Work Experience while on Jobseekers Allowance (WORK PROGRAMME)

donnajunkie

JoJox wrote: »

I am on Jobseekers allowance and I'm on The Work Programme. I've been told that i am doing work experience nxt week. And I am doing office work BUT I want to know if i can refuse work experience?

They are paying for my travel there. But wot rights hav i got while on the work programme? If i don't like the place do i hav a right to not go anymore? Do i lose my benefits? And also what times can they make me do a day or can i choose?

If anyone knows PLEASE can they let me know! Thank u all x:money:

you should ask your adviser where you stand with them if you dont like the placement. it is also your adviser who can give you the answer to where you stand on the hours you work. however whether you do a placement or not is down to whether your adviser thinks you need to do one. they call the shots. you cant refuse to do it. the work hours arent likely to be unreasonable.

dandelionclock30

How long are these for?

donnajunkie

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

How long are these for?

i think placements can be upto 8 weeks.

JoJox

It's 2 weeks work experince im ok with doing it just would like to know if i hav to work the FULL hours people who work there do? If i dont like the place then surely i have the right to not go anymore? I'm glad it will help me on my CV just don't know my rights thats all. x

dandelionclock30

I didnt like the place I worked at to the point of feeling sick seeing it and I went for years!!!!. I wouldnt worry too much if its just for 2 weeks unless they are being abusive/nasty. It will be over before you can say exploitation!
Can you ask your advisor about the hours? I think 40 hours per week is a bit much for £67.00!

Can you imagine 8 weeks litter picking!! thats so bad its laughable!!

Lightsout_2

The work programme is NOT compulsory, they only trick you into believing it is. You can stop attending altogether if you wish.

ohreally

Lightsout wrote: »

The work programme is NOT compulsory

Can you evidence this?

saintjammyswine

Lightsout wrote: »

The work programme is NOT compulsory, they only trick you into believing it is. You can stop attending altogether if you wish.

If you agree to go on it, then you must complete the programme. No, it MAY not be compulsory to go in the first place but once on it, you must complete it.

Also, what most of the people I have spoken to about this have got from it is a recent reference and the opportunity for networking with people who could get them employment. It is not all about training and upskilling or showing people how to work, it is about giving them every opportunity to find work.

What else were you planning in doing in those 2 weeks?

embob74

donnajunkie wrote: »

lol, this is really funny. thank them? so while they are working for £67 a week they should thank someone doing the thing for £10 an hour? :rotfl:

Having worked in admin I only wish my job had paid £10 per hour. In fact any work programme attendee would probably be going home with more net pay than myself. I'd still rather be at work though.

Also to make the point to the OP - in my last job I interviewed people to cover my role while I went on maternity leave and there was a HUGE number of graduates who applied. It wasn't what they had foreseen as their ideal job and they were over qualified but they all would have bitten my hand off to get the job.
It must be nice to have the choice to work or not to work.

Caroline_a

I've worked within previous employment schemes and the people who wanted jobs usually got them. They were the ones who treated work placements like real jobs, often to the extent that the employers created positions for them. The ones who didn't want to work, who were more concerned that they were 'working for £10 per week' were the obvious failures. They couldnt understand that they weren't working for £10 a week, they were working for their benefit money - which, let's face it, is what the rest of us do in reality, some higher than benefit levels, but usually that is because they have proven themselves in work situations or have professional qualifications.

To be perfectly honest I found many more people who didn't want to work than who did on these schemes. They talked loftily of 'getting a job' but in reality they couldn't get up in time to get to work, made no effort, and were often absent for very minor things. They seemed to have little concept of doing what management required of them, and were (as the OP seems to be) more concerned with their 'rights' rather than just getting on with what is required.

OP, I don't know what your CV is like, but hopefully it has better grammar and spelling than your posts on here, as otherwise you will struggle to get an admin role.