'Not following Job Centre Directiions'

ohdamnit · 31 January 2011 at 1:33AM

However, some of the rudest people I've encountered have been the professional/executive jobseekers. I get the impression that a lot of them think that they are far too good to be coming into the jobcentre and that we should invent a special set of rules and regulations just to accommodate them. I try to be polite and courteous to everyone that I deal with but it can be difficult when someone is speaking to you like something they've brought in on the bottom of their shoe!

I agree that there is no reason to be rude, and I am sure there are people who across the board are like that (it has less to do with there past positions as it is to do with being an !!!! "full stop"). I am always pleasant to the staff as it is a job they are doing (even if it does feel like box ticking), and it's not a job I would want to do.. it would probably destroy my sanity, soul and belief in people.

I have no problems with applying for so called lesser jobs, and I am quite willing to do work for a low wage ( at least until something better comes along), but unless I lie about my past, and dont provide any references, most employers are going to ignore any applications for £15k jobs in admin/office positions based on the simple fact that I am clearly not going to be worth "training" or showing the ropes. Surely the advisers in the Job centres must know this?

Also sending me on courses to learn how to use the internet to search for jobs, how to format my CV (i.e. change fonts, etc), are a bit pointless.

red_devil · 31 January 2011 at 10:45AM

apbmdd wrote: »

I attended a 'back to work' session at the job centre last Monday as I have been claiming JSA for a few weeks now. The session consisted of me and 4 other job seekers. Without wanting to big myself up, I'm a well-educated, post grad level professional and was made redundant last year. I am extremely embarrassed at my situation and also find it hard to talk to strangers about it. I sat in this session, listened to the provider (who'd English wasn't up to much - she was a scouser!) tell us about how we should be searching for jobs, how to use the internet, how to create and email address and what we should/shouldn't do to avoid our benefits being stopped. I sat quietly (I didn't want to speak but I couldn't really get a word in) as another job seeker - laid off for a factory and well known to the job centre staff hogged the conversation.

I got a letter today saying my benefit was being stopped for 1 week as (I eventually found out) I failed to participate in the session! This wasn't pointed out to me in the list of things reeled off that you had to do to stop benefit being forfeited!

It's a joke! I want to appeal against but just wondered if anyone has any advice? I have never been given ANYTHING that states you have to speak at these things. I wasn't asked anything nor did I refuse to do anything!

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Ali

I feel for you thats terrible, appeal against it?

When they say they can pay you say thanks i can eat tonight then?

DVardysShadow · 31 January 2011 at 11:15AM

frostyfeet wrote: »

But it wont necessarily get disallowed - staff have a target to get a ratio of 50% disallowances to allowances and struggle to meet it! After that, there is always the appeal process.

Oh, spin the wheel of justice. That is a disgraceful way of treating people.

Blondi_2 · 31 January 2011 at 1:15PM

I totally sympathise with you. I am lucky enough to be working (well for the moment depending on how much the government ruins the NHS). My partner however isn't and is claiming JSA. He feels humiliated everytime he goes to sign on due to the way he is talked to. They offer him jobs which are either miles away from home and/or are not relevant to his skills. He owned his own security company and employed more than 100 people - so he isn't thick but the people at the job centre want him to go on a 13 week course (how can he be looking for a job whilst doing this?), sit in a room and learn how to do his CV and how to apply for jobs - are these people totally brain dead - he managed to operate a multi-million pound company for 12+ years I'm sure he can do his CV and apply for jobs! He'd love to get his business back up and running but doesn't have the funds to do this and the job centre isn't interested in trying to help.

Look for my forum discussion on 'Work Trials for Supermarkets'. This is what he was asked to do before Christmas with the promise of a job at the end of it. ALL LIES.

Just when he was kicked down even lower the job centre told him that they were changing his sign on day which has a major effect on his money. He is now having to survive for a week without money. How on earth do they expect people to manage without money???? This is when people get so desperate they resort to crime.

I have to say I have had my eyes opened, before this I was very cynical and believed everyone on JSA were playing the system, maybe some are but there are genuine people who want jobs. I cannot believe the state of our country and how things are getting worse not better and I cannot see things improving with this government.

madras79 · 31 January 2011 at 2:26PM

its like you paid your taxes you have ;paid your ni contributions ,but when you need jsa its a battle. ie staff have quotas to fill how many can i sanction .this goverment should be ashamed of itself.
If there was more jobs than people i could understand it.
most people at the job centre want to work not scrounge .alot are new to benefits.Treat job seekers with respect not like scroungers.sorry rant over

shikoku · 31 January 2011 at 3:19PM

frostyfeet wrote: »

staff have a target to get a ratio of 50% disallowances to allowances and struggle to meet it!

Are you saying the victims are picked out at random, because that is the only way this target could be achieved?

And I'm guessing they would go for the most vulnerable, those least likely to know how to go about contacting their MP or otherwise calmly but methodically kicking up a stink in response.

morganedge · 31 January 2011 at 3:27PM

This sounds absolutely crazy!
Most definitely appeal, and then appeal again. You turned up to the ridiculous 'back to work' session on time, didn't spend the time texting on your phone and left at the right time.
Dont 'roll over'. That's exactly what they want you to do. They want people off of jsa by any means, but i'm suprised they would resort to this (not participating, lol!!)

devilivus · 31 January 2011 at 3:38PM

Blondi wrote: »

I totally sympathise with you. I am lucky enough to be working (well for the moment depending on how much the government ruins the NHS). My partner however isn't and is claiming JSA. He feels humiliated everytime he goes to sign on due to the way he is talked to. They offer him jobs which are either miles away from home and/or are not relevant to his skills. He owned his own security company and employed more than 100 people - so he isn't thick but the people at the job centre want him to go on a 13 week course (how can he be looking for a job whilst doing this?), sit in a room and learn how to do his CV and how to apply for jobs - are these people totally brain dead - he managed to operate a multi-million pound company for 12+ years I'm sure he can do his CV and apply for jobs! He'd love to get his business back up and running but doesn't have the funds to do this and the job centre isn't interested in trying to help.

Look for my forum discussion on 'Work Trials for Supermarkets'. This is what he was asked to do before Christmas with the promise of a job at the end of it. ALL LIES.

They haven't got a clue. It's laughable.

My friend has a masters degree in IT and lost his job last year, and he was forced to go on some 'basic skils -IT course'!. haha.
When he told them that it was pointless and that he likely knew a lot more than the person giving the 'course' he was told he would lose his benefits if he didn't attend, so he attended.

The 'courses' dont help the majority of people. They need 'real' courses where you can learn some usable skills. Not CV writing courses every few months! lol. Makes me laugh how people get sent on theses 'courses' again and again! No matter how much you tinker about with your CV it doesn't add anything in you qualifcations and experience that will help one actually get a job.

OP, complain in writing. They are clearly just 'trying it on'. Dont accept it.

Blondi_2 · 31 January 2011 at 5:16PM

Its pointless complaining about the service or a particular person at the job centre because they will just make your life even harder than it already is. The person my partner sees is extremely rude and has taken a dislike to him. She even asked him about a job that came up which had security in it and she said quote 'oh no point as you dont have security experience' - my partner in response said are you joking have you read my file - I OWNED A SECURITY COMPANY - god help us all!

If you go on any sort of course through the job centre then you dont officially show up on stats so this is when the government say unemployment has gone down. What a joke!

My partner has been referred to another agency from the job centre who help in getting you into prime positions (yeah like they did with TESCO, thats another story)- they mentioned to him over getting his SIA badge but you can only apply for this through the job centre. So he asked at the job centre who said because he was under the other agency the job centre couldn't fund it. OMG going round in circles here and definitely makes you wonder why we bother.

Its no wonder people become depressed, start drinking and going into crime. This is when the rich become richer and the poor become poor - are we already there?

eyelinerprincess · 31 January 2011 at 6:07PM

Now I'm depressed. Meant to be going to one of these Back To Work sessions on Wed (although I was told that there would be an element of sitting around talking and I didn't have to do that if I didn't want to...). I've been dreading it, I feel bad enough that I've been on JSA for almost two months without going to one of these "sessions".