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Work issues...

Moparp

Moparp

Active Member
Messages
25
Location
Great Yarmouth
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone,
I have an active job in a busy restaurant on my feet most of the time rushing around so quite prone to lows if I don't make an effort to keep my sugars up. I really enjoy working there, the people are lovely buttt... Recently ain't been so great. On some days where it's been busy, I've been by myself on front of house when there's 60 tables inside and another 40 outside. I rush around after other people cos even the normal person can't keep up with the workload either. It's starting to get to much and I'm starting to feel ill because of it. I barely have time to manage my diabetes while I am there. Thank god I have a libre. Some people do make an effort to come out and help on a couple of occasions but others just can't be bothered. There's another boy who's 16 and type one as well who works there and there has been points where me and him would be out the front by ourselves. If we both had a low, they would be screwed. We have air-conditioning but we hardly have it on cos our manager wants to save money. Surely this isn't right and something can be done about it. I have about 5 shifts a week as well as doing 4 or 5 part time shifts in an office doing admin (which is much more up my street). I am just worried they will hold it against me if I mention these things but I'm really struggling to want to work there now... :/

Sent from my D5803 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
@Moparp That sounds like a general work problem and like it would be hard for anyone diabetic or not.

I think there are max and min legal temperatures for work. I'm not sure but worth googling.

Have you tried speaking to your manager? Not in a complaining way, more in a 'this would be better for customers and the business' way?
 
To cut a long story short:

-Your health comes first
-Your employer has a duty of care towards their staff and customers.

Raise your concerns with your manager and if he/she is trying to belittle you in anyway then aim high and get in contact with the highest ranking staff member possible.

You must prioritise your health over that of your employer's profit.

Glucose tablets in your pocket to bump up them lows and/or go to fizzy drinks near the till or entrance to the kitchen where I'd imagine you pass frequently?

Managing lows is easier than injections, under no circumstances must you avoid taking time out for these. If your boss thinks otherwise then see a tribunal. They're free and a government run service to assist those with issues in the workplace. That's if you're in the UK.

Grant
 
Aside from the Diabetes aspects of this, are you sure you want to work in that establishment? I'm fairly sure that there's a grown up conversation about working conditions that you don't need to mention your diabetes within. I'd suggest that if conditions are so bad that it's not somewhere you want to work, before your diabetes comes in to play, then there are one or two changes needed.

If there are a number of people who also have these issues, then it may be worth bringing them up as a group with the management rather than as an individual.

azure said:
I think there are max and min legal temperatures for work. I'm not sure but worth googling.
Click to expand...
In the UK there is a minimum working temperature rule, but no maximum (I encountered this issue after
aircon broke in an office I worked in!)
 
Yeah it is a general issue. It's hard for non diabetics let alone us. But it's like the non diabetics cba to help me when I'm struggling. Very little do and when they do they all pass the job from one person to the next. Management are even worse and dont put enough people on. It's week before summer hols here in UK and there's the same amount on as there would be in the quiet periods. It's worse on weekends because they assume it's not going to be busy, I think it would be better for them to have more people and then just send them home if they don't need them rather than making people struggle. I love the social aspect of it. But as a working environment with the amount of people we have as a whole and the amount of people put on each shift, it's unacceptable. I don't think people would stand up to management because like me they are to scared about losing their job. There was a situation not long ago where someone was shouted at constantly, called useless and then dismissed by one of management. They then split, the lady we used to speak to is now in a different office and everything goes through the bloke now apparently but we never have meetings. It's all really confusing. We have supervisors but most of them are totally useless. One of them asked if I had type one cos I ate to much sugar as a kid. And then said in a arrogant tone that he wasn't stupid when I asked if he was going to say next that I couldn't eat sugar. Idk it's just going downhill fast. One of the cleaners is leaving she's had enough cos management have put their tea room in the chemical cupboard and planned to put them in the shed. I have easy access to my gluco tabs and insulin and they allow me time to eat dinner except from one occasion where I was asked to do something first (didn't really bother me much) but I feel like I don't have any support if I have a low. I feel like I have to carry on working cos I'm holding the front team together and it puts me under a lot of strain and discomfort. I was treating one and one of the girls was hurrying me along. :/ I'm honestly not sure what to do. I'm torn. Do I bring it up and risk my job or do I carry on and bare it.

Sent from my D5803 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
Also I've been there for 5 years they know I've done a degree in IT and I'm good at what I do. Not once have they offered me a job in admin or IT or offered me a team leader role. Yet there's a guy who walks in earlier this year as a chef and suddenly gets a front of house team leader position 2 weeks ago.

Sent from my D5803 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app
 
@Moparp I sympathise. Sometimes it's not always the best people who get the best positions, just the loudest people.

I think only you can decide. If you decide you don't mind leaving, then you could always try a chat with them first to see if they offer any changes.

Of course, it depends on whether you need the job. Difficult one, but I personally believe that **** bosses take advantage of diligent workers who don't like to make a fuss. The fact other workers are, you say, also getting poor treatment should be something you bear in mind too.

Maybe speak to your colleagues and get some idea how they're thinking too?
 
They are a bit like me and just get on with it and don't like to fuss. Some of them have moaned but I don't know if they are eager enough to complain. There's only a select few who go out the front and even then they can't be bothered so work at a lazy pace. I only know of a couple of people who do work out there the way everyone should.
Unfortunately I do need it. And I've wanted to be there up until now it's just so much strain and uncomfortable. The majority of people who work there do not really like front of house and they all either want to go in the kitchen or bar. I guess that says something too. And because they don't like it, I'm then trying to be two people because they get lazy and I can't keep up which leaves me no time to manage my diabetes. When it's time to go I always get asked is this done and that done. I do all that I'm asked to do anyway but when there's something they haven't mentioned and I haven't done I get death stared to go and do it like it's me who's being lazy even though I try my best.
azure said:
@Moparp I sympathise. Sometimes it's not always the best people who get the best positions, just the loudest people.

I think only you can decide. If you decide you don't mind leaving, then you could always try a chat with them first to see if they offer any changes.

Of course, it depends on whether you need the job. Difficult one, but I personally believe that **** bosses take advantage of diligent workers who don't like to make a fuss. The fact other workers are, you say, also getting poor treatment should be something you bear in mind too.

Maybe speak to your colleagues and get some idea how they're thinking too?
Click to expand...
 
Then take pride in the fact that you're doing the job well, even if you don't get the praise you deserve.

But do insist that you get the breaks you need to deal with your diabetes - best for you and best for your employer.
 
Moparp said:
They are a bit like me and just get on with it and don't like to fuss. Some of them have moaned but I don't know if they are eager enough to complain. There's only a select few who go out the front and even then they can't be bothered so work at a lazy pace. I only know of a couple of people who do work out there the way everyone should.
Unfortunately I do need it. And I've wanted to be there up until now it's just so much strain and uncomfortable. The majority of people who work there do not really like front of house and they all either want to go in the kitchen or bar. I guess that says something too. And because they don't like it, I'm then trying to be two people because they get lazy and I can't keep up which leaves me no time to manage my diabetes. When it's time to go I always get asked is this done and that done. I do all that I'm asked to do anyway but when there's something they haven't mentioned and I haven't done I get death stared to go and do it like it's me who's being lazy even though I try my best.
Click to expand...

I really sympathise. It sounds like a general work-place issue, first and foremost. Is there a trade union you can join? Is there anyone supervisory or managerial who is more approachable? Could you write to your senior management about how unevenly the brunt of the work falls on you and one or two others? Just stray thoughts...
 
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