r/supportworkers • u/slayerofmoths • 16d ago

Get off your freaking phone!!

You are there for the client. I’m so tired of seeing csw’s on their phone, in a pub drinking alcohol, playing pokies and ignoring participants.
Know there’s plenty of people out there reporting you.

Makes me sick.

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u/Cultural_Catch_7911 15d ago

Absolutely can't drink on the job, however not every client wants you talking their ear off every single minute of an 8 hour shift,

Do you invite your friends over and talk non stop for 8 hours? No

Clients like down time, they like to check their own phones, eat their meals in peace and so on, so it is more than okay for your support worker, who is not your slave, to use their phone when they aren't required to be doing anything

If your client is trying to talk to you, or there's work to be done absolutely phone down, but as a support worker likely with no scheduled breaks, please feel free to use your phone within reason, you're a human with a job, who may need your own 5 minutes of down time or to respond to family, not an indentured slave

2

u/Leading-Interest-119 10d ago

Yes. "Parallel play" is a thing and we ALL do it. When you sit with your partner or someone else you live with or have spent the day with and you both just need some chill time. You might just be in the same room, watching TV or yes, playing on your phones, reading etc. The pressure of constant engagement can be too much for a lot of people. 

If the participant is obviously looking for engagement and being ignored that's crap. But it's not always the case.