Unemployment: Dole to go up £60 a month in budget

JayScottGreenspan

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Anyway, the point about working for money is not the basic salary but all the other financial benefits. Pension contributions matched by the Company, share options, health insurance, bonusses, the travelling in Europe I've done (I'm a secretary), life assurance, and so on. It's amazing how much extra you do get, especially in big Companies.

I'm not sure what sort of 'package' your average minimum wage job comes with.

Lots of people do get some nice extras with their job, but the vast majority are well clear of the 'poverty trap' and not really pertinent to the JSA vs min wage debate.

JayScottGreenspan

Cleaver wrote: »

You honestly you have a job that you hate so much that the idea of being unemployed, watching the pile of sh*te that is Jeremey Kyle seems more appealing? Sounds like you need a more challenging, enjoyable job.

If you had unlimited free time to pursue your dreams and goals as you wish, would you watch Jeremy Kyle? When I was unemployed I spent about an hour a day looking for work and the rest of my time enjoying being alive and without obligations.

Free time is effectively 'units of life' which you can choose to 'spend' as you wish. If you find this prospect unattractive, what's the point of life at all?

Generali

Dr_DiNg_DoNg wrote: »

Does your work involve a high standard of literacy skill?

You mean, "Does your work require a high standard of literacy?".

It's a bit of a cheap shot too TBH. The poster could be using a mobile phone or be dyslexic.

As to the topic, I guess that Labour, having created a huge group of people wholly or partly reliant on the Government for their income, are looking to prefer those likely to vote for them.

SingleSue

This is really quite an awkward one...on the one hand, for the newly unemployed who are struggling to adapt, it could be very welcome and save a bit of stress. On the other hand, why give more to those who don't want to work (the longterm don't want to work brigade).

I also think it is a little unfair on those who are working in minumum wage jobs, yes there are top ups available but what incentive do they really have if they are not of the ilk to enjoy working for reasons other than financial.

JayScottGreenspan - although I am not unemployed, I am on benefits with the protection of being a carer/student....oh how I wish I could spend one hour doing my duties and the rest enjoying my life, it's the other way around for me! But I do take your point, most would not spend the whole day job seeking and would have more freedom to do what they want, lets face it, looking for and applying for used to take me a few hours each day (in snatches between tantrums, violent outbursts, bowel accidents etc - not me I hasten to add!) now I can look through in 5 mins-15 mins!

Cleaver

JayScottGreenspan wrote: »

If you had unlimited free time to pursue your dreams and goals as you wish, would you watch Jeremy Kyle? When I was unemployed I spent about an hour a day looking for work and the rest of my time enjoying being alive and without obligations.

Free time is effectively 'units of life' which you can choose to 'spend' as you wish. If you find this prospect unattractive, what's the point of life at all?

I'm working on the principle that unless I get very lucky and win the lottery, I'm pretty much going to have to 'work' in one form or another. So I may as well make sure that I have a job that pays well and, more importantly, a job that I find challenging and enjoyable so my day goes quickly.

I hope I'm not coming across as one of those "If I won the lottery I'd keep my job as a cleaner" types. I would quit my job about 10 seconds after winning the lottery. I'd travel the world, take family and friends away and spend more time with them, maybe do a bit of volunteering, buy a stupidly expensive guitar and get lessons from a rock star, learn the piano, hire a personal trainer, go on a really good cookery course... oh yes, I could happily fill my days. However, this doesn't mean I don't like my job. And I'd miss quite a lot of it, and be quite jealous of whoever took it over from me, even though I'd have squillions in the bank. Strange really.

Cleaver

mewbie wrote: »

What works on here, doesn't necessarily cut it in the real world. For example I can make little witticisms, argue, agree, whatever and it goes along quite nicely. But it's so much easier when there is time to compose, edit, delete, or just not bother posting - than dealing with interactive human conversation.

I, on the other hand, like the sound of my own voice in the real world as much as I do on here.

lostinrates

Cleaver wrote: »

Strange really.

Very.

In all seriousness there is a hell of a lot about working I miss, and I say that very sincerely. If I had squillions I'd be involved in creating employment and education and bettering the world. In effect I'd be self employed. I'd be busy, I'd genuinely love my job, and I'd retain felxibilty not offered in normal employment. It would be wonderful to try and make good things happen.

Cleaver

lostinrates wrote: »

Very.

In all seriousness there is a hell of a lot about working I miss, and I say that very sincerely. If I had squillions I'd be involved in creating employment and education and bettering the world. In effect I'd be self employed. I'd be busy, I'd genuinely love my job, and I'd retain felxibilty not offered in normal employment. It would be wonderful to try and make good things happen.

Pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter. Only my vision has an expensive electric guitar involved, so is that little bit better than your's.

mewbie_2

Cleaver wrote: »

I, on the other hand, like the sound of my own voice in the real world as much as I do on here.

Oh so do I. But a surprisingly large number of people are not so amused by me as I think they ought to be. Offensive, odd, socially inept are some of the kinder things they might say. So I tend to try and keep a lid on it, and once an encounter has passed I need to run over the conversation again to make sure I didn't say anything I shouldn't have done.

The very old Reader's Digest joke about the woman with young daughter who was having a man with a very large nose to tea. Frightened her daughter would mention the nose she was on edge until the end when she relaxed. "Would you like tea or coffee in your nose" she said.

It's not funny, it's just that fear of saying something inappropriate that keeps me on edge. You see what I sometimes think is hysterically funny can be misconstrued.

lostinrates

Cleaver wrote: »

Pretty much sums up my feelings on the matter. Only my vision has an expensive electric guitar involved, so is that little bit better than your's.

I have a very, very beuatiful acoustic guitar already . (in fact we have the instruments for a smallish big band around the place)..tools of previous trade and so on. DH wants one of those huge saxophones one needs a ladder to play. If we one the lottery maybe I'd relent.

My vision is greener than yours.:p