How to complain to manager

[evedawn]

I started a new job 8 weeks ago. I work in the NHS as a medi' sec and changed jobs as I had a house move. Therefore still a medi' sec' but at a different hospital and different Dept.

I HATE this job. With every ounce of my being. Previous medi- sec' role I loved.

I have been employed in a part time (30 hour) role but have been doing full time hours and more, (some weeks 44 hours) (overtime) simply to keep up. It leaves me a) exhuasted and b) resentful as it is simply expected.

I really want to reduce my hours back to what they should be, (I took a part time job for a reason as I also do all my husbands paperwork from home)

I worry that if I reduce the hours to what they ought to be I will fall behind. IF I fall behind I will be made to look incompetent, ( I truly believe this is what will be said)

I have asked for a meeting with my manager tomorrow...any advice? I want to complain but NOT whinge!!!

FYI also: The previous sec was FULL TIME, the other secs in dept are FULL TIME but because of budgets my role was reduced. But not the role.

The dept is in chaos, things get lost so jobs end up being done more than once...other staff are darn rude, patient care is non existent I have worked in NHS for quite a long while and THIS job is the worst - ever!

Also, things got so bad that 2 weeks ago I went to my GP - he was going to sign me off (I declined) but he did put me on tabs. I don't plan to tell my manager that though - as find it a bit embaressing being on tabs for stress...even though work is a large part of the reason.

[VHG]

If it is a 30 hour job and it is taking you a longer then by working longer hours you are just covering up the fact they need another person.

Dont "complain" to the manager, just tell them that there is more than 30 hours work and you cant get it all done in 30 hours. Tell them you have been working much longer than 30 hours.

From then on only work 30 hours, and if the work gets behind then it is up to THEM to sort out the problem, not you.

YOU will have highlighted the problem, it is up to them to fix it.

Bit dont see it as complaining, see it as raising an issue that needs fixing.

[Smowball]

Just out of interest, have you taken over form somebody else or is this a new role. If not a new role did the previous person just do the 30 hours?

[Mamyalynne]

smow
FYI also: The previous sec was FULL TIME

[Smowball]

Ahh, so they want to pay you less but still get the same workload done

[Maydup]

^^^ Yes that's what evedawn is saying, they want fulltime + for part time money.

I agree that you should do your best to bring this up without complaing. Its hard when you're feeling unhappy not to be just a little bit emotional, but it will pay divindends if you can think it through clearly and even offer a solution. Such as, I need to stick to my 30 hours as I have other committments outside work but I will get these things done in that time and (having made a brief list of highlights) I suggest we look to reallocate these things.

[albaqwerty]

Check your contract of employment. After 8 weeks I'd imagine it's going to be difficult for you to do anything but easier for them to to remove you. Are you on a trial basis?

I'd emphasise, not too strongly, that the position was for 30 hours and they offered you that and you accepted, both parties aware that it was 30 hours.
32 might be acceptable but 44 is not.

[evedawn]

Ok thanks all.

I'll tell you what I DON'T want:

I don't want to cause a FUSS
I'm not interested in a TRIBUNAL or FORMAL COMPLAINT
I am not interested in SHIRKING MY RESPONSIBILITY

BUT...

I do not want to be treated like a mug and flogged till one inch of my sanity, (it's not just the OT - it's the most unpleasant dept I've worked in ever!)

I work darn hard...always have in ALL of my jobs. I have got a brilliant reference from previous NHS post. But this job makes me feel incompetent as it is just fighting fires with problems in every direction. (so disorganised).

Incidentally the previous sec was fired due to incompetence. I wonder if she was incompetent or simply that the job was an impossible task.??? She was FULL TIME.

The rumour mill has it that before she was fired she hada nervous breakdown of sorts...this is openly sniggered about!!! If this is true I wonder if the job made her crack up, (it crtainly has made me feel this way in only 8 weeks!!!)

Rumour has it that she is now citing unfair dismissal - I so hope she get's it right.


So you see - if the past history is anything to go by I worry that I too will get tarred as "incompetent" if I don't keep up!

I need to offer solutions to my manager tomorrow but simply don't have any. I sat down with him after my first week and voiced my concerns and his solution was to do overtime....I don't want the effing overtime!!

Keep the advice coming please.

[evedawn]

Albaqwerty - my contract of emplyment will be watertight. Although it is in a different hosp and a different speciality it is the same NHS Trust. Therefore after the interview process and I got the job HR simply did a change-form specifying new hours, site and salary. The original employment contract is the same as I had.

I have LOVED being a medi-sec for a long time but now this job has be rethinking and last night I was online looking at any other job besides NHS.

[evedawn]

Scuze all the typo's...I am just tired and fed up and not concentrating on the letters lol!

[boxtops]

Those of us in the NHS know that this is not a solitary instance - long hours are the norm, most of us do more than our contracted hours. It's the culture of the organisation, you don't get it like this in industry (and I've worked in both).

I'm sorry it's turned out this way, evedawn, I know how much you were looking forward to the change.

These are in no particular order:

1. go to your Trust webitesite and look up the policy for flexible and part-time working.
2. Find your offer letter and contract which confirms your hours.
3. work out (quickly) what in your JD you can do in your 30 hours, and what will NOT get done if you have your scheduled 7.5 hours off each week. YOu have to prioritise so that you can explain why work won't be done if you only work your contracted hours, you will prioritise X and Y each week but you can't do everything, if they want it all done, they will have to cover you with someone else for the other 7.5 hours.
4. Look at the Trust policy on stress management (there will be one)
5. Suggest to your boss that if this keeps up, you will refer yourself to Occupational Health (as you are entitled to do) - incidentally you can just do that, you don't need to tell him you're doing it, and he doesn't have to refer you.
6, Are you being paid the overtime or being given time off in lieu to cover the extra hours? I bet you're not.
7. Talk to your department's HR manager asap in confidence

Is there too much work or not enough staff, or not enough skilled staff?

I know the feeling - I have been working more hours for longer than I care to admit, just to keep up, knowing that other people depend on my outputs - if I fall behind, people are directly affected by my not doing things.

[evedawn]

Box I am so glad you are on AB tonight. I KNEW you would "get" what I mean as you know how things go in the NHS.

I do appreciate EVERYONE's thought though...

All my NHS jobs I've put in the extra in both time and effort. THe NHS is the sort of place where if you care about offering a good service (whatever the role) you just get on and "do" it. This time though it is not only the hours...which are making me resentful as it is just assumed I'll do MORE than full time hours for part time rates!!! but it is the lack of organisation and....sadly lack of empathy towards patients and their families!!! I think it is a mixture of a lack of staff and then those that are there have simply been worn down by the awfulness of this dept and have become bitter and unhelpful themselves.

[boxtops]

If you don't get any joy tomorrow, then look around eve - there is no shame in saying that you tried a job but it turned out not to be suitable. See if you can gauge tomorrow if they are pleased with your work so far... are you still in your induction period (I bet you're not)?!

[boxtops]

PS eve - also look up the disciplinary and grievance policy, while you're at it....

[boxtops]

anyone seen evedawn, I wonder how she got on with her manager?

[evedawn]

Just logged in to AB a mo ago to let everyone know that the meeting has been rescheduled for THurs. a bit frustrating but never mind. BOX thanks for asking !!! Your posts are always appreciated. Incidentally someone who started one week after me has been signed off for stress from today .... Hmmm a pattern!!! I feel calm re Thursday and will be assertive. Thanks in part to the AB advice. X

[evedawn]

^^^ shoulda said thanks in "B-I-G" part to AB advice. Xxx

[Canary42]

I do think you should tell your manager about the tabs - failure to do so constrain your future options (e.g. suing them for damaging your health, as the previous incumbent is doing). You may not want to consider suing NOW, but you must give yourself every precaution for any possible future, unpalatable as it may seem today.


Good luck with the interview.

[Canary42]

* to do so may constrain

[boxtops]

I think that's fair comment, canary - then you're not just saying that the stress is getting to you, you can demonstrate that a medical professional thinks so, too.

[murraymints]

by struggling to get everything done and giving yourself grief you are falling into the more I do the more they expect mode..you need to point out calmly that you are only contracted and paid for part time hours but it is clear that another staff member is needed to cover the duties..perhaps a job share with a combined longer working week between two of you...