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VSA
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DismissVSA is a social care charity in Aberdeen. They support vulnerable people, including older people, children, carers, people with autism and people with complex needs.
vsa.org.ukBased on responses from 13 employees at VSA.
About jobs at VSA
Pay
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Good
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Most people are paid a living wage
Do VSA pay a living wage?
Most people are paid a living wage.
How we know this
91% of people say they are paid at or above the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The new Living Wage rates were announced on Thursday 22 September 2022.
The rates are now £10.90 per hour, and £11.95 per hour in London.
Employers are expected to implement the rise as soon as possible but by the latest 14 May 2023.
On the 14 May 2023, employers’ Breakroom scores will be updated to reflect this.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
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Most people are paid market rates
Do VSA pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
70% of people are paid above for the average pay for the type of work they do.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2021 and November 2022.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Okay
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Only some people get paid breaks
Do workers at VSA get paid breaks?
Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
How we know this
42% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Okay
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Only some people get sick pay
Do VSA pay sick pay?
Sometimes. Only some people get proper sick pay.
How we know this
42% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at VSA do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
60% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2021 and November 2022.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at VSA worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
33% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do VSA workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
60% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2021 and November 2022.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at VSA?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
80% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
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Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do VSA managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
75% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at VSA feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
91% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Bad
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Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do people at VSA get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
70% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2021 and November 2022.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Bad
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at VSA?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
83% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at VSA recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
50% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
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Most people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at VSA?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
75% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and November 2022.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Good
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Most people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at VSA?
Most people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 73% of people report being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between February 2020 and October 2022.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
How VSA ranks
VSA ranks joint 24th to work for out of charities.
Rankings are based on Breakroom ratings for employers with 5 or more quiz responses, accurate as of 3 December 2022.
VSA job reviews
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Best thing
Helping people
Worst thing
Got to work on public holidays
VSA Support worker, September 2021
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Best thing
Enjoy supporting the individuals that I look after
Worst thing
Management understanding and dealing with staff
VSA Support worker, March 2021
Handy to know
What contracts are people on?
Based on 11 VSA employees
Based on 13 VSA employees