So I'm an HCA in Washington State. My agency is under a union contract and we are paid better than most other agencies in my area. However, even though we get better wages and caregiver rights, management is absolutely fucking terrible.
My previous supervisor quit about a month ago. Not sad about it, actually pretty friggin' grateful, because they were absolutely useless when it came to anything important we had to report to them. Never clearly communicated, would leave you on read for weeks (they preferred texting), ignoring HCA's and clients' calls/messages, micromanaging etc. So yeah, not crying about it.
Our current supervisor is a tad better. Doesn't take them weeks to get back to you, but only responds through text and rarely ever emails. Not much of an upgrade, but an improvement to communication – if I dare say it's even an improvement.
Now, I'm pretty communicative and I don't allow management to slide things under the rug ESPECIALLY when it comes to client care. Recently I was invited to a union meeting and I had to submit a time-off request form with my supervisor's approval. Thing is, this particular supervisor set up a group chat mainly for covering shifts (so basically leaving it up to us to get our shifts covered) and, in my case, ignores time-off request forms.
But that's not the main issue. You see, in order to continue to work as an HCA in WA, you have to undergo 70 hours of training 3 months after starting employment and take the written and skills exams within a year after you've completed training. In my case, I received my training after ~8 months employment and it's now been over a year since I've completed it. Technically I should be terminated by now lol.
I've contacted (both) supervisors – previous and current – both ignore me. Emailed and called my union, I've heard nothing. Fyi, I've contacted both agency and union a dozen times since my training, and it's up to management to schedule exams. Hell, I've even tried to schedule my exams myself – with only to be told that my agency's supervisors have to schedule it.
I'm not really sure if this is even the right subreddit to post this but if you're an HCA in WA and have any info to throw my way that be great, but honestly I'm just ranting. I'm sick and tired of being ignored and my employment on the edge of jeopardy because of incompetent and lazy supervisors and union reps who're supposed to be there to HELP YOU in situations like this. Not to mention how much losing my job could impact my client's care, since we're also super low staff and I have full-time clients. Without me, they can't eat, keep up with hygiene, or live with dignity. And it seems that supervisors and even the people who advocate for us could care less.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy I'm being paid ~generally~ well compared to most caregivers in my country and we get great benefits – but for everything else, their “support” just seems performative and dishonest.
Anyway, thanks for reading