Who deserves more pay?

[kate]

I heard someone this morning on the radio arguing that Care Home workers are not unskilled tending to old people in a Home. Or they shouldn't be regarded as only worthy of the lowest pay permissable in this country.
I had to agree. I know more than one care worker and they have my full admiration for the work they do under difficult circumstances and all for a pittance.

I agree with another person who said there should be a structure to Care Home employees. Training and a career prospect for them - with decent pay.

I despair when I see my Health Board advertising for consultants at £100k - and food prepararion assistants for a tenth of that salary.  In my view those who cook, serve, clean and do laundry are important for the smooth running of wards and the wellbeing of patients.

Who do you think deserve more than they are currently paid?  Our MPs don't give a toss. Our Councils will never see past their own salaries.  The NHS is too set in its ways to consider those auxiliary workers that they couldn't do without, but treat them as invisible unskilled workers.

[zou]

It's already been mentioned in a different thread but I saw the issues as connected - UK gov won't allow a foreign spouse into the UK unless the partner earns over £38k. So what that says is that less than that amount isn't enough to support a dependent. Which should mean that £38k becomes the new minimum wage, right? Basically you can't do jobs that matter and be considered valuable to the handbags in Westminster and beyond.

[spinno]

Without the unskilled workers the professionals wouldn't be able to do their jobs.
The NHS needs reorganisation there are too many non-medical staff,who need more pay but they're not the ones who sit in offices.

[zou]

Define unskilled. There's no acceptable definition that excludes care workers but includes kleptocratic politicians.

[geoffr]

Dec 6, 2023 21:19:48 GMT zou said:

Define unskilled. There's no acceptable definition that excludes care workers but includes kleptocratic politicians.

One might, at first glance, consider a street cleaner “unskilled” until one recognises that they have to be trained to operate equipment and do so effectively and efficiently. Likewise many other workers, just because there is no “entry qualification” for a role doesn’t mean that there are no skills involved.

Politicians are often well qualified but not necessarily in any way that enhances their ability to do the job. Being an orator seems the main requirement but I doubt that is actually the case. Just because one doesn’t agree with someone’s politics should not mean one cannot admire their dedication to their constituents. Something often at odds with their public pronouncements.

 I suggest few of us would be willing to accept the treatment dished out to our elected representatives. 

[don]

I’m currently in a Nursing Home with both nurses and care workers and they work twelve hour shifts for in care workers case little above minimum wages . When I was here two months ago one of the agency staff (care worker) was going for an interview and the job was a permanent position at another company but pay was minimum wage. I tried coaching her in interview techniques and told her to demand more money unless they were comfortable paying minimum salary for minimum work?
I never did find out how she got on or if she was brave enough to take my words into the interview. But carers are under rated. They deserve more money. Some one like me needs hoisting washing my urine bag emptied and my Stoma bag changing I can do nothing for myself yet the people who administer my care are regarded as unworthy of better reward. It makes me so angry. Sorry for the rant but I couldn’t ignore the question

[spinno]

Dec 6, 2023 23:15:50 GMT don said:

I’m currently in a Nursing Home with both nurses and care workers and they work twelve hour shifts for in care workers case little above minimum wages . When I was here two months ago one of the agency staff (care worker) was going for an interview and the job was a permanent position at another company but pay was minimum wage. I tried coaching her in interview techniques and told her to demand more money unless they were comfortable paying minimum salary for minimum work?
I never did find out how she got on or if she was brave enough to take my words into the interview. But carers are under rated. They deserve more money. Some one like me needs hoisting washing my urine bag emptied and my Stoma bag changing I can do nothing for myself yet the people who administer my care are regarded as unworthy of better reward. It makes me so angry. Sorry for the rant but I couldn’t ignore the question

It might have been a rant Don, BUT it's the truth

[willien]

Many a true word said with zest.

[gray1720]

Definitely a post needing an "agree, not like" button.

[don]

I just spoke with two carers about pay and they are currently on ten pound 42p an hour and the home sent out notice along the lines of GOOD NEWS YOU ARE GETTING A PAY RISE NEXT YEAR only because they have no choice, minimum wage is increasing not them giving a much need rise. They also have decided to round the rise up by SIX WHOLE PENCE AN HOUR which on a 48 hour week won’t even buy them a coffee in Starbucks. Lie alert the cheapest Starbucks coffee is £2.70 they will get 18p change out of their gift of 6p an hour.
It’s just disgusting 🤮 that people don’t care enough about care workers. No PUN intended

[JohnY]

Dec 6, 2023 21:06:18 GMT zou said:

It's already been mentioned in a different thread but I saw the issues as connected - UK gov won't allow a foreign spouse into the UK unless the partner earns over £38k. So what that says is that less than that amount isn't enough to support a dependent. Which should mean that £38k becomes the new minimum wage, right? Basically you can't do jobs that matter and be considered valuable to the handbags in Westminster and beyond.

The rise to £38k is nothing to do with cost of supporting a dependent whatever the official line. It is to do with reducing immigration.

[willien]

Dec 7, 2023 12:41:08 GMT JohnY said:

Dec 6, 2023 21:06:18 GMT zou said:

It's already been mentioned in a different thread but I saw the issues as connected - UK gov won't allow a foreign spouse into the UK unless the partner earns over £38k. So what that says is that less than that amount isn't enough to support a dependent. Which should mean that £38k becomes the new minimum wage, right? Basically you can't do jobs that matter and be considered valuable to the handbags in Westminster and beyond.

The rise to £38k is nothing to do with cost of supporting a dependent whatever the official line. It is to do with reducing immigration.

What a literal mind you have.

[spinno]

If the Government were to give me £38k I'd immigrate somewhere else, where they do have unicorns and sunlit uplands...

[JohnY]

Care workers are underpaid. Immigrant labour allows positions to be filled at low cost.
There is enormous pressure to keep down costs in care. This is usually paid by councils which are going bust.
We need structured career paths for workers who are often short on formal qualifications but nevertheless gain skills during their employment.
Good care workers have empathy with the people for whom they care. It's difficult to quantify but needs to be rewarded.

On two different subjects that are relevant. AI is likely to cause unemployment in many jobs but not care. We send many young people to university who gain degrees in hobby subjects. No doubt the experience is great until they leave with huge debt and no job. We are producing graduates who expect graduate jobs which do not exist.

We need to get the benefits of AI where appropriate (typically not caring roles) and somehow get the cash savings made by AI used in those areas of employment where human qualities are essential such as caring roles.

[willien]

Dec 7, 2023 13:13:49 GMT JohnY said:

Care workers are underpaid. Immigrant labour allows positions to be filled at low cost.
There is enormous pressure to keep down costs in care. This is usually paid by councils which are going bust.
We need structured career paths for workers who are often short on formal qualifications but nevertheless gain skills during their employment.
Good care workers have empathy with the people for whom they care. It's difficult to quantify but needs to be rewarded.

On two different subjects that are relevant. AI is likely to cause unemployment in many jobs but not care. We send many young people to university who gain degrees in hobby subjects. No doubt the experience is great until they leave with huge debt and no job. We are producing graduates who expect graduate jobs which do not exist.

We need to get the benefits of AI where appropriate (typically not caring roles) and somehow get the cash savings made by AI used in those areas of employment where human qualities are essential such as caring roles.

Bloody commie!