Do I have a right to be upset about this?

real1314

cavework wrote: »

Was there a woman conducting the Back to work session named Pauline?
(sorry I love little Britain)
Seriously OP get on the phone and kick some butt.. you do not have to put up with this.
Good luck with your search for work, there are an awful lot of employers who would give their eye teeth to interview someone with your determination to find a job.
x

Surely you mean The League of Gentlemen ?

Anyway, OP, the "course" sounds pretty typical. These sort of things are designed for a wide audience and unfortunately sometimes they are preaching to the converted. I think they very fact that you felt that way shows that you DO have the right attitude. I don't think there's much that can be done about this sort of thing - it's impossible to plan events that would suit individuals without incurring a huge cost.

As for being carried up the stairs, I think that is totally unacceptable. There may have been some degree of concern that if they failed to let you attend, there might have been some come-back from a disability discrimination angle, however what they actually did could equally be judged as discriminatory. I think they should have given you the option to attend on a different day.

A very poor service to receive and one that you should complain about. That way things can be improved (hopefully)

WhiteHorse

EltonJohnFan:

The way in which you were treated is disgusting. For your own sake and of others, this cannot be allowed to pass. They do this more and more, simply because people don't kick back.

Firstly, write down a very detailed account of eveything that happened. Then ...

(1) Formal written complaint (send it Recorded Delivery), to Jobcentre Manager. Do not deal with them over the phone. Ever. Make it clear that you will take it to the Area Manager (they may tell you that you cannot go higher or that the 'avenue does not exist'. This is a lie).

(2) Contact MP.

(3) Contact Daily Mail. People may laugh, but the DWP won't be laughing if they print your story. Be quick though, News gets old very quickly.

(4) Contact your Local paper. They often like local interest horror stories.

With the lift unavailable you should have been told that the interview would be rearranged, or that someone would come down to you. You should not have been dragged up the stairs (possible breach of Health & Safety legislation and definately of internal procedures).

I have also been lectured by these morons about literacy. Amazing really, when you look at the spelling mistakes and dreadful grammer that often appears in their own offerings.

Jowo_2

Yes, of course you have the right to be upset at the indignity of the arrival.

Realistically, these courses can't be tailored to individual needs and some will get more out of them than others. What seems to be stating the obvious to some is going to be a revelation to others who lack the simplest of skills when it comes to job searching and interview skills.

I recently attended a college course with a lot of youngsters (teens to mid twenties) and, for example, one of them was genuinely surprised that he could not submit his friend's work as his own and was baffled that the college could punish him - the lecturer patiently explained to him that it's known as plagiarism, is against college rules and frowned upon. Seriously, this guy actually thought it was a superb idea because he was late submitting his work. These teenagers often swear at the lecturers, and it's not actually malice (they aren't being aggressive), they are just routinely foul mouthed as a matter of course and have never been pulled up for it. Again, the lecturers (who are used to potty mouthed kids from deprived backgrounds) politely tell them that their language is not acceptable and educate them about how their manner comes across). During free breaks, we are allowed to check our emails and browse the internet. Quite often the lecturers ask them to turn the volume down and not view 'unsuitable' material. All the stuff I've mentioned seems quite common sense but these kids, who are actually quite nice, simply lack communication skills, manners, have no idea how offensive some of their behaviour is.

Don't take it so personally that you are being lumped in with other people who clearly do not have the attitude and behaviour that make them employable. It's hardly the Job Centre's fault that they have varying quality in their claimants! Feel good that you are motivated and enthusiastic, taking the option to seek employment when you are likely to qualify for sickness/disability benefits that have no requirement for you to seek employment.

Now back to practical matters - how are you going to deal with the larger issue at the practical level - being on JSA when you clearly do not enjoy the experience, such as the mandatory courses and other less charming clients, that go with it?

Are you going to switch to ESA? Are you going to seek Income support instead if that's an option (I'm not familiar with the qualifying criteria for this so don't take my suggestion as fact)?

And how are you going to resolve your worklessness outside of the Job Centre which you don't feel is serving your needs?

Any plans to do voluntary work to keep your skills and experience fresh, rejuvenate your confidence?

Any plans to seek advice/support from a Disability employment organisation such as the Shaw Trust or similar?

WhiteHorse

dmg24 wrote: »

... I don't see grounds for complaint.

No surprise there.

JC9297

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Crickey, that experience sounds like an utter nightmare & the worst case I've heard about in recent times.

How ignorant and rude of the workers you were unfortunate to encounter at the job centre. It is disgusting to say the least and it sounds like they fully abused your vunerability.

What a torturous situation you have endured today. This has made me sick to the stomach as it highlights how abusive job centre workers are. They are almost sociopathic in their attiutude towards unemployed people. They have no concept that just because an individual is out of work, dosen't mean they are not highly skilled or qualified. It wouldn't surprise me if these workers didn't actually get sick pleasure out of treating people the way you were treated today.

Seek advise from an agency which can assist you in putting a complaint together & try to not let this rule your life. More people should complain about the service they receive at the job centre & places related to it. I rekon, in fact I know this kind of treatment happens more than people would care to admit.

Good luck & I hope you get the respect you deserve.

You make some very sweeping statements about people who work in jobcentres here. Most of them (including some posters on here) are decent, hardworking people doing a difficult job, with some very difficult customers.

flight747

This stories is making me FURIOUS!!!!! I wish I become a Prime Minister and clampdown on jobcentre cruel against disability peoples.

Errata

I really appreciate all you've had to say and I've decided that I couldn't possibly go to the papers about this but I may put a complaint in writing to the Department for Work and Pensions and hopefully they can do something about this appalling situation as I'd hate for other people in a situation similar to my own to have to go through what I did.

Won't comment on your experience with DWP staff behaviour but I do think you should make a formal complaint to the centre copied to your MP because a security guard carrying you up and down stairs put your life at risk. This is unacceptable in an organisation.

kazzah60

Errata wrote: »

Won't comment on your experience with DWP staff behaviour but I do think you should make a formal complaint to the centre copied to your MP because a security guard carrying you up and down stairs put your life at risk. This is unacceptable in an organisation.

I absolutely cannot condone what has happened to you EJF
I definitely think you need to complain to both DWP and your MP
the Disability Discrimination Act makes it illegal for you to be treated any differently to able bodied people - the fact that the session was on the top floor and you are a wheel chair user should have meant that the JC+ should have made alternative arrangements for you to attend another session which possibly could have been better located in the building ( i.e. on the ground floor - or with a working lift)

Another VERY good reason why you MUST complain is that JC+ have clearly breached health and safety regulations - my husband was a firefighter for many years and H&S regulations were that for the safety of the disabled person AND the safety of the person doing the lifting ALL persons being lifted should be lifted by TWO people not one - potentially they were opening the door for the security guard ( or who ever lifted you) to submit a claim for an on duty injusry to his back - and the cynic in me feels that if nothing else makes them change their protocol - the prospect of being faced with litigation from an employee for industrial injury might just work

Karen

punkgirlyuk

i think that you do need to complain about being carried up the stairs as this is dangerous and what would have happened in case of a fire?
As for the Back to work session, as others have said it's not aimed to specific people but is part of claiming jsa that everyone goes through, as is the weekly sign ons for a period of time. You can still look for work on ESA but don't have to go to as many appointments at the jobcentre. You can ask to see a special advisor who just deals with disabled people. I would definatly consider going on ESA or asking for the DEA advisor to see you when you have to come in.

lacoole

Someone had the nerve to call ME a troll Is OP GG in disguise ?

Dorothy I]has just arrived in Oz, looking around and awed at the beauty and splendor[/I Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.

Coolie