Work hard or not?

Martynb_

I may be offered a new job in a months time near where I live. I have a 4 week training period. Just a low-paid job at one of those 99p shops. I'm on the Tory Work Programme and they said that if I work hard I'll get the job.

I'm worried. If I work hard, and get the job, will they expect me to work hard all the time? What if I just work at my own pace? At least, then, I won't give the impression that I'm a push-over.

Also the Work Programme want me to travel to Liverpool to take a job there instead. Again low-paid. In know how the train fares are now, and I may find myself financially worse-off. I may get an interview this week for this job, but I know it is better for me to take the first job because it is located near me.

Talk about stick and no carrot!!

pink_princess

Work as hard as you can at all times, this will not only increase your own self worth but may also get you a promotion. Low paid jobs can become careers.

Martynb_

pink_princess wrote: »

Work as hard as you can at all times, this will not only increase your own self worth but may also get you a promotion. Low paid jobs can become careers.

How will it increase self-worth? Surely, exploitation decreases self-worth.

agrinnall

Martynb_ wrote: »

How will it increase self-worth? Surely, exploitation decreases self-worth.

If your attitude before you even get offered the job is that you'll be exploited then I would suggest you won't get kept on.

pink_princess

How is it explotation? You sign a contract to say you will work for the pay & benefits agreed.

I'm going from personal expierence, it did increase my self worth & I now have a career from working hard only, no exams or college etc.

scheming_gypsy

Work as hard as everybody else. I'm guessing that in a 99p shop where people are all on minimum wage, nobody is going to be rushing about, motivating each other and holding meetings in their lunch break to discuss strategy and the best way to move forward.

If you work too hard you'll show everybody else up, if you work slower than the rest then you'll look like a complete waster. so work as part of a team with the team.

imatt

I may be offered a new job in a months time near where I live. I have a 4 week training period. Just a low-paid job at one of those 99p shops. I'm on the Tory Work Programme and they said that if I work hard I'll get the job

Perhaps get that in writing...;-)

Mind you, your definition of working hard could be very different than thiers. You could work like a pit pony and still be told you're not up to scratch! Being promised a job or even the sniff of a promise with no job at the end could simply be used as a motivator to do as you're told. IF this is the case, then it would count as exploitative.

Aelius

When I lived in Scotland I worked as a Visitor Centre manager at a top tourist attraction. The management above me also ran several other sites in the area. One of my girls in particular was a grafter. She arrived at work 15 mins before clocking in [in which she could help herself to a coffee], she was always the last one to leave, she was one of the hardest workers I have seen all my life, and a talented merchandiser.

Well, several months after she started, my boss came and asked me, do you think X would make a good manager? I said yes without hesitation. She instantly went from earning £6.10 an hour to a salary of £18,000. She now works for an even bigger salary for Historic Scotland.

So the question I would ask you is, do you want to spend your life on NMW being fed peanuts, or being the guy getting to promotions and payrises?

KevInChester

So they want you to work for 4 weeks for just your benefit money right? Why do people think this is acceptable, do you really think it would take an average person that long to learn how to use a till or to stack some shelves? It's one step away from slavery, and is unfortunately becoming the norm.

If experience is an issue then you should be set up with charity shops and the like.

/Edit

If you want the job I suggest working hard and like others have said maybe being marked out for early promotion, or at the very least be in a position to move to a better company.

saintjammyswine

KevInChester wrote: »

So they want you to work for 4 weeks for just your benefit money right? Why do people think this is acceptable, do you really think it would take an average person that long to learn how to use a till or to stack some shelves? It's one step away from slavery, and is unfortunately becoming the norm.

If experience is an issue then you should be set up with charity shops and the like.

As I have said many times before, there are many people on the programme who YOU would clearly not describe as average. They have either been away from employment for a long time or even never been in employment and possibly facing multiple barriers. The change to a structured day, everyday for a few weeks can be something that people in this situation find the most daunting. It also develops other skills such as communication, customer service, team working, timekeeping, completing paperwork and following instructions. While, yes, there are people who dont need to develop, practice or even create these skills, I can assure you there are a great majority for whom this experience is invaluable in getting them into a position to be employable/employed.

planning303

How is working for benefit money one step away from slavery??!?!?!?!?!

When you factor in that people on benefits get 48 quid a week plus housing benefit plus no council tax plus free prescriptions etc etc etc they very quickly end up on more money than an actual NMW worker!

Sorry to hijack the OP question but feel i need to point out the obvious to KevInChester..

People on benefits complain that they will be worse of if they accept a NMW job but at the same time you complain that making them work for benefits is modern day slavery...? Well it can't be both can it