Quite annoyed at my jobcentre adviser

cardiffgrad1

I wouldn't get stressed about it. Play the game keep him sweet and apply for the job. Worry about hours when/if you get offered interview. One thing I would say is that you seem to be putting up barriers. You never know this job might offer you hours you can do. All I'm saying is that maybe you're being too quick to write off jobs and not thinking of ways around problems. Anyway this guy might be out of a job soon if he keeps being sick!

donnajunkie

LisaB85 wrote: »

Ok so in May I was laid off by the jobcentre. I have been looking for jobs and applying for everything as well as attending interviews so I've not been 'slacking'

Today I saw my adviser who I used to work with but I'm shocked at how he made me feel. When I first made my claim I explained to him that I rely on public transport and could I put restrictions on my hours as the bus times here are hit and miss, he told me he didn't need to and wrote on my jsag that I am restricted to public transport.

Today he went through a few jobs and I told him unless I knew the location and if I can get there I don't want to be matched to the jobs I'd rather check them out first but he forced a matched job on me in Norwich 20 miles away where the hours were not specified nor was the location and told me if the hours and location were not suitable then it would be ok.

To get to Norwich centre it is 1 bus to town (20min) then from town to Norwich (45min) which is fine if this job does not start before 9am and does not finish after 730pm and is in the city centre.

I'm now panicking, the job is through an agency so I have emailed them my CV and applied but have asked about location and hours as well as stated my reliance on public transport.

I want my adviser changed, he knew from the time we worked together that I rely on public transport and knows I live in the sticks.

I've recently been diagnosed with depression and slight anxiety so I don't need this hanging over me. A friend and ex jcp colleague has advised I get a note from the doctors and make a claim to esa for a while to enable me to look for work without the bullying tactics I was subjected to today.

What should I do?

I really want a job but I don't need to be made to feel bullied into applying for a job where I may not be able to get to. I want a job to learn to drive.

just apply and if you do get an interview or even an informal chat with the employer make sure you find out the hours and if you cant get there just point that out to them and explain why. try to not come across as if you are just making an excuse. if they say why did you apply just say you were required to by the jobcentre.
whatever you do never ever not apply!!!! i have known the jobcentre to try and sanction people for not applying for jobs that were obviously not possible for some reason.

LadyMissA

1 week to 6 mths you have 1 hour each way as an acceptable time to travel then at the 6 mth mark this gets extended to 1 hour 30 mins each way totalling 3 hours journey time each day. After one year these stay the same and the hours or work change so you are available at all hours of the day within a 24 hour period unless you have dependants and still with the 90 mins travelling each way.

If you can not get there as there is no transport then why are you worrying because unless you move nearer the job (if you got it) you couldn't get there.

Also if you were an adviser too at the Job Centre you know they can talk to you just how they like and get away with it.

LisaB85

SarEl wrote: »

Please don't shoot the messenger! I am only telling you what others have told me - after a period of time they must remove restrictions on when and where they will work, or what type of work they are looking for. As far as I understood it "can't get there" isn't an acceptable reason - there are time/travel limits applied and 20 miles is well within those limits.

I can't get there isn't acceptable if it is under 90minutes each way and you have transport or walking etc.

If it is impossible to get there because the bus will not get me there on time or not get to the location at all, what can they do?

LisaB85

I have applied, turns out it is advertised through an agency so I have sent my CV and asked about hours upfront. So at least I have applied, the agency won't send me forward if the hours/transport don't match.

On a positive I had another agency call today and I have an interview on Monday.

donnajunkie

LisaB85 wrote: »

I know I could get a moped and pay £45 a week for 50 weeks but with fuel, insurance etc too a wage of £6.20 won't see me any better off.

they dont expect people to buy motor vehicles. so ignore anyone who tells you to do that. if it is more than 2 or 3 miles they wont tell people to bike it either. to be honest i've never heard of anyone being told to bike it whatever the distance.

donnajunkie

SarEl wrote: »

As far as I am aware, I was under the impression that putting restrictions on where and when you would work was only possible for a certain period of time, and after that you were no longer allowed to do so. The fact that you live in a rermote area or have unreliable public transport isn't as far as I was aware, an acceptable reason for refusing work. I am happy to be corrected if I have misunderstood this, but this may explain why you are no longer being allowed to use your transport problems as a reason for not applying for some jobs.

people are expected to broaden their jobsearch after 13 weeks but they can still restrict the hours on their jsa agreement. i had an adviser wipe off the restrictions i had without asking if i was happy with it. however the next time i saw an adviser i asked if i could put them back and they said yes.

donnajunkie

LisaB85 wrote: »

No but how do I get to the job until I find somewhere to live? I know you have to be willing to travel which I will but I have to rely on buses, my travel to work is 90 min which is fine but if I can't get there for 9am what am I supposed to do?

some people dont realise that people usually move for a job when its a very good job paying decent money. people dont move to work in a call centre for £6.50 an hour. they also ignore financial cost of moving and family ties etc.

donnajunkie

SarEl wrote: »

Please don't shoot the messenger! I am only telling you what others have told me - after a period of time they must remove restrictions on when and where they will work, or what type of work they are looking for. As far as I understood it "can't get there" isn't an acceptable reason - there are time/travel limits applied and 20 miles is well within those limits.

people have to be willing to travel upto 90 minutes away. have you used public transport recently? i know a bus service that takes 1 hour to get somewhere 5 miles away.

thistledome

donnajunkie wrote: »

some people dont realise that people usually move for a job when its a very good job paying decent money. people dont move to work in a call centre for £6.50 an hour. they also ignore financial cost of moving and family ties etc.

Not often we have the same opinion, but this is a pet peeve of mine on here. So annoying when people post, "can't you move to where the jobs are?" as if it's nothing!

Are we supposed to sell our house and find somewhere to rent/buy in a matter of days or weeks and how do we pay the up-front costs of it?

Good luck with the interview on Monday, OP.