There was little work-life balance. Management scheduled me for two shifts back-to-back with no time to get from one to the other. They would also call me for shifts during dates/times I had previously indicated I would be unavailable. There was little to no training and background check seemed to consist of calling references that I had provided for them. They were calling me for shifts the day after I applied, making me think that they may not have been as thorough as they could have been.
Two examples really stand out. For one, I was going to school at the time I worked there and I was set to start a shift right after my class. The office called me and asked me to come to their office across town and pick up the binder for our client notes, etc. It is actually THEIR job to leave said binder with each client once services are agreed upon. I told them it would make me late to the shift, they said it was okay. Well, the client got VERY upset with me for being late and the office turned coat, telling me that I should have left in time to pick up the binder and get to the shift on time. That would not have been possible due to me being in class and I had previously told them that. That was the first time I have ever come close to quitting a job out of anger on the spot.
For the second example, I had a very ill family member who had an emergency right before one shift. I went to that shift because it was short and there was no time to cancel in advance, but I called to cancel a shift I had later on that day. I was actually yelled at and told that "old people do not like a change in routine." That was the second (and last) time I almost quit a job out of anger on the spot. I hung on for a few months after those incidents and finally quit when I was only working three hours a week and they put in a new policy that we would have to buy scrubs. My paycheck was barely covering gas so I felt like I was put in a corner. I did give a notice as a courtesy to my client, a great lady that I truly enjoyed working for.
There were also a few occasions where I was sent out to a new client whose usual caregiver was unable to make it and found out upon getting to the client's house that they had cancelled the shift and the office had forgotten and sent me out anyway.
It also seemed more like a glorified maid service at times and some clients would very much treat me like "the help" and would be rude, condescending, etc. and on one occasion a racial issue did come up (I am a minority). I know that is the fault of the clients and not necessarily the company itself, but in the case of the racial issue the client had apparently asked for a Caucasian caregiver and was sent a few minorities, me included. It just went to show that they didn't keep the client's preferences in mind and just sent out any person who was free.
I got my degree, went to grad school and finished, and now work with seniors in a social service capacity. I will not recommend Home Instead as a service or especially as someone to potentially work for.
