JOB centre rage

so_little_time

Hope you get someone more helpful next time. Remember this was just one member of staff. Let us know how you get on with your complaint.
This is on JCP website, the respecting each other is a good point.

Our responsibilities to you
We will:

• treat you with respect
• be fair and helpful
• treat you as an individual by giving you the service you need
• behave professionally
• take responsibility when dealing with you, making sure we do whatever is needed
• make sure our offices are welcoming and pleasant. This includes having private interview rooms and, if the office has space, more facilities such as children’s play areas, and;
• make sure our offices are as safe as possible for all our customers and staff.

Your responsibilities to us
We expect you in return to:

• treat us with respect. We will not tolerate harassment, threats or assaults. If you behave in a violent or threatening way, we may refuse you a private interview room or a home visit or ask you to leave the office
• be considerate and polite to other customers
• be on time for appointments
• give us more information if we ask you to
• give us complete and accurate information on time
• tell us about changes in circumstances for you and anyone you are claiming for, and
• look positively at your options for work.

Responsibilities we share
We can all help to provide a pleasant environment by respecting each other and by being considerate and patient.
http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/jcp/Customers/Ourcharter/index.html

vaporate

Kaleidoscope27 wrote: »

I've found from experience that experiences at the Job Centre will vary not only between job centres but also between which staff member happens to sign you on that day.

I found staff at Worsley JC (in Manchester) were snotty and looked down on me because I have a degree and yet was unable to find work (almost like "hah! She's paid all that money for education and where's it got her? We're better la la la!".) But in Watford JC (where I am now) most of them are really nice, do their jobs properly and take the time to chat to me whilst they type in my job search details. Well... I did think that. Now I sign on with one of two girls, who I'm sure are younger than I am, who seem to take more time to swap chewing gum and faff around with "oh you didn't pick up my sheet..." "oh didn't I? I'm sorry..." "yeah I asked you but you didn't... never mind... I guess I'll get it..." etc etc. I'm supposed to sign on at 9:25 but regularly don't get seen until nearly 10am. I'm sure they don't start signing people until like 9:20 which means they're backlogged before they've even started.

And my boyfriend's brother signed on in Hasting's and found them to be fantasticly helpful as they actually found him a job, helped him apply for it and everything.

Sorry, didn't mean to go on there.

My point is, I think it's pot luck, as with any company, which member of staff you get to see. Sometimes you get lucky and get someone nice, something you lose out and get an idiot.

To the OP: I'd lodge a complaint. Because, even if they have rules like not wanting extra people hanging around, they don't have to be rude about it. And if someone says they're not well, any courtious human being would sympathise and make a compromise. Hopefully your next signing session goes better and you get someone who understands you more.

Because it's not your fault the UK is a crap hole and can't offer basic employment.

CHARDONNAY_3

To applecharlotte - I was not refering to all J.C staff across the country as I have no idea how well / badly they do their job.

However ALL staff at my local JC that I've dealt with (it's been a different 1 every time!) are incredibly rude & I'm hardly the only person to have noticed.

There have been countless instances in the few months that I've been signing on that have made me think how the hell do some of these people even get into work in the morning, let alone hold down a job!

I really don't mean to be rude, but I'm astounded by some of things I am told or the questions they ask or letters they send, it's just beyond belief sometimes.

I appreciate that staff are very busy & the person at the desk is not to blame for all the rules & regs, but I just can't get over how rude & patronising they are.

I've worked in customer service & would never have spoken to someone the way I've been spoken to by many advisers, it's just downright disrespectful.

Tiddlywinks

pennyshahin wrote: »

Thank you for all your comments ,the chelmsford job centre didn't know of my wifes illnesses because she doesn't even live in the area-I found the whole experience very intimidating I want to work,as if my nerves weren't bad enough-a little bit of respect would have been nice,ok perhaps I hadn't done enough in looking for work,but I think my wife was treated appallingly and the whole experience has left us depressed.

And this statement has depressed me to be honest - as a couple you may well be bringing each other down and perhaps need to get a bit of perspective around what is happening in the real world. Do you think the Stevenage area may be a bit "tougher" on the JC staff than your old area? Perhaps the woman was having a bad day?

So, you felt the woman was rude - did you explain your circumstances, ask to make a complaint etc? Or, how about considering whether you may have been overly sensitive? The woman cannot be expected to possess psychic powers and instantly sense that your wife is infirm to the point of receiving DLA.

When we feel down we can sometimes react negatively to situations where others may see them differently - might this apply here?

Also, you freely admit that you have not complied with procedures - so why are you so surprised that you were brought to task for this? You are receiving benefits and so have a responsibility to comply with the system for such a claim - simples. The use of a red pen was to make the lack of compliance obvious and it worked here didn't it?

The centre staff are there to do a job (usually with some difficult clients) and the more you comply, the easier it will be. However, if you still feel you have received unfair treatment then do complain - as is your right.

vaporate

tcr wrote: »

Some of the claimants are hardly paragons of virtue either ...

So? Besides the point as far as the topic of this thread is concerned.

Tiddlywinks

tcr wrote: »

Some of the claimants are hardly paragons of virtue either ...

vaporate wrote: »

So? Besides the point as far as the topic of this thread is concerned.

Actually, I think it is relevant because the behaviour of the clients will need to be "managed" by the JC staff and the "dodgier" the usual behaviour of some attendees then the stricter their required reaction.

If they are used to druggies and drunks parking themselves on their benches and making trouble then they are bound to view a new face just sitting inactive on a chair for a long period with a little suspicion if not trepidation. It's just a fact of life.

vaporate

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Actually, I think it is relevant because the behaviour of the clients will need to be "managed" by the JC staff and the "dodgier" the usual behaviour of some attendees then the stricter their required reaction.

If they are used to druggies and drunks parking themselves on their benches and making trouble then they are bound to view a new face just sitting inactive on a chair for a long period with a little suspicion if not trepidation. It's just a fact of life.

Not in this case, even more so being a fragile looking woman, dressed nicely maybe too?

I've seen quite a few idiots down there myself wearing tacky clothes. I doubt this is the case here.

Tiddlywinks

vaporate wrote: »

Not in this case, even more so being a fragile looking woman, dressed nicely maybe too?

I've seen quite a few idiots down there myself wearing tacky clothes. I doubt this is the case here.

Appearances can be deceptive BUT the Job Centre is not there to provide a cosy place to have a rest - it has a specific function.

Anyway, how do you know she was looking "fragile"? Conditions such as described are not necessarily that obvious at first glance.

As to the comment about "tacky clothing", isn't all of that relative? Some of the fashion at the moment is pretty tacky and tarty - why does that suggest a lower IQ? Now who's prejudging?

vaporate

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

Appearances can be deceptive BUT the Job Centre is not there to provide a cosy place to have a rest - it has a specific function.

Anyway, how do you know she was looking "fragile"? Conditions such as described are not necessarily that obvious at first glance.

As to the comment about "tacky clothing", isn't all of that relative? Some of the fashion at the moment is pretty tacky and tarty - why does that suggest a lower IQ? Now who's prejudging?

ok I think you're going over the top now.

Tiddlywinks

vaporate wrote: »

I've seen quite a few idiots down there myself wearing tacky clothes. I doubt this is the case here.

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

As to the comment about "tacky clothing" ........... - why does that suggest a lower IQ? Now who's prejudging?

vaporate wrote: »

ok I think you're going over the top now.

Why am I "going over the top"? You were the one referring to some JC attendees as "idiots.... wearing tacky clothing". I trust you didn't get them to do an intelligence test to prove your assumption of their intellect; you just made that decision based on your own values - thus demonstrating how all of us as human beings do make judgements based on our own past experiences and beliefs - so why not try to understand that JC staff may have to "profile" faces they see based on their own experiences etc?