Having to pay for Christmas dinner when at work.

dawyldthing

elsien wrote: »

Is it residential or supported living?
When we were residential, the home budget covered staff accompanying service users to events (within reason), but there isn't the budget for this in supported living so service users would have to pay the cost for the staff accompanying them. This would be regardless of the type of event, as the LA refused to fund a staff recreation budget for supported living, saying that that's what their benefits were for.
So in your situation in supported living, technically the people you are accompanying should pay for you. If this feels uncomfortable, if it were me, I would prefer to have the choice of paying it myself and tuck in, or support the person without paying but not eat. I would not want to be told I had to pay myself with no other option.

We also arranged fund raising events with service users throughout the year to subsidise the Xmas party - perhaps you could suggest similar for next time.

It's supported living. I get day to day we bring food in and when in the community we pay our own way but for a party I'm just really surprised there suggesting staff pay

harryfrombarry_2

dawyldthing wrote: »

I'm just asking as I'm intregued by it in all honesty (and I think it's quite cheeky of them in all honesty) but just wondered what others opinions on it are.

Basically I work as a support worker and my employers are apparently setting on a Christmas party for all the service users (sounds like there's going to be a few hundred there). If you are on shift with them then they want you to pay £10 towards it (same cost as what the service users will be paying).

To me, when I would be there in works time supporting a service user (if I am on shift) I think it's a bit cheeky expecting us to pay to go to a party and I just wondered what everyone else thought/ anyone's elses experiences of this kind (it's the first time in 4 years they have organised something like it but they have started to link all the areas so I think it's why they are starting to organise bigger events)

Whats a "service user"?

dizzybuff

We have to pay and give our own time up to have the two hour meal. who'd have thought it !

FBaby

dawyldthing wrote: »

That's my thought as its not like if I went to a party and I could have a drink, Id be in works time so would only be able to drink soft drinks

So if you can't have alcohol, it's not a party and you can't enjoy it?

My view is that it should be optional, you seat with them and enjoy yourself (with a glass of soft drink, it can be done), in which case, you can look at it the other way, that you are actually being paid to do what is not really working, or you don't join in and don't pay, you just lock yourself in the office and do paperwork.

I've been in that situation and thought it was totally acceptable that I should pay if residents do to. It was actually really nice to seat down with them in an equal position, rather than in a position of control. It was amazing how much more relax we all were, and I had a nice time. Not as much as if I'd gone to my friends but then it would definitely have cost me more. I attended Christmas meals in restaurants with colleagues that cost me much more than that and wasn't half as fun.

surreysaver

harryfrombarry wrote: »

Whats a "service user"?

Somebody who uses the service. The latest 'buzz' word. So they don't get called patient, client or some other such term that is out of favour. Bit like how passengers on the railway are called customers.

dawyldthing

harryfrombarry wrote: »

Whats a "service user"?

Someone we support, they have names but we refer to the as service users.

We'll be paying to go and will pretty much not earn much as £10 is nearly 2 hours work after tax.

I just thought it's cheeky to be asked to pay in all honesty. I don't drink much anyway but if we have to go to a party, what we pay for, and won't get paid much hours wise, I just thought they are taking the mick.

I certainly wouldn't go if I weren't being paid my wages to go though. At the end of the day we'll still have to do our normal keeping an eye for the endless list of things we have to so we should still be paid

Tiddlywinks

dawyldthing wrote: »

That's my thought as its not like if I went to a party and I could have a drink, Id be in works time so would only be able to drink soft drinks

You do know that a lot of people manage to enjoy parties without using alcohol?

dawyldthing

Like I say I don't drink much, but by the time we pay for the meal and the drinks we won't be making anything from working it. It's like at dinner time you can't enjoy meals as you've got to watch one of the service users eat so they don't make themselves Ill.

Hopefully the others end up going instead, I were just wondering others thoughts on it all

FBaby

I think it is considered not to be really working. I don't see it as any different to going to a Christmas meal with work when you are still officially working, ie. you have to watch what you say to colleagues, you will probably still talking about work matters, but you are expected to relax a bit and enjoy yourself.

I personally had a much better time with residents of a home I used to work at then I did with my next job when I found myself sitting at a table with colleagues I hardly knew who I found serious and incredibly boring. Still had to go through it though (and pay much more for the privilege!).

elsien

It is working though. It may be fun working, but you're still responsible for helping people to eat, manage their money, possibly their alcohol intake, on hand if someone has a seizure, making sure people who are more vulnerable aren't doing something unsafe or heading out of the door at speed under the nearest car. Or, at one Christmas party providing first aid and accompanying the badly injured person who's just fallen of the DJ's dais to hospital. You're still responsible and under your usual duty of care, so I disagree that it equates to a staff lunch out were you're only responsible for yourself.