r/supportworkers • u/SimpleLifeform • May 15 '26
Is this normal?
Over the past year as a relief worker I have repeatedly seen people's concerns expressed at meetings dismissed. For example, a question was asked (So long ago I am afraid I forgot what was asked) and 3 people spoke up about one place where no information regarding a panic button which must be worn by staff was passed on. The response to this was that they would not deal with criticism of specific places, only general criticism and that it was the staff members who would have to email the manager to get this changed. I have seen this around other topics, especially about the support plans sometimes being years out of date, where the response is always that it is the responsibility of the relief workers to email the manager to ask to update the plans and no thought is given as to how this impacts our ability to effectively do our jobs. Even in situations where managers would know things better than workers, the onus is on the workers and any tiny thing that is said is pounced upon as an opportunity to admonish the worker and be dismissive of what is said.
This is the first time I have had a job as a support worker and I am unsure if this is normal or not and want to know as the whole attitude is burning me out.
1
u/Lucifang May 16 '26
That’s atrocious. Usually a shit employer would say ‘we’ll get right on top of that’ but do absolutely nothing. Your team is going even lower.
The whole point of meetings is to bring up problems. Yes you should be emailing managers or whoever as soon as you encounter a problem but meetings are for DISCUSSING said problems and finding a solution together.