Duncan Smith urges firms to hire unemployed Britons

dseventy

The suggestion seems to be here that any company employing foreign workers must be :

1) Exploiting them
2) Doing dangerous practices
3) Making them work an 80 hour week.
4) They can live off NMW and the locals can't.

1 to 3 is not correct for me, I work in one of the most scrutinised industries with lots of spot checks, I am proud of my safety record and RIDDOR compliance and records.

If 4) is a issue you need to talk to your MP.

I will re-iterate, most locals do not want to get up for work at 430am and do some honest hard work. Eastern Europeans are hard working, polite and have a work ethnic that is generally lacking (in my 15 year experience) from the unemployed job market in the UK.


D70

paulmx3

interesting debate,looking at it from the employers in this thread they are looking at it from a short term almost selfish attitude with regards this country as a whole.Employing workers from other EU countries is a quick fix to a problem that is spiraling out of control with tragic consequences for the uk.

whilst many non british EU citizens do indeed show a willingness to work hard,this is not to be taken as how bad british are compared to others,lets face it many migrants have taken the biggest step which is to move to a new country,so comparing a selective few against a whole will not tell the true story.

i have no doubt there are poor workers in all countries,id suggest if you have bad experiences with british workers then yoiur selection process has failed for some reason,or perhaps you have just stopped looking for british workers.

it is easier for people moving to the uk to find work be it permanent or casual due to the fact they often have no ties to any one place,and have far fewer financial worries.

DaisyFlower

GothicStirling wrote: »

When I worked as a catering manager, I hired a lot of migrants. Especially those from Hungary or Czech Republic over younger Brits.

Why?
Because they have a completely different work ethic. They worked hard, were good with customers and -unlike the Brit kids - would stay until the job was done. I never got crap off them, unlike the 18 year olds.

One of the girls - who is now a good friend - worked full time for me, she then worked in the evening as a hospital cleaner and on her days off from me was doing voluntary agriculture work for the council. Unsurprisingly she left to do a second degree at Edinburgh University.

As an employer I wanted the best people for the job, not to positively discriminate just because they are nationals. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen or get competitive.

psst, The DM isn't the most objective tabloid when it comes to migration.

I'm with you on the work ethics of migrants, they work very hard and will take any job.

Many UK born people wont take certain jobs, wont work more than x hours or outside 10am to 2pm, check first to see how much in benefits they will lose and actually turn down jobs to stay on benefits etc.

Cut the benefits we pay as a lifestyle choice and our work ethic would be more in line.

SuzieSue

Oldbiggles wrote: »

Unfortunately Mr Duncan Smith doesn’t seem to communicate with employers. Many of whom are saying that young English people coming to interview lack basic skills, like ‘reading and writing’ for instance.

I've just employed a British 21 year old in an admin role. His written and spoken English is probably worse than some of the foreigners I interviewed, but I decided to employ him because although he had probably the worst GCSEs and A levels of everyone else I interviewed (thanks to our great education system which the teachers' unions think will get even worse if their pensions are reformed, I personally don't think it can get any worse), he had got off his backside and got a basic accoutancy qualifcation and is very keen to work. He has only been with us a week, but is extremely hard working, however he is being held back by his lack of basic education. I have had to tell him that it is not acceptable to answer the phone with "what's up" and also that he mustn't say "innit". However, I am prepared to do this because he has a great attitude which can't be taught.

paulmx3

SuzieSue wrote: »

I have had to tell him that it is not acceptable to answer the phone with "what's up" and also that he mustn't say "innit". However, I am prepared to do this because he has a great attitude which can't be taught.

i wondered what happened to Ali G.....:rotfl:

dseventy

SuzieSue wrote: »

however he is being held back by his lack of basic education. I have had to tell him that it is not acceptable to answer the phone with "what's up" and also that he mustn't say "innit".

They don't teach how to answer the phone at school, nor do they promote / restrict the use of vocal slang. Thats more to do with his up-bringing.

D70

dickydonkin

One of the girls - who is now a good friend - worked full time for me, she then worked in the evening as a hospital cleaner and on her days off from me was doing voluntary agriculture work for the council.

UK workers expect to go to work on a morning and return home to their families on an evening and work sensible hours that allow a decent lifestyle - and that is how it should be.

It is not about migrant workers having a better work ethic - many have come here simply to do one thing and that is work their asses off during all the hours God sends and make as much money as possible.

I rest my case.

dickydonkin

dseventy wrote: »

The suggestion seems to be here that any company employing foreign workers must be :

1) Exploiting them
2) Doing dangerous practices
3) Making them work an 80 hour week.
4) They can live off NMW and the locals can't.

1 to 3 is not correct for me, I work in one of the most scrutinised industries with lots of spot checks, I am proud of my safety record and RIDDOR compliance and records.

If 4) is a issue you need to talk to your MP.

I can certainly provide evidence for 1/2/3 and as for being 'proud' of RIDDOR compliance' that comment is laughable - especially when quoted it the same context as 'proud safety record'.

RIDDOR is for the reporting of accidents/diseases/incidents - in other words - when something has gone wrong - reactive monitoring - i.e. reporting to the HSE when someone has been hurt.

Hardly something to brag about!

And as for 'one of the most scrutinised industries and spot checks' - can you state with all honesty that you (and many other agencies) have never stipulated that your candidates 'must provide their own safety boots/PPE' before being considered for deployment?

A potential breach of section 9 of the HASWA!

Now if you stated that none of your candidates have ever been injured, that would be impressive - but obviously that is not the case is it? Nobody should be 'proud' of RIDDOR compliance.

DCFC79

It just gets better and better doesnt it, you would have thought people would want to keep business within the country but they decide to go for a foreign firm, link

wantsajob

dseventy wrote: »

I will re-iterate, most locals do not want to get up for work at 430am and do some honest hard work. Eastern Europeans are hard working, polite and have a work ethnic that is generally lacking (in my 15 year experience) from the unemployed job market in the UK.

Ah well, what hope do British people have of getting a job if employers believe this. To get this impression I suspect employers have been lazily advertising in the local Job Centre - hence they get all the useless chavs the JC can't get off their books who are told they have to apply or will lose their Job Seeker's Allowance (which is important to purchase fags, cider, special brew, and cannabis with).

I'd happily get up for 4.30am and I know many other Brits would, and I have a superfluous work ethic that has never had the opportunity to be put to the test. I would, however, draw the line at offering my hours free of charge to "finish a job". If I can have the time back in lieu, or will otherwise be paid for my time I'd be more than happy to work the extra few hours.