About to sign the dotted line for the Work Programme. Need advice first.

loadbang

I have been told by the Job Centre that I have to go on the mandatory Work Programme. I have a meeting on Monday where I'm expected to have an induction and sign the papers.

After recent articles in the press, and hearing from other people I know who have been forced to work for free for several months for major retailers, and not even getting travel expenses paid. I'm starting to worry.

What can I do?

I cannot refuse to sign, as that is seen as a sanctionable offence by the DWP and JCP.

Is it a contract you sign? If so, surely it is open for negotiation? I'd like to make an amendment to state I'm only willing to work on a placement if I'm paid at least National Minimum Wage.

I wouldn't mind asking that I'd like to take the papers away to read before signing, and perhaps get an opinion from my union. Is this possible?

I will refuse to sign the Data Protection papers. Goodness know what data the DWP would pass on to the Work Programme providers. The providers can come to me if they require information.

There are plenty of web sites giving guidance to how to go about not going on the programme altogether. They go a little too far. I may not mind going on to the programme, it may open doors to training opportunities, as long as I'm not forced slave labour to work at a major corporation.

LadyMissA

loadbang wrote: »

I have been told by the Job Centre that I have to go on the mandatory Work Programme. I have a meeting on Monday where I'm expected to have an induction and sign the papers.

After recent articles in the press, and hearing from other people I know who have been forced to work for free for several months for major retailers, and not even getting travel expenses paid. I'm starting to worry.

What can I do?

I cannot refuse to sign, as that is seen as a sanctionable offence by the DWP and JCP.

Is it a contract you sign? If so, surely it is open for negotiation? I'd like to make an amendment to state I'm only willing to work on a placement if I'm paid at least National Minimum Wage.

I wouldn't mind asking that I'd like to take the papers away to read before signing, and perhaps get an opinion from my union. Is this possible?

I will refuse to sign the Data Protection papers. Goodness know what data the DWP would pass on to the Work Programme providers. The providers can come to me if they require information.

There are plenty of web sites giving guidance to how to go about not going on the programme altogether. They go a little too far. I may not mind going on to the programme, it may open doors to training opportunities, as long as I'm not forced slave labour to work at a major corporation.

The ONLY thing you sign is a letter that gives them consent to put your details over to an employer or discuss your CV with one etc. You DO NOT have to sign this but if you don't they can't put you forward for anything, a bit like an employement agency.

The DWP have already passed on your info to them if you have a meeting with the WP on Monday!

A work placement is not open to any negotiations and if you get put on one its for jsa only with travel paid, that's all.

saintjammyswine

Travel, childcare and replacement care costs are paid when on the Work Programme. Why not simply engage with it and take it for what it is meant to be which is an opportunity, not a labour of hercules.

loadbang

I have just returned from the Job Centre. It was a normal sign in session. An alteration was made to my Job Seekers Agreement, basically instead of it saying I have to visit the Job Centre web site to look for jobs, I have to follow their Twitter account, and visit one company a week face-to-face.

Then came the part of the Work Programme. It was 30 seconds, a leaflet about the provider, a short two page letter about the programme, and told the provider will be either calling or writing to me in the next two weeks. I did not sign anything, not even a consent form to release my data to the provider.

LadyMissA

loadbang wrote: »

I have just returned from the Job Centre. It was a normal sign in session. An alteration was made to my Job Seekers Agreement, basically instead of it saying I have to visit the Job Centre web site to look for jobs, I have to follow their Twitter account, and visit one company a week face-to-face.

Then came the part of the Work Programme. It was 30 seconds, a leaflet about the provider, a short two page letter about the programme, and told the provider will be either calling or writing to me in the next two weeks. I did not sign anything, not even a consent form to release my data to the provider.

You will sign it when you go to the work programme, even though above you said you were going to the WP for the meeting and induction?!!

The job centre have now told the WP who you are and given them your details

Jools07

I'm due to have the WP induction next week but I'll be going away early in December to visit family for Christmas and until the new year (long story as to why we're going for the whole month of Dec, it's not a regular thing). I'll be signed off but just wondered if anyone knew what the situation was when I return, will I be okay to go back on the WP in January?

saintjammyswine

Should be fine, speak to the JCP advisor about it. We have just had one cohort where, as it straddles christmas, we offered people the chance to withdraw before they start as once they have committed, they can be sanctioned for not attending.

Musicpirate

I have recently been signed up for this, the advisor at my induction meeting mentioned doing a work placement and gave me an example of people going to tesco to do unpaid work while looking, i was already prepared for them saying that and i explained how i would rather do anything than be used by a supermarket chain for free labour, but i would be more than happy to work unpaid if the employer would consider taking me on after the initial period.

I also got an appointment with a next step advisor and when i mentioned doing unpaid work she managed to convince me why doing this is actually a good idea and gave me the details of a couple of local non-profit companies that do voluntary work, one of which does furniture collection, restoration and selling (or maybe donation to poor people, i forget). But i think what she was saying was, approach these places that are looking for volunteers, offer to do a day or 2 a week, and then when i'm applying for jobs i can say i've been working UNPAID for a local charity for the last x amount of months etc, then it keeps these guys off my back and it looks quite good for filling gaps on CV, references etc.

out_of_cash

seems like another use em and bin them scheme,Big multi natinals will be clapping their hands at this one.We have someone on jsa who is not entiltled to any of the employment perks of that company while doing the exact same job as someone they are working beside in the belief they will be offered a job.If the jobs are there and obviously in the 1000s as thats the how many will be going on these shemes i dont see the real jobs advertised . On a positive note like musicpirate says,it s good to fill a gap on your cv.Unfortunately for me stacking shelves in supermarkets wont impress aerospace companies.

I predict they will scrap the work programme due to the huge cost to the tax payer and the failure rate which apparently has already begun as providers are struggerling to find placements.

red_devil

they do struggle. If they cant find you one they put you in a classroom with others and give you crosswords and wordsearches to do and fill your time with endless boring stuff because they have to be seen to be doing something. None of it is relevant.

Once we made a car out of cardboard and bits and pieces and had to see whose went the furthest. Its crap.

DebiT

The heinous parasites running these Work programme schemes are just laughing up their sleeves at this Government.

They know there arent enough proper jobs for people, but they are taking millions in taxpayers money for sending people out to work for large companies for free.
That in turn deprives someone else of getting a paid job.
Its a load of nonsense, and all those who look down smugly on the unemployed of this Country and think it serves them right for not having a job, need to start worrying about when their Company starts making cuts, and decides to replace them with Workfare.
They wont be so smug then.

Already steps are being taken to bring these slave labour schemes down, and as the Government legislation to support it is almost non existent, it wont be long before they are at an end:
http://www.workprogramme.org.uk/201111171756/mandatory-work-activity-is-slavery-lawyers-mount-legal-challenge.html