Job Is Killing Me, My Options?

TurnItAround

Hey MSE I'll try to keeo this short but would appreciate if you could read it all through as Im out of sorts on what to do... 

So I work as a security officer at a retail shop since 2019, I'm not on a fixed contract (i believe) and when I started with the company it was 8hr shifts 4on4off. However they found it difficult to get a second guy that the shop was happy with so I offered to do 5 days a week as I desperately needed money. I'd been trying to escape the 12hr shifts I'd done for the two years prior to this job as it made me very unhappy doing 72-80hrs a week.

Enter covid and lockdowns the shop I work for decided they need 24hr security as no staff will be in so my hours were changed I had no say in it but I was okay with it at the time as I had got a nice pay increase and extra hours = extra money, also the place I work is a poncy furniture showroom so that was all great. Fast forward to lockdowns ending the shop opens up but it was still okay as they'd got me a desk so I could sit and stand and the shop was only open for 7hrs total so I'd only be at the door for 6hrs with 4hrs in the morning basically me relaxing being able to sit etc until shop opens taking deliveries or just helping staff as I'm on good terms and it's mainly women who ask for help with moving heavy stuff and I'm fine with it. 

Anyhow fast forward again to restrictions being completely lifted since 2021 summer i believe? Now the shop opens at 10am-7pm, my desk to sit has been removed and I'm standing 6hrs in one stretch then an hour break at 4pm and then another 2hrs.

Now you may think okay so what but here is the problem, I've got very severe varicose veins (hereditary) and in 2020 developed DVT which turned into PE luckily I got to hospital in time and its under control now I'm on medication. If you're not aware of varicose veins its when veins in the legs enlarge and get tangled and cause poor blood flow, in my case ulcers, extreme swelling and pain from standing too much. Physical health problems aside mentally I feel extremely depressed as the job is tedious (standing doing nothing for hours in pain and sleep deprived) I'd say at times even suicidal.

My schedule is basically a 15hr day, I wake up to go work 6am for 8am start, takes an hour to travel each way and if I go gym I'm not home until 1030pm, if I dont go then I'm home by 930pm. As you can see its a 15/16hr day and I usually sleep at 11/12 as I like to relax otherwise I'd go more insane. My weekends consist of catching up on sleep Saturday and Sunday I have to get all my chores done and before I know it I'm back here again.

In conclusion I want to cut my hours down to 3 days a week, there's an actual contracted guy whos managed to get his 4 days a week cut to 2 and he's just started a new job but hasn't told them that.

What shall I do to get 3 days a week, i have genuine health issues and mentally I'm suffering as I'm 31 and want to try other stuff but no time, thank you 

Jillanddy

My schedule is basically a 15hr day, I wake up to go work 6am for 8am start, takes an hour to travel each way and if I go gym I'm not home until 1030pm, if I dont go then I'm home by 930pm. As you can see its a 15/16hr day and I usually sleep at 11/12 as I like to relax otherwise I'd go more insane. My weekends consist of catching up on sleep Saturday and Sunday I have to get all my chores done and before I know it I'm back here again.

But it isn't a 15/16 hour day. You can't include your commute, time spent at the gym, or your one hour lunch break as "work".

I sympathise to an extent, because you are right - if you work full time it is often difficult to fit in all the things that you'd like to do into the time you aren't at work. But setting aside your health concerns, which I will return to, you are not working excessive hours compared to anyone else working full time hours. 

And what the other guy does with his time not in work is your your mutual employers business - why should he tell them what he does when not at work? Do you?

It is doubtful that your health condition amounts to a disability. Disability doesn't get as much latitude as many people think it does, but that would at least have a starting point around reasonable adjustments. But really, despite your condition it does not seem to have a significant day to day impact such as might amount to a disability. So that basically means that your only option would be to ask for a reduction in your contracted hours and see what they say. They may be fine about it. But that strategy is not without risks either. For starters, I wouldn't suggest you tell them why in the way you have put it here! They are very likely to also point out that you do not work 16 hour days, and that your commute, breaks and gym are not working hours. And if you describe your health in the way you have here, they may decide that saying no is actually in their best interests - you are saying that you cannot do the job you have, that you hate it, that you don't want to do it, and that is making you suicidal. Realistically they may decide that you leaving under your own steam for those reasons is much better than having you in their employment at all, as it all sounds like a car crash waiting to happen and on their turf. 

I'd also question whether you would be well enough paid on three days a week to do all the other stuff that you think you want to do? Because if not, you may struggle with benefits having voluntarily given up full-time work; and you might find the trade off of having the DWP on your back not as enticing as it seems.

In the end, would cutting your hours really do anything other than leave you still feeling the same way anyway? If this job is so bad, and you are only 31 years old, wouldn't it be better to start looking for employment that you are better suited to. Even at three days a week, you have many more years of work ahead of you then behind you, and is being miserable at work really what you want?

theoretica

What do you think would suit you better?  Still security, but a bigger site so more walking/variety?  Or something completely different?

TELLIT01

Have you spoken to the employer about the situation.  It seems to be one which has simple evolved over time rather than actually been planned.  If you don't speak to them they won't necessarily be aware of the issues you are experiencing.  If you have spoken to them and they aren't prepared to make changes, your options are really limited to getting on with it, or seeking alternative employment.

LanternBlue

"I've got very severe varicose veins (hereditary) and in 2020 developed DVT which turned into PE"

Well standing as long as you do with your medical condition could well be detrimental, though I am not a medic obviously.  I would first go and see your GP.  Then if he/she thinks its detrimental to your health to stand that long - and you want to stay in your job - you could then bring it up with your employer? Perhaps they could curtail the number of hours standing?  But its difficult to find a job where there isn't a certain amount of standing, maybe you would be better off looking for one?  A sitting down security job or driving job perhaps?

Jillanddy

LanternBlue said:

"I've got very severe varicose veins (hereditary) and in 2020 developed DVT which turned into PE"

Well standing as long as you do with your medical condition could well be detrimental, though I am not a medic obviously.  I would first go and see your GP.  Then if he/she thinks its detrimental to your health to stand that long - and you want to stay in your job - you could then bring it up with your employer? Perhaps they could curtail the number of hours standing?  But its difficult to find a job where there isn't a certain amount of standing, maybe you would be better off looking for one?  A sitting down security job or driving job perhaps?

Perversely, sitting down for longer periods is just as bad! I would imagine doubly so if DVT has already been identified.

According to the NHS, you should:

• avoid standing or sitting still for long periods and trying to move around every 30 minutes
• take regular breaks throughout the day, raising the legs on pillows while resting to ease discomfort
• exercise regularly – this can improve circulation and help maintain a healthy weight

The latter is in the control of the OP, but the first two may be far more complex to achieve in this type of work. I especially doubt that a security guard taking regular breaks with their feet up will go down well with employers. Which may be a good enough reason to look at other employment - in office type work, for example, it would be much easier to accommodate such things into the working day. I don't have veins, but I have a condition that also benefits from raising my legs, and a special stool under my desk is all it requires. The moving around bit works into the day anyway, but collecting printing, grabbing coffee or moving to meeting rooms etc.

74jax

Have you looked for jobs that allow you to move about. You can't stand for long and can't sit for long, so there's the alternative.  What about security where you walk around the site? 

TELLIT01

I've seen security people in shops sitting on high stools, would that be a practical option.  Having somewhere to sit, between 'rounds' of the shop?

TurnItAround

@Jillanddy Thanks for the reply! I understand what you mean about commute and work prep shouldn't be counted but I disagree as that is all time out of my day which is my main issue, lack of time. If you work 8hrs and takes 2 for a commute and 1 getting ready etc before and after that's a 11hr day imo same with mine if I exclude gym its still 15hrs of my day gone yeah sure its not my actual work but I wouldn't be spending 2hrs a day on a train if i didn't have the job so it is time out of my day and anyone else who travels to and from. I should clarify too that I wouldn't speak like this to my employer but here I need advice so I've just told you guys everything about how I feel and about my colleague I dont care what he does i just wanted to give that example for you guys as some reference "if he's able to cut down can I?" sort of thing. The main thing I'm stumped about is just what to say and how to approach them. 

Secondly I think I gave the wrong impression again but in no way am I on a hunt to claim disability or any benefits its solely for the purpose of time to work on things i have an interest in and can potentially convert into income or even some courses I want to do so 3 days is perfect as it'd free up two whole days I can utilise. 

On 3 days I'm still doing 36hrs a week and getting about 1.6 after tax compared to my 2.3 after tax now so it is a big cut but I do have savings and I'm quite frugal so even the 1.6 is enough to cover me and if I really need more income I can pick up shifts on a gig app or other security agencies. 

Apologies for being so unclear but yeah I wouldn't be telling them I hate the job or anything like that I just dont know if mentioning my health is a good idea or how I can best approach it as that's the honest reason (doctors said I shouldn't be standing that much) and don't really want to make up lies, I'm probably over thinking a lot too

@theoretica @TELLIT01 @LanternBlue thanks a lot for the replies! 

Yeah I don't want to do security as my career at all I needed it when I had no money and its been good for that but I'm not getting any younger and just feel now is my time to go for something. 
 
Also @LanternBlue you're correct my doctors recommended not standing this much but again not sure if it's smart to mention to employers

littlegreenparrot

Do you want to stay there if they would give you 3 days a week?

If I were in your position I would probably start having a look at what vacancies were available closer to home. 

If your looking for a change anyway its worth having a look to see what is available within a distance from your postcode. Although there will be a lot that is not suitable you might spot something that could work. 

If the courses you mentioned are virtual could you start working on them anyway?
I've done courses whilst working full time, it's sometimes not great but not impossible. 

TurnItAround

@littlegreenparrot Yes I think the work life balance would be great, usually security is 4on4off for 12hr shifts, 3 days even better. 

I do keep an eye but I'm hoping to also get my licence and do deliveries so for now this job is fine in that regard, its pretty much the hours bothering me.

And I'm not sure I've got a few things on my mind and possibly some might be virtual and some just require my time. I understand that if I really wanted to do a course I could but realistically it would have to be on Saturday and Sundays. 

Maybe call me lazy but half my day on Sunday is gone cooking and cleaning and Saturday is the only day I sleep in + do errands if there are any. I guess I could then cram in driving lessons, a course and other interests i want to explore but atm I'm only finding time to do one thing at a time and does it have to be like this? 

Anyhow I'd really appreciate any advice on how to approach my employers about this! Like many of you have said if they reject I'd most likely leave after a few months (around June)