I wrote this in the chat section.
I work within the caring profession. I had a contract with hours and duties laid out. I found that that were easily overwritten by my boss. So much more was tagged onto what I have to do. I find that I'm just a dogsbody
I'm supposed to mind disabled people
prepare their meals
clean the kitchen
work on industrial loads of laundry
look after pets
amongst so much more.
I need to rely on my boss to come in an relieve me of my day and often that doesn't happen. Basically there are so many weeks when I am working undeclared and unpaid overtime. I'm forced into doing this because my boss isn't coming in to relieve me. When she does come in, I am still required to continue work until she decides whatever time suits her to let me away.
Basically I can start my days anytime between 9 and 11 am and finish any time between 7.30 pm to 10pm. That's it typically.
Sometimes I am required to do overnights too and that can be difficult because I am working 2 days in one and often with minimal sleep. 3-4 hours a night. It can be very difficult. So many times it feels like I have a hangover even though I am not drinking. That's probably tiredness and stress.
I was called into the office today to say that I am required to update my skills and go on courses and they gave me a course to sign up to online. All well and good but when I finish work if find that it's a breather space for me. An hour or two off before I go to bed and do it all again the next day.
I'm finding the idea of a course so overwhelming. It wouldn't be too bad if my position wasn't so demanding and intense. Maybe if I had a better work life balance and I might enjoy finding time to study.
I started work yesterday for an overnight and so it was an early start this morning and I don't know what time I am going to be finished at tonight. I suspect a late one because the boss is on the road today and she probably won't be back until 8 or 9 if I am lucky.
Typically I am working 8 to 13 hours a day, 5 days a week. Then sometimes I am chased for weekends too about once a month. I was doing last night and I saw the rota and I'm down for the whole week including Saturday so my next day off is on Sunday.
This is just insanity. How am I supposed to find a few hours in my week to study and update my skills? It wouldn't be too bad if I had a work life balance.
I went into work yesterday evening and it was 1am by the time I was allowed to finish my duties and go to bed. I had to be up again for 7 am. Its now 6.45pm and I have no idea when I am allowed to finish my day. I think its going to be a late one. Maybe 8 or 9 or 10. It's scandalous. A factory job would have me clock out hours ago. I don't even get paid over time. I get paid a set pay each week whether I work 30 hours or 60 hours or more.
Now they want me to do a course on top of this? When I finish my job it's time for me to go home and get ready for work most evenings. I don't want to throw my head into books. Of course if my boss had any manners at all I would probably be allowed to finish after 8 or 9 hours or at least give me a half day on a Friday. All she's thinking about at that stage is getting more work out of me.