long working hours and no breaks

dawyldthing

I was wondering if someone has been in a similar situation and has any advice.

Basically I work as a support worker, been there for just over 6 months (went sick 2 days before the 6 months on doctors advice as I just broke down after being told to 'drop dead' by one of the service users, but thats a different matter and one of many problems inside and outside of work.) At first it was erratic and we'd work a mixture of shifts, but still would have some days off etc. A new boss started not long after 2 of us started, and he has tried to change things but its put us all under a lot of pressure.

Basically we can work 33 hours sometimes without breaks (its a sleep over shift, so we get a sleepover pay, but never get to properly sleep for it as one goes to bed late and the other gets up mega early so we don't sleep), we don't get any breaks and often end up finishing at one house one day and sometimes have to go on to do the same the following day or some other shifts. So my question is is it legal? As I notice on here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029451

It says that if we are classed as 'domestic servants in private houses' that the working time regulations doesn't apply, so we don't know if it applies to us all or not?

We just wondered where we stood really as one is already leaving because of it all as we don't feel supported and so daren't rock the ship with asking about it tbh. But at the same time we all can't continue like we are at the moment as we are all at burn out so its a case of when and not if we all burn out after often doing 14 days in a row without a day or much time off.

if anyones got any help or advice it really will be very much appreciated

Jarndyce

You're a health care support worker not a domestic servant. The regulations apply and should be adhered to, but if you're not prepared to 'rock the boat', nobody else is going to do it for you, unless of course you join a union.

dawyldthing

were having meetings with him regularly, so he is hearing what we have to say, just not doing anything about it.

fluffy70

get signed up with a union asap. Then you won't be on your own and he'll have to start to listen.

bestpud

I work in a residential home under similar arrangements - I'm sure it's legal and probably quite common where clients only need one support worker.

Do you really not get any chance to take five minutes, or don't you ever sit and watch TV with the residents? I ask as I look after 6 residents and can't say I often feel the lack of a break. Some evenings, I will spend a couple of hours watching a film or whatever with them and I class that as a 'break'.

If it's been a tough shift, I do take myself to the office while they are eating, just so I can eat my food uninterrupted for 5 minutes, but other times I just eat with them.

That's probably not what you want to hear but I really don't think they are doing anything untoward and maybe it's a case of looking at the pros and cons and deciding if the job is for you. There is lots of other care work out there.

dawyldthing

we get odd bits of time like if they are watching tele but often theres a list of things that need doing in the house or for them so you sometimes don't have 2 minutes to yourself, plus they are constantly wanting things. Gives me food for thought though and maybe time to look at different options

paddedjohn

Do you think this is your real calling? someone told you to drop dead and you cried off work, without trying to be cruel it sounds like the job is not for you.

marybelle01

paddedjohn wrote: »

Do you thing this is your real calling? someone told you to drop dead and you cried off work, without trying to be cruel it sounds like the job is not for you.

I hate to sound unsympathetic. But I agree. You are a support worker. Your clients are difficult. Sick days because your clients are difficult is inexcusable. For goodness sake, telling you to "drop dead" wasn't exactly "difficult" - haven't you tried talking to a teenager??? Find another job - this one isn't suited to you.

Torry_Quine

marybelle01 wrote: »

I hate to sound unsympathetic. But I agree. You are a support worker. Your clients are difficult. Sick days because your clients are difficult is inexcusable. For goodness sake, telling you to "drop dead" wasn't exactly "difficult" - haven't you tried talking to a teenager??? Find another job - this one isn't suited to you.

That is par for the course in that kind of work.

As for breaks you need to speak to management as you are covered by the working time directive for time worked and days off. :eek:

corbyboy

Apologies if it's a stupid question, but what do you do when the residents are asleep?

duckandcover

Like others in this thread have said, no-one's being unsympathetic but this kind of thing goes with the territory of the job really, in terms of not having structured breaks etc.

As for the difficult service users, hang in there Absolutely every job has this kind of thing in it, whether it's a difficult customer, difficult colleagues etc. One of those things!