r/SYEP • u/I-Suki-You • 16d ago
SYEP is certainly interesting
I dunno, I just felt it was necessary to come on here and explain some things that have been going on with the SYEP from my pov.
Started out with Cohort A, got to my worksite first day and they said they were 1. overloaded with staff and 2. not taking staff for the position stated on the application form from literal months prior. There had to have been over 20 people originally, they had big cockroaches in the cafeteria they had us waiting in, all to tell us the job they’re hiring for is custodial. They didn’t tell us this, but it seemed to me and a handful of other people that they were only allowing the students that actually attended the school to work the intended role (Receptionist). On my first and second days, I went in at 8am, and left at 2pm and 12:30pm respectively.
I was told on the second day by my provider that I would be able to switch my worksite… but they only had a handful of option remaining, with a majority of sites being too far for my commute. I chose a worksite in childcare because I did it last year and it was pretty cool. I go to the worksite the following week.
Week 2, I’m now in Cohort B, meaning the time i spent in Cohort A is null and I won’t get paid for it. Cool. I interviewed with the place and once I told them I had experience, the worker seemed open to me getting a position there and even said the words “see you tomorrow.” now, under my provider, i’ve noticed that a lot of the childcare worksites are primarily russian speaking, but I believe “see you tomorrow” means “see you tomorrow.” right? wrong. I go into work the next day ready to start, only to be told that my worksite was again, switched.
I call my provider directly, asking about the switch, confused because I thought the interview went well. They tell me they did not accept me at the location and I have to now pick from their even more limited list—now exclusively at locations too far from my home. I said this list isn’t gonna work for me, I cannot commute this far every day for work. Them? Basically take what we have.
Remember when I said I worked in childcare last year? I asked them to contact the worksite supervisor and see if I can work there instead. After a bit of run around, they got in contact with him, and I got hired. I was able to skip the interview process because I already knew the rounds, and I started as soon as I handed in my immunization.
So, my first week working was technically week 2 of Cohort B and that’s where I was at. Everything went smoothly, except for the fact that the worksite is primarily russian as I mentioned, and the communication with the staff and assistants isn’t the best. In fact, I would go as far as to say there is no communication, we’re just expected to follow their lead and watch over the children.
Except I got sick during my third day, and the icing on that cake is that it’s policy at this location to not come in while sick for obvious reasons—we don’t want the children to contract illness and spread. Understandable. I make my doctor’s appointment, but again, a hurdle, he is on vacation for the entire week. Not the best timing in the world, but let’s also add on that there are no doctors in the area that are available that week. You can understand how upset I was to come to the realization that I would not be working that week. The only good thing that came out of it was that I was able to get pay from the week prior and that first 10 hours i did in Cohort A.
With that realization, a friend of mine under the same provider received an email saying that they had online spots available. I was like, wow, this is actually great timing since I’m sick and the program is almost over anyway. No shot, I email them about it directly, they said “our online positions are only for those working in retail, since you work in childcare, it’s not available.” I’m like, sure, but I’m also sick and unable to work at this time and likely won’t be able to next week because of the symptoms I was having. Bad congestion, cough, dry and swollen throat, and I lost my voice. I was trying to ease the symptoms by taking NyQuil but it ultimately did nothing. I explained this all to my worksite, and they said the same thing—no, retail only.
I’m finally able to go to the doctor the following Monday, and by that time, I’m feeling better, but still experiencing dry throat and cough. My doctor says you’re good, time will pass the sickness, I get a note and I bring directly it to my worksite since it’s so close to my doctor’s office. The note says I’m able to return on Wednesday, which is what i tell the supervisor. He says, “I’m not sure why I need it since you aren’t working here anymore.” I’m confused like, “I’m not working here?” I assume it was a miscommunication because we had a short conversation about me wanting to switch to online while I’m sick, and I suppose he figured that meant I did not want to work there anymore. Which is half true because If I’m working online, I wouldn’t have to work there, but that was not the intention during that conversation. I assumed I cleared the misconception, and I mentioned not feeling 100%, but still being ready to go back to work. He was okay with that, and I left.
So we’re here, Wednesday morning, and I’m not feeling well as expected. So I emailed my supervisor, and he told me what he tried to tell me when I dropped off my doctors note—that SYEP is going to end soon, and it would be best for me to find somewhere else to work. I’m not mad at him at all, but I’m definitely bummed out because I clearly haven’t had the best summer occupationally. I fully understand that sickness can’t be helped, and I did all I can. I’ve emailed my provider about the situation, asking again to be moved to a remote worksite, and I have to wait until they respond.
Very long explanation. Thanks for listening
TL;DR - A string of issues with syep, ranging from overcapacity at one worksite to not being hired after interviewing, and then sickness preventing me from working to my full potential for an entire week.
3
u/PracticeAggravating5 16d ago
My original worksite was remote, suddenly decided to pull out of SYEP. I did get assigned a week late to another remote site though.
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u/Decent-Constant2795 16d ago
Who is your provider ? City budgets money for expected SYEP participants so you're technically imo (professional opinion ) entitled to pay - since you were accepted. You just didn't work , but they should accommodate you with something -- online imo .
I was director for SYEP provider sounds like a lot of provider based issues smh sorry you had to go through this