asked two/three times if I can work that shift.
They’re getting annoyed that I keep refusing (I’ve said I’ll do lates if I start later but no avail). I’m getting annoyed they keep asking. I’ve already started to notice that since I’ve been refusing to ‘help out’ that they’re starting to cut back my hours or put me on an awkward schedule (I.e. an hour ‘break’ then a 30minute call then another 1 hour break). Which I’ve been warned that’s what they do to ‘punish’ for saying no.
There’s not a hope in hell i’m punishing my family or my body for an extra £15 to do the late calls. I was pretty certain beforehand that employees need a 11 hour rest break between shifts? Or does that not apply in care?