I think I'm gonna walk out of work tomorrow

I work with children. We have a child who hits staff (including me), hits other children, destroys equipment (which I think puts him at risk of injury since it includes electrical things which are turned on) and when I've restrained him his parents have put in complaints about me hurting him.

One of my workmates came over this afternoon and told me that after I left our head office called and said that we are not to physically touch him at all, including if he is hurting us, hurting other children, damaging equipment or hurting himself.

The problem is that I am the second in charge of my workplace which means when the first in charge is not there (we're open 12 hours a day but only allowed to work 8 since they don't like paying us beyond that, but we legally can't work more than 10 hours either) I am the person in charge. This sounds like to me that they're ordering us to fail our duty of care to the children and to ourselves.

So I'm going to go into work early tomorrow and find out first hand from my immediate boss what is going on and if those are actually the work instructions I am going to report myself sick (I suffer from a heart arrhythmia) and go home, go to the doctor and get a sick note saying that I am too stressed to work, otherwise I am going to be charge of the work place where I believe I may be legally responsible if I carry out the work instructions to fail in my duty of care. Surely I would be failing this if these are the actual instructions? Surely I am legally responsible if I stand there and do nothing if the child starts wailing on another child and I don't stop him from doing so? Surely I am breaking a work instruction if I decide to stop him? Sounds like I'm (*)(*)(*)(*)ed either way so to protect myself if that is actually the case I just won't work tomorrow.

Sounds like I might be needing to look for another job soon.

 

File a complaint in writing keeping a copy for yourself about what you just posted here. Then refuse to care for that child when the parents bring it to school or whatever it is you do. That way if you are fired then you will have proof of wrongful firing an could possible;y sue them and be able to collect your unemployment.

 

As long as I don't quit I can collect I believe. Unemployment here though is only something like $200 a week.

 

You can collect if you can prove that you had a good reason.

 

Someone should maybe warn the other parents about what they are bringing their own children into face. If the other parents complain maybe the owner(s) will rethink their decision. Why even accept a child who behaves like that. You know the parents are aware of his/her behavior.

 

Our head office bosses (that's off site bosses) are refusing to suspend the child.

 

Then notify your local child welfare office. They will send someone out to investigate.

 

did something similar here, I actually hid in the bathroom for 1-2 hours one time to avoid doing something at work

do you guys qualify for unemployment there if you quit we don't here that was the only problem when i eventually walked out of one of my old jobs

 

I'm pretty sure if I was to quit then I wouldn't qualify.

So I'm not quitting, I'm just leaving work and I'm going to go to the doctor and get put on stress leave or something.

 

I'd anonymously suggest to the other kids that this kid should be duct-taped to a pole.

 

that is a smart way to go about never thought of it like that, it would be discrimination if they did something to someone who was suffering from an illness

 

Yeah, luckily I have this little heart thingee to fall back on, which is acting up because believe it or not, I am stressed.

 

they dont want you to touch there child first and formost you need to get that in writting that they do not want you or anyone touching their child. (This is for liability) and get the manager to sign it and the parents

If the child starts hitting others you can grab the person he/she is hitting and move them away if he hits you, you can nudge him back a bit to keep from getting assaulted because that is what it is. If he damages equipment you can protect it and take photo's

Make sure you get it all documented for your safety

 

Have you documented the episodes on video?

 

Photos have been taken. Reports have been written. I spent an hour last week writing a 5 page report. A report was written yesterday by another worker. Did I mention that he kicked a worker in the face yesterday?

 

During your absence, I suggest you send your notes to the administration through the certified mails requesting a receipt for delivery in addition to hand delivery. There appears to be some hefty liability if that child hurts himself or others. Should you fail to place your employer on notice and there is an investigation or a civil lawsuit you may find yourself under more stress than you could have ever imagined and a principal in the possible actions that may occur.

 

Record it with a camera. Has much more impact in case you need it.
And double and triple record all correspondence with, and instructions by, the parents. You may need it.

 

Have a nanny cam and a voice activated recording system a la Richard Nixon installed.

 

I had a similar situation as a parent of a child in a private (Christian) school. This one boy was a bully, a well-known bully, and I & wife had talks with the school Admin since our son started refusing to go to school in the mornings. My wife finally got it out of him why he didnt want to go. They refused to acknowledge the 'problem' as being the bully's, but pointed a finger at my son who had a naturally gentile nature, setting himself up as a victim. Found out later thru my daughter, his older sister, that the bully's father was a 'big wig' in the community and a large donor to the school....RHIP.

We pulled our son out of there, put him in a different school, where he got older, played Pop Warner football for a couple of years, got 'bigger,' and became a defender of those who were being bullied...

 

First things first - your “workmate” informed you not to restrain the child. To follow up on Spade 115‘s comment, why didn’t your SUPERVISOR (or the first in charge if it is a small institution) say that or more appropriately WRITE that in the form of an email that is documentable? When does communication from a coworker become company policy?

Your approach is a good defensive approach.

There are two sides of every game, offense and defense. Keep in mind that I have quit at least 10 jobs and have been fired from two so that is my pathway. Not a good pathway for people needing income. An alternative offensive (and more risky) approach is to file or threaten to file a civil lawsuit AGAINST the parents of the kid hitting you (and others) and/or your employer. I don’t understand any job position that involves kids hitting you or destroying equipment (unless you are a sparring partner for a boxer). Don’t know how powerful employment lawyers are in Australia.

 

If the kid is that abusive and out of control, he shouldn't een be allowed there as he is a clear danger to other children, staff and himself.

If the child is injured, Panzer, that wouldn't be your fault. It is the fault of those who resfused to suspend the child.

If it were me in your situation, I'd have the brat quivering everytime I walked past.

 

Well I went home. Called head office before I left and told them I was leaving due to illness. Went to my doctor. He took my blood pressure (150/95) and listened to me. He then wrote me a certificate saying that I'm to take a week off work, upped my medication, have to go for an ultrasound (was supposed to do that a while ago anyway) and get blood tests and if I'm still having trouble sleeping next week he might give me meds for this.

I think it's now time for me to get a grievance report and list my current medical condition on it.

 

Man that sucks.

You could ring worksafe/cover maybe?

Under section 21 of the Act it is the Employers responsibility to provide you with a safe working environment, sounds like they a failing.

Kid needs a good kick up the arse.

 

Atta boy, go get them.

 

You have taken a great and courageous step toward protecting yourself and by filing the grievance you are protecting the children as well as the problem child. That is to be commended and respected.

I suggest you also send the report via post with a confirmation for receipt.

Now is the time for you to rest and take care of yourself there is nothing more you can reasonably do unless you are a mandated reporter.