In the UK, social care employees frequently work more than 80 hours per week. This is a result of poor compensation, a staffing shortage, and a lack of finance.
Experiences of Social Workers Working More Than 80 Hours Per Week
According to research by Holistical Approach, a recent survey, social workers need to work more than 80 hours each week in order to make ends meet.
The study, which was conducted by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), found that nearly one-third of social workers are working more than 80 hours per week. The study also revealed that burnout and job dissatisfaction are more prevalent in social workers who work more than 80 hours per week.
This is a problem that needs to be addressed. Social workers are an essential part of our society, and they deserve to be compensated for their hard work. If we want to retain the best and brightest social workers, we need to make sure that they can make a liveable wage.
The Impact on Social Workers of Working More than 80 Hours
According to a recent study, social workers who worked more than 80 hours a week were more likely to experience burnout, poor physical health, and mental health issues. Additionally, they were more likely to admit that they could not give their patients the kind of care they needed.
This poses a serious issue for the field of social work. Already, social workers are underestimated and underpaid. They must put in a lot of overtime and handle challenging circumstances. The stress social workers already experience is increased by this recent discovery.
There are solutions to this issue. Social workers can strive to reduce their workload in some way. Additionally, they can ensure that they take breaks and care for themselves. Social workers must constantly keep in mind that they cannot pour from an empty cup. If they do not take care of themselves, they will not be able to take care of others.
What would Reduce the Number of Social Workers Working More than 80 Hours?
It’s no secret that social workers are some of the most underpaid and overworked professionals in the country. In fact, a recent study found that nearly 60% of social workers put in more than 40 hours per week, and 20% work more than 80 hours per week. With such demanding schedules, it’s no wonder that social workers are often struggling to make ends meet. In fact, many social workers are forced to take on second jobs or rely on food stamps and other government assistance just to get by.
So what can be done to reduce the number of social workers who are working more than 80 hours per week? One obvious solution is to increase salaries and benefits so that social workers can afford to work fewer hours. However, this is easier said than done, especially in today’s economy.
Another solution is to increase the number of social workers so that the workload can be spread out more evenly. This would require a major investment by both the government and private sector, but it would ultimately lead to better working conditions for social workers and improved services for those who rely on them. Finally, we need to change the way we view social work itself.
Summary
It’s clear that social workers are putting in more than their fair share of hours just to make ends meet. This is an unsustainable situation that needs to be addressed. We hope that by bringing attention to this issue, we can help bring about change that will improve the lives of social workers and the people they serve. An ongoing shift in the balance of power has created a situation where workers are working harder and harder to make ends meet, with little to no progression. In recent years, the rise in inflation outpaces wage growth.
Meanwhile, rents are rising at record rates and social workers are seeing a rise in homelessness for people who have disabilities (over the course of 20 years there was a 57% increase in disabled people experiencing homelessness). Additionally, wages for social workers have remained stagnant. Social worker salaries actually decreased 2.3% from 2012 – 2016, and health insurance premiums continue to go up, while increases in wages remains flat or even decreasing slightly over the past decade.
