Staffing issue

[trickyfriendsone]

This could be a long one.
My area of business is chronically under staffed and has been for over 18months. Can't get annual leave because of staffing, can't take breaks and on some occasions we can't even have toilet breaks because there's literally no one to cover even for 2 minutes. (This is not an exaggeration, we'd be disciplined if we left our post unattended) if you're off sick you're hounded until you agree to come back no matter the issue and if they don't like the answer they someone higher up the chain to call you to put more pressure on.

Today we're 6 staff short for the bare minimum numbers meaning another shift with no breaks. Tomorrow and the weekend we're 8 short. We actually can't do our job properly and are providing a terrible service to our wider colleagues and the public.
Overtime is not being offered because of budget cuts but. The only perk was getting to finish slightly early but that's been taken off the table and it's full 9/10hr shifts no debates. If you argue your case you're deemed a trouble maker and punished by being given the worst jobs to cover.

Where do we turn when bosses don't care and the unions don't act for us?

Leave?

Sounds horrendous. I'd be taking immediate action to get another job tbh.
Are you so badly understaffed because of the poor conditions (people constantly leaving) or budget cuts?
You don't get breaks or annual leave, work long hours, get pressured to work during sickness... Do your bosses really think that's a way to keep you on the job? Because any sane person would know no one would stay.

Unfortunately not an option for me. Plenty folk are though which just exacerbates the issue.

It pays reasonably good money and I need that right now otherwise I'd be gone in a heartbeat

Find another job. There are very good reasonS, why who you work for, cannot keep staff or hire replacements.

Badly staffed because of the toxic working environment/conditions. The pay & terns/conditions are pretty good on paper. In reality it's a different story and budget cuts mean it's only going to get worse

If I could leave I would. The nature of the work means there's little transferable skills so that and a reasonable pay package is what keeps the majority of us there.

My personal circumstances mean I honestly can't consider leaving just now or for the foreseeable

There are always transferable skills. Your work environment has just worn you down to a point where you believe otherwise.
Off the top of my head from your first post - extremely good at time management, highly conscientious, motivated to work hard, loyal, willing to go the extra mile.

100% positive there are more.

If bosses won’t listen and neither will unions, then you don’t really have anywhere to go, unless the job is covered by a governing body, your prepared to go to your mp, or the press. But not one of those will help you keep you in the job - so ultimately it will be down to put up and shut up or leave. Sorry to be harsh, but that’s it.

Do you have proffesional organisation. I would also put a paper trail of unsafe conditions.

What is happening to your annual leave . Would acas help ?

PP is right, you will have transferable skills. You need to spend time sitting down and listing all the skills you have.
Time management, reliable, good communicator, team work, able to take control, health and safety, good with the public, working under pressure to timescales, conscientious, handling money, any specific technical skills etc etc

Honestly OP you are worn down and the job is going to start to affect your health, then you'll end up off sick with work related stress which is a really bad situation to be in. Get out now while you can

Well you only have two options, you can stay and put up with it or you leave. Of course if they are breaking the law then you can go to an employment tribunals, but this is still likely to result in leaving.

The job market is awash at the moment. I was supposed to start a new job this week, they pulled the plug on me a week ago and yesterday I was offered a new job elsewhere. I am sure you can find something else as a stop gap whilst you look for something else more up your street.

What line of business is this that has no transferable skills?

Are you all in a union? If not, it might be too late for them to assist as it's a preexisting issue, but they might negotiate if your whole team sign up. If you have a union who is failing to act, approach your General Secretary to discuss this.

It sounds horribly like the Police with the lack of breaks etc, but even there the bosses understand you'll need to pee from time to time.

why is your union not helping?
sounds awful

Join. A. Union.

not being allowed to take your breaks is illegal, isn't it, even in UK?

but.
Join. A. Union.