Putting in extra hours

[yasmeen]

Hi everyone,
I work in a preschool my hours are 8-3.30 I don't get out the door before about 5pm. My director only pays me from 8 to 3.30 plus I often am at work on the weekends also. I am a tafe diploma trained and have been working here for almost 4 years. We only get an hour off the floor a week to reflect and do observations most of the time we have to take work home. Now we are asked to memorise each child's parents name and their occupation in our spare time.
My question is I also have a family who need me so is it only me or do all childcare workers have to go through this too.

[law92]

It sounds like your employer is really taking advantage of you. Honestly, in my opinion, you need to become more assertive at work, which means only working the hours you are paid for. It's not fair for your employer to expect you to stay at work beyond what you are getting paid for. Like you said, you have your own family which needs to come first. As for memorising family details, I think that's really up to you if you choose to do that in your spare time or not. Also, it sounds like you need to negotiate with your employer the amount of programming time you get. Maybe there should be a ratio of paid programming time to teaching time so that the paperwork is not being neglected. There's no reason why you should have to take paperwork home either in my opinion - by taking this paperwork home, it is condoning your employers behaviour, that is to say, that it is ok for you to bring work home which you are not being paid to do. Also, by doing this and by continually staying back late at work, it is telling your employer that it is ok to push you around and take advantage of you. You need to address these problems assertively face to face with your boss and find a solution. Could it also be that other staff are not pulling their weight at work and you feel like you have to pick up the slack? As you are a kindy assistant, the teacher should be taking responsibility for implementing the curriculum and you are there to support the teacher in doing this. I know what it feels like to be passionate about your job, to the point where you dedicate all your time and energy to it, but you need to learn to draw the line somewhere. If you become more assertive and work your set hours without taking work home, I think your employer will realise that there are problems that need to be addressed and they should fix them. Also, by doing this I think you will find that you will become a lot happier with more job satisfaction and more time for your family.

Also, in answer to your other question, not all child care workers go through this, but it comes down to more of a personal basis. If people know you are assertive, they will not expect you to do all this extra, unnecessary work. But if you are always the one to cave in to this pressure, it will work you into the ground and leave you feeling very unhappy and resentful. I have seen this happen time and again in child care - employers always seem to find a loophole or shortcut for getting work done which is why you need to stand up for yourself.

[yasmeen]

Thanks Lucy for your support.
Yes I agree with you that I need to set boundaries and stick to them.
Just this morning I was told that we the staff will be getting 2 hours a week off the floor time. I am sure she would expect us to take work home, just yesterday she (teaching director ) wrote in the communication book that because we work in a pre school we get paid during school end of term break unlike others so if our work isn't up to date then we would have to come in during the break to complete it. I haven't been able to sleep because of this type of talk, it stresses me out. I have 33 children to observe she wants 3 obs each month on each child. Group obs are not counted as she wants them individualised.

[Lorina]

I think it's a joke that staff are forced into completing documentation. Some directors have no idea on how hard it is to try and run a room as well as make sure documentation is complete and up to date. Obviously if staff are struggling it means that there isn't sufficient time given off the floor. Also, what is with the threats! It's alright for the director to sit back and make judgements when they don't know what's going on within the room! If your director was actually someone who has high morals and work ethic instead of giving threats, they should work with you (give you more off the floor time) to get what needs to be done, done! It's just so frustrating to read what you are experiencing because I've been through the same thing in the past! I am very adamant with taking work home a) not being paid for it b) I should be given sufficient time at work to complete c) home is my time d) breaks privacy and confidentiality when documentation leaves the centre!

You need to work this issue out, if you can't talk to your director is there someone else? Owner, management team?

I'm sorry you're going through this but it's pretty common to get thrown in the deep end of completing documentation!

,
L.A

[wimble]

3 observations a month per child and they have to be individual??? Crazy, not to mention completely arbitrary, has she not heard of the concept of quality over quantity? The fact she is saying group documentation is not allowed shows she has no idea. So much of what children do revolves around group interactions (2-3 children or more) so why is this not considered a valid part of the documentation?
I wouldn't even be trying to reason with this person, I'd be looking for a new job asap...

[catchmeifucan]

Refuse to take work home unless I get paid for it.

[yasmeen]

Staff get called Council workers if they start and finish on time that they are paid for at this centre, have to make an excuse to finish on time. Sounds bad doesn't it. Do all community preschool do this ???

[Taylor92]

Hi Yasmeen,

I know this post was a few weeks ago. I am the coordinator of a childcare center and i also run a Kindy room full time. I make sure all the girls at my center get 2 hours of programming time per week MINIMUM, this is actually in the child care award found on the fair work ombudsman. i have to give it to them in order for them to be able to program adequately and plan for their rooms without all the stress and worrying that they will get it all done. I also help the girls and ensure it is being done correctly and offer any support they need in regards to the EYLF. It is important to work as a team.

As for working until 5 every day, you are entitled to be paid overtime for this, it is not your rostered hours. If you have any questions regarding overtime rates etc go on the fair work website and look up your award, print this out and highlight it and give it to your coordinator. if this does not work then call up the fair work ombudsman and they will help you.

hope iv been helpful

[yasmeen]

Thanks so much Taylor,
I was thinking about joining the Union, but not sure.We are so busy during the day as we sit and engage with the children during the day but when it comes time to documenting its hard. I don't know what I am doing wrong because by the time parents leave and we finish cleaning and setting for the next day it's about 4 pm, at first I use to stay back to do observations and getting the language group ready for next day but now I don't stay back after cleaning up. But I am falling behind on documenting observations.
Maybe someone can tell me how they manage without spending extra time at home or work as we do not get paid for extra hours spent at home or work.

[Tahir]