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

starsinmycrown

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

I think this response was a bit strong, judging from what I said. I'm certainly not abusive or even remotely aggressive. I'm quiet and polite and I do as I'm asked to and I would never cause any trouble or act in an aggressive way towards staff. I've worked in a public service where I have had service users being aggressive and abusive and i've even been assualted a fair few times myself so by that measure a) i don't treat people like that and b) i'm certainly not workshy.

I don't expect them to know everything about me, but like a lot of other posters I have a reasonable limit on my working hours as my bus home stops at 6pm. I live in a village which used to be an industrial village, now theres no industry or jobs as all of the factories and shops are closed down. As somebody else mentions, even if there were buses at 11pm, i'm not sure i'd want to be hanging around in the middle of nowhere waiting for them. I've done all sorts of jobs, been spat at, threatened, bitten, hit, knocked about, abused, wiped backsides, cleaned up vomit, semen, the lot. I'm not workshy or too proud or feel that work is above me. I just would like to put a reasonable limitation on working hours. Just as you ask us not to judge jobcentre staff, I might ask you not to judge job seekers.

movingforward2010

starsinmycrown wrote: »

I think this response was a bit strong, judging from what I said. I'm certainly not abusive or even remotely aggressive. I'm quiet and polite and I do as I'm asked to and I would never cause any trouble or act in an aggressive way towards staff. I've worked in a public service where I have had service users being aggressive and abusive and i've even been assualted a fair few times myself so by that measure a) i don't treat people like that and b) i'm certainly not workshy.

I don't expect them to know everything about me, but like a lot of other posters I have a reasonable limit on my working hours as my bus home stops at 6pm. I live in a village which used to be an industrial village, now theres no industry or jobs as all of the factories and shops are closed down. As somebody else mentions, even if there were buses at 11pm, i'm not sure i'd want to be hanging around in the middle of nowhere waiting for them. I've done all sorts of jobs, been spat at, threatened, bitten, hit, knocked about, abused, wiped backsides, cleaned up vomit, semen, the lot. I'm not workshy or too proud or feel that work is above me. I just would like to put a reasonable limitation on working hours. Just as you ask us not to judge jobcentre staff, I might ask you not to judge job seekers.

if you look back thru my post ive not said all jobseekers are like this, nor did i say all jobseekers were work shy, i simply pointed out this does exist with some , sorry if you found this comment a personal attack on yourself, its not the case, and was a direct response to the OP comment on how 'useless' we were and what we sometimes have to put up with

starsinmycrown

wxmlad wrote: »

if you look back thru my post ive not said all jobseekers are like this, nor did i say all jobseekers were work shy, i simply pointed out this does exist with some , sorry if you found this comment a personal attack on yourself, its not the case, and was a direct response to the OP comment on how useless we were and what we sometimes have to put up with

I did think it was aimed at me a little, because you quoted me and i felt as though you had misunderstood what i said when i didn't want to work some hours, then tried to have a pop at me! I was also responding too to some of the other people on here who have made attacks and judgements on people without knowing the situation, so it wasn't aimed ALL at you! Sorry, i was probably being over sensitive. I'm sure both of our situations are sometimes beset with frustrations, so i apologise.

laurenjs88

I've just applied for a job at the Jobcentre, fingers crossed for me eh!

I'm desperate to get out of the benefit trap and set a good example for my Daughter.

I've been on JSA whilst i was pregnant and IS since i have my daughter. In my experience i've found the Jobcentre nothing but helpful,every person ive met and discussed my situation with has been understanding and done their best to help me in the time they had.

My New Deal for LP's Advisor is brilliant, it was him that gave me the nudge to apply for the JC myself, He is one of those people that will really put himself out to help you.

The JC advisors cant work miracles, your attitude makes a huge difference i find. I've always gone to the JC, wanting to know my options, wanting work but have been blunt with what i am able to do, what hours i can work etc...

I havent had much luck so far,but ive been on training course funded through the jobcentre etc.. that if i hadnt of gone in there with the attitude i do, probably wouldnt of happened.

bunny999

Nice to see someone with a positive attitude - hope you get the job.

ceridwen

wxmlad wrote: »

of course jobcentre staff wouldnt expect someone living in a rural area with no transport to get a job that finished at 2am. You are expected to travel up to an hour on public transport for work, the same goes for signing on, if you live further than this you are able to do postal signing. If this is explained at the jobcentre the staff are sympathetic to this.

we dont try to make things difficult, but if your single with no dependents , living in the town centre or reasonable distance , whats stopping someone taking a 2 -10 job at tesco for instance, just until something more suitable comes up

Errr....in answer to that question...ie the one about whats stopping someone working 2pm-10pm at Tesco - the minor !! little point about:

- when one would eat dinner (due 6pm - 7pm) for instance
and
- evening social events tend to start between 7pm-8pm for instance (or are you seriously expected to have very little social life indeed for however long the job lasts --which could be years.........!!!!!!!). This does tend to ignore the point that the whole point of life is to actually HAVE a "life"....

I would dearly love an explanation as to how one manages to eat dinner at dinnnertime and then go off for an evening of social life if one works those sort of hours......hang on in there....I feel a reply coming on from SomeBozo here (as his favourite hobby these days seems to be ceridwen-baiting;) )...oh well...mustnt deny people their little pleasures.......

or - by 2-10 - do you actually mean 2am-10am in fact? Impossible...as people are asleep until 6am-8am...barring being a total insomniac and night owl?........

movingforward2010

when i worked in a hotel i worked 6 days a week, 12 till 10pm, got tired but had loads of money tho

lucid2008

You can drive a 7 and half tonne truck on a car licence if you passed car test before a certain date.Your husband sounds like he would be eligible.If he needs a full time job he would need make a sacrifice as people cannot pick and choose jobs.

lesley1960

ceridwen wrote: »

Errr....in answer to that question...ie the one about whats stopping someone working 2pm-10pm at Tesco - the minor !! little point about:

- when one would eat dinner (due 6pm - 7pm) for instance
and
- evening social events tend to start between 7pm-8pm for instance (or are you seriously expected to have very little social life indeed for however long the job lasts --which could be years.........!!!!!!!). This does tend to ignore the point that the whole point of life is to actually HAVE a "life"....

I would dearly love an explanation as to how one manages to eat dinner at dinnnertime and then go off for an evening of social life if one works those sort of hours......hang on in there....I feel a reply coming on from SomeBozo here (as his favourite hobby these days seems to be ceridwen-baiting;) )...oh well...mustnt deny people their little pleasures.......

or - by 2-10 - do you actually mean 2am-10am in fact? Impossible...as people are asleep until 6am-8am...barring being a total insomniac and night owl?........

A social life is nice,but comes way down a list of what is necessary, a roof over you head , enough food to eat,etc etc come well before that.

Many many peoplework ''unsociable '' hours and seem to manage

applecharlotte

In reply to the OP's comments. If he has had a driving licence since before 1999 i think it is, he is allowed to drive a 7.5 tonne truck so not such a stupid idea after all. And jobseekers can't turn down a full time job just because it interferes with a part time job - they can be sanctioned on the grounds of availability. Jobcentre staff do get spat at, verbally abused and physically attacked and they are trying to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Some staff may get a little despondent after seeing customer after customer who feels like grabbing them by the throat and throwing against the wall for making perfectly plausable suggestions. Although this is no excuse it may go some way towards explaining why.