Doing Support Staff Rosters

Something that a few of you may not realise, but as part of now living independently (and running the small business of “Mark” as I do), I do all the weekly staff rosters. So, not only am I involved in recruitment of staff, I also allocate where and how they’ll integrate into my team. I train, fill shifts when people are sick, so I’m totally the HR guy too. This can be a total pain in the ass but I wouldn’t have it any other way, this gives me so much choice and control. Haha, responsibilit-eeee.

It is difficult though, like I definitely have a certain level of emotional attachment to all my staff, As human beings, I love them all. Moreover, I’d even go as far as saying I want to be kind to them all and do what I can to ensure their success. Yet, intertwined in all this, to a point, I am their “boss.” In fact, several of my staff, rather endearingly, do refer to me as boss – a title that I’m still a bit iffy about. Then, to go further here, again to a point, I also control the purse strings (or to be more specific, I have a lot of say in how my NDIS budget is spent). So, as I’m doing the rosters, I’m also aware how the number of shifts I allocate (or not) can impact somebody’s income.

Hence, like from what I’ve said thus far, there is this quite tricky balancing act always going on. One of fairness, practicality, ensuring competency and safety (especially when I’m introducing new staff); then I’m also always trying to keep things as consistent as I can. Furthermore, every staff member is different, each has their own strengths and weaknesses, so this is another thing that factors into my rostering. Like, sometimes, I’ll plan my day according to which staff member will be working – nah, actually, this is something I do constantly, possibly wrongly so. Oh well. But to use a simple little example here, like I’ll only let certain people shave me, and honestly this is because some people are just shit at it. And really, who wants cuts all over their face to start the day?

Now, there is one other thing that I want to make mention of here, but yeah, my staff team is pretty bloody legendary as well. They’ll often cover shifts wherever they can, even at times working out to cover shifts amongst themselves, then taking various other pro-active initiatives to ensure the smooth running of the roster. Collaboration. I am a big fan of this and similar type team approaches. Still, I guess they all understand the deal, like not even one single shift can go uncovered (nor can I be left alone, even for five minutes just in case the trachy pops off), which I suppose is a part of the deal of working with me. Even so, I do want to emphasise this same point once again, I really do care for and think that all my staff are ahh-mazing. I do have huge gratitude for all the things that they do for me – hmm, apart from the current threats of dressing me in Hello Kitty pyjamas. Haha..

This affection toward them all, well, truthfully as much as I love this it can also be a double edged sword, especially when I have to make the hard rostering decisions (as I had to make an extremely heartbreaking one just recently). You see, what’s beneath all of this rostering complexity, there’s this underlying goal of having the most suitable people around to best helping me live my life – both physically and interpersonally. Yep, this is yet another tricky balancing act. Plus, something else I’m always factoring in here, I definitely do consider what’s best in terms of the team and teamwork. Which, this part, I do try to distance myself from emotionally. This is where the “business and shop front” side of things comes in to it. Yep, ultimately I have do what I have to do, like whatever helps me live my life to the utmost is the call that I have to make. It’s a pretty high stakes game.

Nevertheless, this is what I do every single week, in fact, since moving into my apartment I’m currently on week and roster number forty three. And by comparison to other people in similar boats, from what I’ve heard, I’m very unique in this way – not many people do their own rosters. Stupid is as stupid does hey!? But bottom line, why I do this, I see this not only as a tool for control and freedom, primarily it’s for survival (which I’d include “living my life” as part of this too).

Anyway, in summary, nope I’m outta time. Back to the future. Gotta go do the roster…