I used to work as a support worker for young homeless adults with medium to high support needs. We worked in a hostel. All of the young people were vulnerable in some way, and as the cuts increased we were forced to take higher and higher support needs. Many were ex offenders, some with a background of gang activity. To say the very least working in a hostel with 12 vulnerable young adults is a pressure cooker waiting to go off. We were the smallest hostel with 12 adults, some hostels had 40 to 50 rooms. The pressure exponentially increases as you have more residents. One mistake could have very serious consequnces for the residents or staff. Serious as in life threatening. This is not an exageration, although these incidents were rare due to the commitment of the staff.
The workers for the most part were highly committed. We all worked past the end of our shifts making sure tasks were completed and handovers done. However when you work in that environment, Work related stress is part of the job. The effects of work related stress can lead to mistakes being made. The ability to take sick leave when the pressure and stress got too much was a life saver. Ive seen disasters happen when staff soldiered on under pressure from management not to take sick leave. Of course this was denied by the manager when the inquests followed and stressed out staff were losing their jobs.
I was also one of three union reps there, as well as the pressure of our own jobs, we saw first hand what other staff were having to put up with and the disregard by many managers, to the staffs and residents welfare, intent upon meeting Government imposed targets. In fairness they were passing on pressure from above. Needless to say we made sure that staff who were showing the symptoms of ill health took sick leave. Staff were well aware of the knock on effect of someone being off sick, but got on with it knowing it may be them who needed it next time
For all the stress I felt from working in the hostel, it was nothing compared to dealing with a management that only carerd about numbers and didnt have the first clue about the issues faced by trhe staff and young people. As I said we were highly committed to the residents. This commitment was rarely reciprocated by management. This was amply demonstrated when front line staff were told they would face a 10% pay cut and work an extra 2.5 hours a week. At the same time we found out that senior managers were all getting pay rises as bonuses for getting such good results. Although through action we mitigated the worst effects of the cuts, staff morale has sunk through the floor. Staff are not as committed and sick leave has risen. Many of the most experienced staff left to find jobs where their commitment might be appreciated and rewarded. The organisation is now in financial straits due to not winning contracts due to poor results.
Perhaps all those who see taking sick leave as theft should realise its not as simple as that for all and perhaps be less judgemental. Sick leave is not an entatlement to a holiday, That is annual leave which should also be taken. However it should be there to protect staff wefare to ensure they are at their most efficient.
The workers for the most part were highly committed. We all worked past the end of our shifts making sure tasks were completed and handovers done. However when you work in that environment, Work related stress is part of the job. The effects of work related stress can lead to mistakes being made. The ability to take sick leave when the pressure and stress got too much was a life saver. Ive seen disasters happen when staff soldiered on under pressure from management not to take sick leave. Of course this was denied by the manager when the inquests followed and stressed out staff were losing their jobs.
I was also one of three union reps there, as well as the pressure of our own jobs, we saw first hand what other staff were having to put up with and the disregard by many managers, to the staffs and residents welfare, intent upon meeting Government imposed targets. In fairness they were passing on pressure from above. Needless to say we made sure that staff who were showing the symptoms of ill health took sick leave. Staff were well aware of the knock on effect of someone being off sick, but got on with it knowing it may be them who needed it next time
For all the stress I felt from working in the hostel, it was nothing compared to dealing with a management that only carerd about numbers and didnt have the first clue about the issues faced by trhe staff and young people. As I said we were highly committed to the residents. This commitment was rarely reciprocated by management. This was amply demonstrated when front line staff were told they would face a 10% pay cut and work an extra 2.5 hours a week. At the same time we found out that senior managers were all getting pay rises as bonuses for getting such good results. Although through action we mitigated the worst effects of the cuts, staff morale has sunk through the floor. Staff are not as committed and sick leave has risen. Many of the most experienced staff left to find jobs where their commitment might be appreciated and rewarded. The organisation is now in financial straits due to not winning contracts due to poor results.
Perhaps all those who see taking sick leave as theft should realise its not as simple as that for all and perhaps be less judgemental. Sick leave is not an entatlement to a holiday, That is annual leave which should also be taken. However it should be there to protect staff wefare to ensure they are at their most efficient.
