Those of you that do field work

I am starting to get really disgusted with my job. It does involve fieldwork, however, as of late, they want me to travel all over the freakin' place, off Long Island, Upstate, multiple visits out East for days on end.......it's nutty.

People who do not have a car who have the same position at my job are not put in this same predicament.

DH and I are ****** because our vehicle is leased. We got it in July and it already has over 9000 miles on it.

I have been pressing my boss to do something about getting a company vehicle for what seems like months now. They have had one before for our department, and I work for an agency that brings in millions of dollars a year so they CAN afford it. It's always one excuse after another.

Am I within my right to start to refuse to go to stuff that is "extra" and not part of my regularly scheduled client visits in my own personal vehicle.

We do get reimbursed for mileage, but again, no one else has to do this. (They have me doing a bunch of intakes at nursing homes and stuff since I am the "senior" social worker).

Also my boss is taking his sweet time letting me give up some more "difficult" cases in Queens.

I was super pi$$ed today because I drove all the way to Astoria, got there and there was NO WHERE to park because of the snow, and the client refused to come out and meet with me in my car. I wasted half a tank of gas going there and back.

Again boss uses the "well I need a seasoned social worker on the case".

I just do not think it's fair. And again, before you question why we leased, it's because back then I was not "expected" to do all this mileage.
We also didn't want to buy because we like the idea of having a new car in a couple of years.

We are reimbursed for mileage, but that's not the point. I feel like I totally am being taken advantage of. I live in Western Suffolk btw.

Message edited 1/31/2011 6:56:53 PM.

Re: Those of you that do field work

You are being taken advantage of. Your boss knows you'll go so they ask you to. Start saying NO its too far. Don't you have an assigned area?

I'm also a 'seasoned' therapist and I go all over manhattan, including Harlem and the projects. But I will NOT go to the Bronx.

Re: Those of you that do field work

The "goal" for awhile now has been for me to have a designated area to have a caseload in.

It just hasn't happened though, primarily because there's no one else they can ask to do it.

They just hired another new social worker, so they will eventually get my Queens people. (At least that's what boss "tells" me).

It's just all these extra visits trying to bring clients onto our program that is making me nuts. I feel like my agency is going to cash in on these clients eventually----the least they can do is lease a cheap vehicle for our department to use.

Our NYC staff have also suggested zipcar for these kind of visits but no response.......

Re: Those of you that do field work

My dh was in your position...THANK God I am a social worker in an office...he does field work. he also cant lease a car bc they put him all over the place. Though I must admit...upstate??? Why the he!! did they even take on cases from upstate...I mean really?!?! Think about it...like there really isnt any other SW agencies for these areas
OK...vent over...
what I think you should do is tell them that you have a leased car and you can not go over your mileage. You understand that you are req to do fieldwork, However, you have NEVER had to drive so far. The sucky part is...in the end they are right...field work is field work...it sux! But they should have a company car. SCO has company cars just for the record... (I dont work for them dh does).

Re: Those of you that do field work

A lot of our clients are in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities out of state and out of the immediate area. The main goal for the program is to bring clients into the community who are stuck in nursing homes---and into the community they used to reside in prior to their disability.

But again.....I work for a company that makes millions of dollars a year. They CAN afford to get a cheap company vehicle for stuff like this and visits that are not part of my routine visits with clients already in the community.

Re: Those of you that do field work

I am a Project Mng and I think you are being taken advantage of. I have to travel to East Harlem and the Bronx from my office on Wall St, but we have drivers (vans) that I can call for a ride. I wouldn't drive my car, no way..I know you said you told your boss, but I would bring it up again and again until someone listens.

Re: Those of you that do field work

Def. sounds like you are being taken advantage of and that's not cool. Can you sort of "threaten" them with leaving to get their azz in gear?

Re: Those of you that do field work

I'd consider putting it in writing- that all this driving was not in your original job description (is it?) and that you will not be able to maintain your mileage as stated in your lease agreement therefore you can no longer use your personal vehicle. something to that effect. i'd also tell my boss that i was putting it in writing because the solution is taking too long. but i have that kind of relationship with my agency where i could do that (at least in this situation).

Message edited 2/1/2011 12:08:32 PM.

Re: Those of you that do field work

I would speak to your boss again. If it was NOT in your original job description I would be angry. If he doesn't respond do you have an HR department you can go to?

I have a job that I have to travel - but it was clear before I took it so I bought my car -no leasing here. I also can make my own schedule to an extent, so I make sure I am not driving all over the place in one day.

Re: Those of you that do field work

Well, the issue is still not totally resolved, however, he said he will take my concerns again to the head of the company.

He said in the meantime I could look into renting a car or using the train for more extensive visits.

It's still being put back on me though because of the rationale that our "other offices" provide services to clients with much longer distances to travel (i.e. Upstate regions where SCs cover multiple counties) and they just submit their mileage.

At one point he tried to say something about how my mileage reimbursement is higher than average so I should "save" those checks towards whatever I am over on my lease.

I think I am really going to start limiting my days in the office, working at home more and only seeing my clients when absolutely necessary.

Re: Those of you that do field work

Re: Those of you that do field work

Re: Those of you that do field work

Nope. Most of my cases are on LI though so public transportation is not really an option. Unless I want to spend all day getting to one client.

Re: Those of you that do field work

Update:

So I met with my boss today.

He is going to pitch to the CEO of our company tommorrow to change my position around completely and just make me an Intake Coordinator.

I would get rid of most of my caseload and work with the other Service Coordinators on writing plans to bring new clients onto the program.

I could pretty much do my work from anywhere and since I wouldn't have a caseload, I wouldn't be travelling around as much.

I hope they approve it!

Re: Those of you that do field work

That proposal sounds GREAT!!!! Good luck!!!!!

Re: Those of you that do field work

thats awesome! hope they approve it

Re: Those of you that do field work

They approved it!

I am so excited. They are also in the process of hiring someone to replace my current role.

I am also planning to start the LMSW process myself soon...........I have been putting it off, but it is definitely time.

Re: Those of you that do field work

great news! they obviously dont want to loose you!!!!

Re: Those of you that do field work