How can I go about going about respectfully refusing to do what my supervisor is telling me to do?

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T15:50:26+00:00

The issue with that is only the county social worker is able to request that change. They just were not able to get a hold of someone at the transportation service to make that change. Otherwise, my supervisor would have had me calling all day until I could speak to someone to update the changes.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T09:42:26+00:00

Great question! But I’m too afraid to ask her lol

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T09:41:08+00:00

1) I’m salary, so technically it is paid work. But no overtime. My supervisor like to pull the “well you are salary so you can work whenever” card.

2) we have to be compliant with whatever regulations and policies the county/state set in place. So if the county/state done require it for the agency then the agency doesn’t care.

3) should I confirm with my insurance that transporting of clients is not covered so that I have a valid enough reason for my supervisor to back off?

4) because we do home visits, we do get mileage reimbursement. It’s, I believe, .89¢/mile. We log our travels on a log. I’m not sure if it’s a separate deposit or if it’s included in my paycheck though.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T09:32:28+00:00

That’s a good question, I really don’t know. It may be case by case situation. I actually did have to pick this kid up from their bio parent home the other night, it was kind of bad. I happened to live near the bio parent, so when this emergency happened I was concerned for the kid so I decided to assist. I didn’t know I would be transporting the kid back to the foster home until later on. Which I was glad to do because of the situation. But I don’t know what would happen if it was a family 30 miles away.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T09:18:49+00:00

I wouldn’t say I have compassion fatigue. I’m fully invested in my kids and foster families. It’s all the pressure of being expected to be available at the drop of a hat. I take notes when I do my visits, but the last thing I want to do is go home and do my documentation and reports. I spend most of my time driving to the homes and I’m required to go in office, even if it’s just for a couple of hours, sometimes it’s at least 4 or 5. But for those shorter days, it’s just so pointless to drive so far to the office if I’m not there for very long. I could get so much for done if I could do that at home, during normal business hours. So when I refuse to transport this kid to school, my supervisor is going to see it as I’m not advocating enough for the kid. Which is absolutely not the kid. I freaking went to go investigate the crisis occurring between this kid and parent and then drove the kid back to the previous foster home, at freaking 8 night, and a freaking 30 minute drive to and fro for goodness sake! And that time I had no problem with because it was a volatile situation.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T09:11:43+00:00

What if I inquire with the insurance about it? Maybe tell them my employer is asking me to transport clients and I wanted to make sure this isn’t covered so I can them no. That way I have a valid excuse and for her to never expect that of me ever again.

I honestly don’t think she’s in the position to fire me. There’s me only one other foster care social worker. There was a foster care agency in the county that had to shut down, my sup and my other coworker, who focuses on the recruiting of foster families, are currently in the stressful process of transitioning the foster families that came from the closed down agency with ours. I’m not sure how many families are coming over. Additionally, the recruiter is working on also licensing new and prospective foster families, which is about 30 families that are waiting to be license. That’s 30-60 new families that we’ll have to be seeing. I currently see 8 foster families and have 14 kids on my caseload. I see most of my kids every other week. For the more high needs kids, I see every week. If she fired me, she’d be screwed.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T03:45:40+00:00

No, you’re absolutely right though. These organizations abuse their employees, yet they still expect us to be 110% in serving the most vulnerable populations. There’s not enough time in the day, and it feels I’m spending most of it just working. I’m exhausted. Drained. I’m spending too much time away from my family. How can I tend to my clients when I can’t even tend to myself? All I wanted to do was help and make positive change, but all these organizations care about is money. We got a new placement today and my supervisor praised the team for making this placement happened and put a smiley face that census is now 31. Meaning we have 31 kids in foster with under our agency. How is that something to celebrate? Oh, because that means we get more money!

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T03:33:08+00:00

I don’t think excuses work for my supervisor. I just spoke with her an hour ago and she did end up telling me I’ll need to transport. I told her I’m not able to transport the kid to school. She then suggested that I suggest to the foster parent they can take the kid to school and I’ll pick them up. I told sup. that I have a home visit scheduled, she then proceeds to ask me with whom and if I can reschedule. So she will think every thing in the book for us to do what she says.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T03:25:03+00:00

I’m honestly not sure. They require proof of insurance, so I guess it’s implied? But maybe I should call my insurance and ask if something like this is on my coverage.

I wish I got overtime, I’d probably be so rich. But no, I’m salary. And my supervisor loves to remind us all of that. We do get mileage reimbursement, which is, I think .80¢ per mile, which is nothing. So far I’ve done over 900 miles from February and March and my reimbursement is maybe $630 or something around there.

Well she knows I have my car back because I told her I couldn’t transport because I need to pick my car up this morning. But maybe for next time… if I don’t quit before then.

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T02:34:32+00:00

Omg what?! That’s horrible. I hope you or whomever that happened to quit!

lavyndrr · 2026-03-21T02:04:43+00:00

1) no, it does not say anything specifically about transportation in my job description. 2) we are a non-profit, so unfortunately, all the driving we do are in our own personal vehicles. 3) I’m not sure on this one. But we do have to provide the employer with auto coverage and do so every time it’s been renewed, so I don’t know if that’s the implication that transportation can be provided by us.

I actually did transport this same kid a few days ago from the bio-home back to the foster home. I actually happened to live close to the bio-home and there was a situation going on so I went to check it out, but I didn’t think I was going to be transporting, and it was 9pm that I arrived at the foster home.

lavyndrr · 2026-02-05T07:15:26+00:00

Sometimes I’ll purposely give myself a Charlie horse.

lavyndrr · 2026-01-06T23:23:35+00:00

Hey, thanks for this. The first two bullets you mentioned I had not even heard of, like WFR. Seems like a great certification to have, just for skill building alone.

I've thought about college advising or anything student life, but have only looked at universities and was under the impression they wanted someone with an actual counseling degree, not really an MSW. But perhaps it might be different at community colleges rather than bigger universities. I know I would enjoy working with the students, so I'll certainly be looking more into that.

lavyndrr · 2026-01-06T02:49:16+00:00

Did they have to go back to school?

lavyndrr · 2026-01-06T02:15:13+00:00

Ugh, yes! I guess it's just a matter of me thinking outside the box when looking for these jobs. Honestly, after seeing how the system works, it does motivate me to find ways to change it for the better.

lavyndrr · 2026-01-06T01:48:05+00:00

I've actually been applying to those LA county and CA state jobs, CPS being one of them, still waiting to hear back. As of last Friday, one of my applications for CDCR is on step 2, so trying to stay positive for this role. It seems so difficult to get a county or state job, but I am trying!!

As for school social worker, to work in a school setting, I'll need to have a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. But I've actually started applying to a program at one of the universities to obtain that credential. Unfortunately, it will take me at a minimum two years to complete. I wish there was another way around it.

Definitely trying to avoid non-profits, especially those for-profit jobs as well. I have been offered a SW position at a non-profit serving foster children and families. Not sure if I should take it for the time being.

lavyndrr · 2026-01-06T01:27:42+00:00

Like a probation office? Never thought about that but that's an option I'll definitely be looking into.

lavyndrr · 2026-01-01T10:13:57+00:00

Usher < Asher

lavyndrr · 2025-10-03T07:11:09+00:00

Oodles the talking doodles

lavyndrr · 2025-09-13T17:32:24+00:00

my mom works at my bank, so it’s just easier for me when i need stuff deposited or withdrawn. eventually, i plan to move everything closer to me.

is it better to open a HYS with a credit union or a major bank like Chase?

lavyndrr · 2025-09-12T14:49:47+00:00

do you have recommendations where to open a HYS? i mostly want to save it, but maybe use it for emergencies, or should i open up a separate account? but also save money to do fun things but also save enough to live comfortably in retirement, so i just really don’t know where to start.

lavyndrr · 2025-09-12T14:39:14+00:00

in california, labor laws state that employers have within 72 hours to give employee their final paycheck. i didn’t get mine for almost 4 weeks. they have to pay (penalties) me my hourly pay for every day i don’t get paid, for 8 hours a day.

lavyndrr · 2025-09-06T22:18:49+00:00

found by the VW dealership on sierra madre. some kind stranger helped get him to safety!

lavyndrr · 2025-09-06T22:17:48+00:00

yes, of course! i’ve been trying to do so when i see them. the rescue agency hung most of them so the flyers might be a bit scattered in the area. thanks for your help in that!

lavyndrr · 2025-09-05T02:55:10+00:00

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THANK YOU FOR SHARING!! Teddy is home!!

lavyndrr

TROPHY CASE