The Job Centre aka The Joke Shop.....

Mumolulu

My Husband told me just the most unbelieavable stories today. He went to the Job centre for the first time ever in his life. He has just been made redundant from his FULL time job, and at the moment we both work a combined total of 20 hours a week, which isn't even close to what we need of course, They already had the papers from his phone interview, so they knew he had a weekend job at Sainsburys.
(Which he had to get a few months ago cos his FULL time job halved their hours)

The woman that interviewed him clearly had no brains....

Her:
'Oh, here's a job for you....truck driving, class 7/7 tonne or something? you said you don't mind driving (cars that is...)'
Hubby:
'I have a car licence, not a tonne truck licence'

Her:
'Oh, hey what about this one, bingo caller, weekends, very late nights'
Hubby:
'I can't do that, I work for Sainsburys during those hours'

Her:
'You do know you have to declare that salary don't you'
Hubby:
'I have'

(she scrolls down her computer screen)

'Oh yes' she says. 'Well you said your wife works 8 hours a week. You also have to declare that you know'
Hubby:
'I have'

Her:
'Well how are you managing at the moment then Sir'
Hubs:
'WE'RE NOT!!! THATS WHY I'M HERE'


(at which point he literally felt like grabbing her by the throat and throwing her against the wall.......)

I could tell you other stuff she said and asked him to do, but I don't think I need to.

How stupid can some people be? I have never known anything so stupid. She was just no help whatsoever.

movingforward2010

they have taken on new staff which have'nt had full training, no excuse I know.

Mumolulu

wxmlad wrote: »

they have taken on new staff which have'nt had full training, no excuse I know.

It sounded to me like she needed common sense, not training.

movingforward2010

i would advise calling job seekers direct instead of asking a the job centre, its just at the moment JC staff just check labour market conditions have been met, and put in the signing evidence, when your husband goes in to sign the slot willonly be 5 mins, It may not seem like it but front line staff in the job centre have a very stressful job.

tink_the_stink

no excuses but if your husband refused to apply for a full time job because it would clash with his part time job i'll think you find he'll lose his benefit!

movingforward2010

tink_the_stink wrote: »

no excuses but if your husband refused to apply for a full time job because it would clash with his part time job i'll think you find he'll lose his benefit!

yes a sanction will be applied

starsinmycrown

I know how your husband feels. I've been claiming since 2 weeks ago. I temped once for four weeks as a dogsbody working in the same office as friends. The advisor keeps printing out PA/secretarial jobs on 19k, where i'm dynamic, motivated, with a proven track record in administration, can type 60+wpm, can work under pressure in a medical/sales/education/ legal environment can work sage and have at least 12 months recent experience in a similar role. When i say "no, i don't think so, i can't do this job..." i get told to "give it a go, they might be flexible!" No thank you, i won't be embarrassing myself! oh either that or offers me work at weekends or night shift work, when i live in a small village and have no car.(and a partner who has to live in london for work, robbing us of our only chance of seeing each other!) It takes me 45 minutes to get to the job centre!

The worst thing about many of them (not all) is they assume you are literally DESPERATE and will go to any lengths, like taking 3 buses, working unsociable hours or night shift, and generally not being allowed to put any reasonable limitations on work. If people were ALLOWED to be honest and say, as 90% of people must do, that they don't want a job for a specific reason, jobseekers would get much further, instead of feeling pressganged into applying for jobs that are a waste of everybody's time, but too frightened to say no. 9/10 of people who sign on sign off and go back to work within 6 months, so its not like we don't WANT a job. It's also quite insulting to be pressured into some of the jobs as it means they aren't listening to a word you say! I had a nice woman once who told me not to take any old thing, as i'd only end up back there when i hated the job, which i thought was sensible.

This week when i went in, i had to laugh. There was a young lad sat there with his hood up and a cap on, and i heard an advisor saying "have you got any hospital or nursing experience?" You can imagine his reply....

SomeBozo

The worst thing about many of them (not all) is they assume you are literally DESPERATE and will go to any lengths, like taking 3 buses, working unsociable hours or night shift

Lots of people do this anyway. Thats such a work shy comment.

Since the OP does not want any help specifically, just to take a swipe at the over worked Job Centre, perhaps a mod could take this "discussion" to the appropriate area.

Bozo

ceridwen

O.P. - I sympathise.

Ignore any comments about "workshy" - 'twas bound to happen, so dont take it personally. I've held down the same (boring and badly-paid) full-time job for years now - so I know for a fact I'm not workshy - or I would have chucked it in ages ago. It makes me angry when aspersions are cast at people for comments like the ones you have made - as these people have no idea what age group you are in and I can see that younger people might well take these comments personally. As a middle-aged person, with decades of experience of work (both paid and voluntary) - I have the knowledge/experience/confidence to know that I am a good, honest worker and with some skills that people would value enough to pay for in a different society to this one - so "workshy" type comments go straight over my head, as I know that isnt the case. I have, nevertheless, been on the receiving end of such comments sometimes - but I just remind myself that I've sometimes put in some very long workweeks indeed (for years at a time!) - so they've got that wrong. But I do feel for younger people - who might believe them ...when it may well not be the case about them personally.

Equally - I know theres people on here who would presume to tell me I was workshy - just because I wasnt prepared or able to spend every waking hour (and maybe a few sleeping ones too!!!!) working and/or travelling to work. I guess these people dont have a life - so dont appreciate that others do.

I think that the sooner people refuse to do jobs that are in unsocial hours (but dont need to be - as I do appreciate that its vital for a few jobs, eg medical and public transport ones to be more "round the clock") - then the sooner no jobs (except the necessary ones) will be done at antisocial hours.

maninthestreet

As a matter of interest, how much money was the bingo-caller job paying?

SomeBozo

Ceridwen

Another classic quote :

the sooner people refuse to do jobs that are in unsocial hours ................ then the sooner no jobs done at antisocial hours

Ever want to go out to a restaurant? Nightclub? Drink in the pub? Hotel stay?

Its just the type of comment people use and then back it up with "Foreigners get all the jobs".

To dismiss a job because its unsocial hours should be enough of a sanction and is a workshy comment!

Bozo