Return of the Workhouse. It's now Official

treliac

Ms-Pacman wrote: »

No just very very lucky and very good with computers.
I suspect I was offered the job though as the interview was by two elderly men talking about their experience about the industry I now work in and I was intersted in what they had to say.

Otherwise I dread to think how I would be coping right now.
I had applied for hundreds of jobs via internet, jobsite etc.
Out of the hundreds I applied for I was offered about 7 interviews.
I had a lot of bad nights constantly crying as I was desperate for anything so I dread to think how people are coping now with a huge lack of work.

Where I work we are going through a huge re-org but fortunately my post is not affected.

You've clearly worked hard to get your job and deserve it. It's good to hear a positive story for a change. :cool:

Ms-Pacman

Thanks treliac.
I just wish people would look at a political press release and read it for what it is. Instead of taking it at face value, look at what is being reported, then look at other views / reports to get a full picture not just what they want us to believe.

Right now we think all people on benefits are scroungers, a drain on society but do we really believe that?
How many of us have friends and family in this situation who are desperate? I can name 4 myself who are so ashamed to be claiming benefits.

We are so gullible these days and there are so many desperate people who really struggle.

ceridwen

Graham_Devon wrote: »

The point seems to be lost.

It's not that I'm saying people without jobs should be expected to do horrible jobs such as I did, rather that people without jobs for a lengthy period should not expect to take money off those other people doint the horrible jobs, in return for doing absolutely nothing. We have a problem with work shy, there is no point in tryign to brush it under the carpet. Some people looking desperately for work will fall foul of this, but I really don't think they will mind tbh.

It's just 4 weeks work.

4 weeks, in what seems to be, a whole year.

Look at us, a country that has everything, moaning and saying it wouldnt be fair to get people to work for 4 weeks in return for money paid 52 weeks of the year, out of other peoples pockets.

Meanwhile, in places like Denmark, people get out there and work. Why? Because you don't automatically get benefits. There is no choice. And I tell you what else....do you ever hear of the poor starving in Denmark? Seems to work there. They also have a version of what's being proposed in return for benefits I believe. What makes our country so special? Seriously? Some people seem to hold themselves so high, that they can't possibly be asked to do something in return for a living.

We moan because the polish have got of their rears, moved entire countries to find work, and they are taking "our" jobs we never wanted in the first place, hence the vacancy for those wanting to do the work. They don't moan, they change their entire life to earn a wage.

To be honest, our attitude when it comes to this sort of stuff absolutely stinks. It may seem a lon way away, but in other parts of the world, people are risking life and death to make a few pennies for their families, and here we are, having pretty much everything, moaning that we may be made to work 4 weeks (made up of just 30 hours) a year for our privaliged living status, and 52 weeks of payments, and it's not even minimum wage, and its just so unfair.

I understand a lot of where you are coming from - but I just come back to my two basic concerns:
- its only proposed to be £1 per hour (INSTEAD of JSA) - ie not enough to live on. What has also not been mentioned is whether people will still get their rent/mortgage interest covered and be clear of having to pay Council Tax during that period (which would be even worse than £1 per hour on top of housing money)

- they havent stated that those who provably arent "workshy" (ie because they've held down jobs for many years) will be protected from having to do this. Would you like to try and stop someone who HAD been in work for years from thinking "But - I've held down jobs for over 30 years - why am I being punished for not having one now? Why won't they believe me that I'm NOT workshy with a C.V. like mine to show them that proves the fact?" and being very angry/determined to do everything they could to sabotage whatever they'd been sent to do?

(Of course - there also has to be built-in protection to stop paid jobs going and being replaced by workfare people).

ceridwen

Just had a quick scan of the mornings papers:

It appears that the Government has backed down on the £1 per hour INSTEAD of JSA. According to the papers it would be JSA as normal - but having to do these makework jobs for it.

STILL TO GO:
- any idea of forcing those who have a provable long-term work record from having to do this (as it would amount to punishment for something they are clearly trying to deal with - but cant help).

- the lack of safeguards against firms/the Government itself making people redundant and then taking on "makework" people to do the work instead (it has to be clear that makework people would ONLY do jobs that no-one is currently doing and that Society is clearly never going to pay for - eg litterpicking in the countryside, etc).

- the lack of safeguards to protect those who are genuinely too ill to do any of these makework placements from being forced into them.

neverdespairgirl

Ms-Pacman wrote: »

Right now we think all people on benefits are scroungers, a drain on society but do we really believe that?
How many of us have friends and family in this situation who are desperate? I can name 4 myself who are so ashamed to be claiming benefits.

Honestly? None. I don't know of any friends or relatives who've ever claimed JSA, for example.

foreversummer

Percy1983 wrote: »

I will say as a none work shy type of person, this wouldn't bother me if I did end up out of work for a while.

As it is I have been unemployed for 2 weeks since I left school and did some voluntary work for a week of that, more recently I was staring unemployment in the face and I had made some arrangements to help a local primary school on a full time basis (I already help them out with events etc).

Basically as a worker I will seek out work anyway.

You either have the work ethic or you don't. This poster is an example of someone who has.

Those that don't, the ones that have chosen the benefits system over work, the ones that have gone out of their way to make themselves unemployable should be hauled off their backsides and sent out to do some honest graft.

I'm sorry vaporate that you think I am a 'vile poster' because of my stance. But I am appalled that you consider honest people who do this sort of work 'peasants'.

Foreversummer

Graham_Devon

Ms-Pacman wrote: »

Is it just coincidence that this announcment has come shortly after the news of thousands and thousands of public sector jobs are to go.
Well there you go, that will stop the outcry when we can't get the service we need, no we'll just have unsuitable people doing it as a punishment for not having a job despite the fact the recession has caused so many job losses and we still continue to lend to banks!

And the next person who says well its only pen pushers losing jobs need to do a bit of research before they insult the lowest paid admins who keep systems running who are about to lose their jobs. Interesting how few senior management are being affected by the cuts.

Stop being so bloody naive. This is not about getting people into work, or getting people off benefits, its a pure politics game to smooth the path ready for of whats going to hit next!
If we need more funds why not have a look at tax fraud or is that too close to home?

Incidentally I am very lucky to be employed and I am very greatful for it.
I was unemployed for a period of 6 weeks and did not claim due to it being so complicated, and know that I was extremely lucky to get my job and yes I do mean lucky as over 150 people applied for it.

Hardly any of the public sector jobs that are going, will be able to be utilised for such a scheme.

You can't just send someone into an office for 4 weeks and expect them to run services. It doesn't work like that.

Would be lovely if it did though, as training new staff is expensive and time consuming.

Ms-Pacman

I have 4 friends all have gone through being made redundant, one through the Woolworths closure and although has had a few temping jobs has not been able to secure anything since.

She's not lazy, she's not only choosing certain jobs. She is desperate for anything and even has childcare by her mother so she can do any hours.

There are hundreds like her.
I'm glad you don't know anyone and that all your friends and family have work, and I do mean that sincerely. I wish I could be in the same situation for my friends too.

Ms-Pacman

some of them will, the council are all ready saying that there will be a cut in the recycling and rubbish collections I wasn't particularly saying that all were office jobs although it may have come accross like that.

mardatha

Brilliant post ms Pacman - thank god this thread isn't totally full of sheep
Lot of snobbery re status in here ... people like cleaners and binmen are vitally important and yet looked down on. I'd like to see a big office last more than 24 hours without its toilets being cleaned :eek: People need to give respect and acknowledgment where it is due and to stop being silly snobs. There is nothing in life as stupid or unsufferable as a snob !
And by the by, I dare say the new companies/bodies that will spring up like mushrooms will be paid a hefty sun for organising these forced-labour parties ? And no doubt all the cabinet members will have relatives on the boards of them.. ?
Oh silly me, of course our wonderful govt wouldnt be so venal. How could I be so cynical !