Working for your benefits

cindy101

donquine wrote: »

If I lost my job and couldn't find another paid job within a few months, I would do voluntary work until I found something paid, as it would a) help with the boredom and b) keep my CV current whilst I was jobseeking. I think most people would have this train of thought?

I've not read the proposals in any detail, but I don't see anything wrong with the general principle of giving people a little push into doing what I've described above. Looking for a job in this current climate is hard, I don't think anyone would argue with that, but the longer you stay out of work doing nothing, the harder it gets.

yeah thats great of you so you would be willing to go and stack shelves from 10pm till 7/8am depending how fast you are Friday Saturday Sunday night for 36 hours plus for no money then in tesco's, ?

hethmar

Cindy, I dont think you are on the right track here. The long term unemployed wont be taking "real" jobs from anyone. They are to do jobs (and only for a short time) which would normally not get done or get done by volunteers. In this area they are talking about conservation work or community jobs - basically joining teams of volunteers who do this sort of work for nothing at all.

They wont be handed over to employers to work for nothing in a job that someone already has.

cindy101

hethmar wrote: »

Cindy, I dont think you are on the right track here. The long term unemployed wont be taking "real" jobs from anyone. They are to do jobs (and only for a short time) which would normally not get done or get done by volunteers. In this area they are talking about conservation work or community jobs - basically joining teams of volunteers who do this sort of work for nothing at all.

They wont be handed over to employers to work for nothing in a job that someone already has.

well its all ready happening im doing a workplacement at this store for these hours along with hundreds of others who are on jsa,,,
one poor lad on sunday night after our third night in a row doing very hard heavy work when he asked to be moved to a lighter section (as he was on meats and only a small lad) was told by managers he'll never get a job if he cant handle it,, when the lad said his moral was low and he felt like quiting he was then told it was up to him but it may affect his jsa,,,, dont kid yourself im in it and am watching very closely at just how all this is panning out and its not looking good for anyone dolers or real staff working in these supermarkets who really want the overtime but cant get it cos all the jsa people are being sent via job center,,,
i myself am a little differant as im not on jsa and wen i tolds my manager this i was asked "why are you doing it then"? :wave: because i went to job center to find work and this is what they sent me for , their are to many people going on these placement but the jobs aint their for all of them so it free labour,

Charis

Feed_The_Reaper wrote: »

I think this whole made to work thing should be done carefully.....

If you can prove you are applying to companies regularly, by supplying rejection letters or letters of acknowledgment, then you shouldnt be forced to work like this. I think it A - stops you from finding work if you are having to work already and B - is causing you to take away hours per week from someone that the same company could be employing on a proper wage to do.

This should only be brought in for people that are called up after 3 or 6 months and asked who they have tried to seek work with and have no proof of ever trying to find work.

My daughter is looking for work and one of her biggest complaints is that even if the company replies and invites her to an interview she often hears no more. Sometimes it's fairly obvious they already have someone lined up for the job from within the company. She can't claim benefits because her partner works but his wages don't cover their living costs. They often get into difficulties but can see no way out of the situation. How would she prove she has written what must now be hundreds of letters and rarely even gets an interview? The longer the gaps in employment the harder it is to get a foot in the door. Meanwhile relatives up and down the country are having to bail out their families. I've watched them nearly lose everything they own more than once but I have no idea what the solution is.

cindy101

Charis wrote: »

My daughter is looking for work and one of her biggest complaints is that even if the company replies and invites her to an interview she often hears no more. Sometimes it's fairly obvious they already have someone lined up for the job from within the company. She can't claim benefits because her partner works but his wages don't cover their living costs. They often get into difficulties but can see no way out of the situation. How would she prove she has written what must now be hundreds of letters and rarely even gets an interview? The longer the gaps in employment the harder it is to get a foot in the door. Meanwhile relatives up and down the country are having to bail out their families. I've watched them nearly lose everything they own more than once but I have no idea what the solution is.

im in same boat as ur daughter im a 40 year old women living with partner and disabled son and i cant claim benefits either my partner brings home between £900, and 1000 a month out of that we pay over £500 rent and £150, month council tax we'r left living on carers allowance and child tax credits and now have to use my sons dla money to cover some off our bills,,
all job center done was send me on free work trial to tesco unpaid and it hard work although i must say im loving it, it soooo nice to get back out their i only prey now i get the job, but with soooo many of us doing it i dont know if i will gotta wait till trials over fingers xxxx as i'll be gutted if i dont and not just for the wages but my mind body and soul,

dark_lady

Cindy 101 i have been reading your posts with great interest as i too am a carer but for my husband and i have been in the same position as you with regards to work placements but mine was ten years ago. I would love to know whether you get a job at the end of this. You certainly deserve too. Please keep us updated with how you get on and please dont risk your health through lack of sleep and rest because what a lot of people on these threads fail to grasp is that being a family carer is hard work too. Good luck xxxx

cindy101

thanks dark lady i have posted a little update on my thread , workplacement or workslavement.

im really enjoying what i been doing , hard as it is i can feel my body getting back in shape after only 3 days and after a good sleep im really feeling so much more energetic and not so stressed out in my everyday life, im naturally a very speedy live wired person anyway so the work has really help me let off steam,
im back in tomorrow and looking forward to it and either way get it or not i will be back here ranting with excitement or rage one depending on the outcome loool,,

dont get me wrong i love my family but im tired of the these four walls and no life of my own,
i see on the works notice board as the other emploees gathered round that xmas day some will be asked to work , they all stood their moaning :rotfl:,
me i stood their thinking TOUCH:j! LOOOOL, OHHHH I KNOW IM BAD,, but i hate cooking for my lot, they so dam fussy and i do it all year round si xmas is just xtra work for me i wanna break id rather stack shelves and earn LOADSA MONEY , XX

cindy101

dark_lady wrote: »

Cindy 101 i have been reading your posts with great interest as i too am a carer but for my husband and i have been in the same position as you with regards to work placements but mine was ten years ago. I would love to know whether you get a job at the end of this. You certainly deserve too. Please keep us updated with how you get on and please dont risk your health through lack of sleep and rest because what a lot of people on these threads fail to grasp is that being a family carer is hard work too. Good luck xxxx

SORRY ment to ask did you get your job on work placement 10 years ago?

dark_lady

No the placements were with a charity shop and then the council. After that they wanted me to work at Campbells soup factory for my benefits plus £15 top up. But luckily i then found and got a full time night job in a sex chatline office and signed off. Incidentally Cindy101 i found this thread while wandering round the net and thought you would find this really interesting especially comment no 9 xx

http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/693611?condense_comments=false

seven-day-weekend

Charis wrote: »

My daughter is looking for work and one of her biggest complaints is that even if the company replies and invites her to an interview she often hears no more. Sometimes it's fairly obvious they already have someone lined up for the job from within the company. She can't claim benefits because her partner works but his wages don't cover their living costs. They often get into difficulties but can see no way out of the situation. How would she prove she has written what must now be hundreds of letters and rarely even gets an interview? The longer the gaps in employment the harder it is to get a foot in the door. Meanwhile relatives up and down the country are having to bail out their families. I've watched them nearly lose everything they own more than once but I have no idea what the solution is.

Keep a copy of the letter and the date it was sent??