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

IsoChick

I had the same type of comment from a debt advisor who asked what was stopping me selling my car to pay off a debt...

My answer was that I need my car to get to work, to the shops, to the vets (with the pets and livestock) if necessary.

I was told that I should look into public transport.

We've done this before - to get to work for 9am (a 17 mile journey) I'd have to set off from my house at 7.30am - walk 2 miles to the nearest bus stop, get a bus south to the nearest village, get a bus north (past my road) to the town that I work in - this bus drives straight past my work, then get another bus south that stops near where I work to be able to walk half a mile to my work. And of course, I'd have to do this all again in reverse when I finish at 5.30. If I didn't have to drive, I'd love to be able to sit on a bus and read etc!

No, it's alright... I'll carry on shelling out on my car!

(Especially after a frantic vets journey on Saturday morning, with a profusely bleeding dog 5 stone in the car... you can imagine trying to do that on a rural bus route!)

Of course, I was met with silence on the phone, and an 'Oh, ok.."

cyberem78

The first time I ever went to the jobcentre when I was just out of college the lady asked me what kind of job I was looking for. I told her I was looking to work with animals and she scrolls down the vacancies on her computer screen and says, totally serious: "There's a job here at a butchers". :rolleyes:

movingforward2010

starsinmycrown wrote: »

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....

the fact is that the staff in the job centre have a job to do, which No.1 is to get you off benefits and back in to work, they just follow the rules, its very hard for them especially when they have such a short time each fortnight to help you look for work, so of course they wont know everything about you in 5 mins a fortnight

I work for jobcentre plus, and 6 years ago when i lost my job the last thing I wanted to do was work in a place where everyday is filled with abuse and threats from customers for £14-16k a year, I travel 50 miles a day to work there - yes in traffic it takes me an hour! Believe me sitting at the other side of that desk telling people they cant have money isnt a pleasant job, ive had people spit in my face, threaten me when ive been leaving for the day, my computer thrown off my desk and much more.
If we told every single person that came in ' oh if you dont fancy doing that job dont bother, here's 60 quid, bye' our job would be soo much nicer, but we have to follow the law, JSA is an allowance to support you while YOU look for work, if you've looked for work yourself over the fortnight you will have nothing to worry about, even if its not your ideal job, surely it would be better to take it until you find something better.
So next time your at the job centre remember this, when most of us leave work we feel quite upset and actually want to quit somedays after the abuse we receive!, we are human too!
Things may seem unfair, but I suggest you write to your MP, because we follow the guidelines and the law.

some people think they can reject any job because they have a god given right to benefit for as long as they want.

movingforward2010

ceridwen wrote: »

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.

so because you dont fancy working evenings or a few nights your automatically entitled to benefits then? Someone has to do these jobs, but not you? why are you excluded? ...and people go on about 'single mums bleeding the system' its far closer to home than people think:rolleyes:

Pietr_2

SomeBozo wrote: »

Ceridwen

Another classic quote :



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

Is easy get job for Polish persons. I am is working first day in UK. My girl frend too is work very much. She is pretty girl and speak english more good than me. Was go to interview and next day she is starting in office. Also she is earn more pounds than me! Now she is want house, car :eek:

Dziękuję

Pietr

movingforward2010

Pietr wrote: »

Is easy get job for Polish persons. I am is working first day in UK. My girl frend too is work very much. She is pretty girl and speak english more good than me. Was go to interview and next day she is starting in office. Also she is earn more pounds than me! Now she is want house, car :eek:

Dziękuję

Pietr

even if this was a real post, you would'nt get JSA until you'd worked and paid NI and tax in the uk for 12 months! you would fail the HRT and could only claim credits.

cyclonebri1

wxmlad wrote: »

the fact is that the staff in the job centre have a job to do, which No.1 is to get you off benefits and back in to work, they just follow the rules, its very hard for them especially when they have such a short time each fortnight to help you look for work, so of course they wont know everything about you in 5 mins a fortnight

I work for jobcentre plus, and 6 years ago when i lost my job the last thing I wanted to do was work in a place where everyday is filled with abuse and threats from customers for £14-16k a year, I travel 50 miles a day to work there - yes in traffic it takes me an hour! Believe me sitting at the other side of that desk telling people they cant have money isnt a pleasant job, ive had people spit in my face, threaten me when ive been leaving for the day, my computer thrown off my desk and much more.
If we told every single person that came in ' oh if you dont fancy doing that job dont bother, here's 60 quid, bye' our job would be soo much nicer, but we have to follow the law, JSA is an allowance to support you while YOU look for work, if you've looked for work yourself over the fortnight you will have nothing to worry about, even if its not your ideal job, surely it would be better to take it until you find something better.
So next time your at the job centre remember this, when most of us leave work we feel quite upset and actually want to quit somedays after the abuse we receive!, we are human too!
Things may seem unfair, but I suggest you write to your MP, because we follow the guidelines and the law.

some people think they cant reject any job because they have a god given right to benefit for as long as they want.

Need to edit again Lad, and chill.;)

avoniel

Pietr wrote: »

Is easy get job for Polish persons. I am is working first day in UK. My girl frend too is work very much. She is pretty girl and speak english more good than me. Was go to interview and next day she is starting in office. Also she is earn more pounds than me! Now she is want house, car :eek:

Dziękuję

Pietr

You and other Polish people get work because you are willing to work and work hard at a job.
There are jobs out there but many UK citizens feel the job is below them or too much hassle (like working unsociable hours r godforbid travelling to work for an hour) to work for little pay.

GrammarGirl

starsinmycrown wrote: »

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....

Can I? What was it?


Yes?

dmg24

IsoChick wrote: »

I had the same type of comment from a debt advisor who asked what was stopping me selling my car to pay off a debt...

My answer was that I need my car to get to work, to the shops, to the vets (with the pets and livestock) if necessary.

I was told that I should look into public transport.

We've done this before - to get to work for 9am (a 17 mile journey) I'd have to set off from my house at 7.30am - walk 2 miles to the nearest bus stop, get a bus south to the nearest village, get a bus north (past my road) to the town that I work in - this bus drives straight past my work, then get another bus south that stops near where I work to be able to walk half a mile to my work. And of course, I'd have to do this all again in reverse when I finish at 5.30. If I didn't have to drive, I'd love to be able to sit on a bus and read etc!

No, it's alright... I'll carry on shelling out on my car!

(Especially after a frantic vets journey on Saturday morning, with a profusely bleeding dog 5 stone in the car... you can imagine trying to do that on a rural bus route!)

Of course, I was met with silence on the phone, and an 'Oh, ok.."

I see no reason why you should need a car. You choose to keep pets and livestock, nobody forces you to. As for a ninety minute journey to work? Yes, many people do that (and a great deal more).

If you are in debt, a car is a luxury, not an essential.