The Work Programme New Thread

Ook_Mckook

tactful wrote: »

Isn't it lovely that the Government are providing Work Programme training organisations and funding them to help people into work. We live in such a good social system. How on earth could anyone complain. Maybe those that complain should try going it alone with no benefits and no companies helping them find work.

That really better be sarcasm.

For my local area the course is a waste of money , Local bus's literally end at 7.30am-8pm )or a near 4 mile walk to the train station, trains between 6am-10pm Jobs in Cardiff/ponty mostly 7am - 11pm

The course then do less than nothing , Anyone could sit there hand you a pile of paper and photocopy it. Only had 3 appointments so far and every time has just had loads of staff literally sat around doing nothing.

looby75

tactful wrote: »

Isn't it lovely that the Government are providing Work Programme training organisations and funding them to help people into work. We live in such a good social system. How on earth could anyone complain. Maybe those that complain should try going it alone with no benefits and no companies helping them find work.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

sorry excuse me while I pick myself up of the floor where I collapsed in fits of laughter.

I am very grateful for the benefits I receive. I am very angry that so much money has been wasted on this Work programme which so far has offered me no training, no help in finding work and no support of any kind.

My last appointment lasted less than 5 mins, the advisor looked at the computer and said, no there's nothing here for you then handed me my next appointment for 3 weeks time. Where I will be seeing an new "advisor" who I've since found out is 17 and on an apprenticeship.

kazzah60

tactful wrote: »

Isn't it lovely that the Government are providing Work Programme training organisations and funding them to help people into work. We live in such a good social system. How on earth could anyone complain. Maybe those that complain should try going it alone with no benefits and no companies helping them find work.

I too, hope that is sarcasm
my husband was referred to the work programme in May after being unemployed for 12 months

His WP provider has NOT helped him to find work - his "advisor" asked him what field he was seeking employment in when being told Project managment for charities, her reply?

" oh, thats way over my head, I dunno what any of that means"

he does NOT get ANY benefits - no JSA, nothing
he works hard ALL day EVERY day searching for jobs and completing applications for jobs - tailoring his experience and skills to each application to show how he matched their criteria

he does NOT need help to find work - he needs work to find
there are fewer and fewer jobs available in his sector, he has already re-trained extensively since being retired from the Fire Service on the grounds of an off duty injury

he has paid for himself to undertake a degree ( no grants, no loans) and was part way through funding a masters degree when he lost his job - there is a limit to what he can do in the current economic climate

Serina Russo - his WP Provider were worse than useless and could only offer him "courses" in how to present yourself at an interview ( i.e washing, wearing appropriate clothes, conducting yourself well ) and how to produce a CV -

we had already the opportunity of attending a one day workshop run by our mortgage protection insurance company which covered that - and it was delivered by recruitment staff who told the attendees EXACTLY how to layout, and present a CV so it would maximise their chances of a job - so I don't think a basic " this is how to produce a CV" course was going to better that - especially as it was run by people who were earning considerably less and were not as well trained as my husband was.

The WP is NOT about "helping people get jobs"
it is about " being SEEN to help people get jobs - there is a big difference

luckily now my husband has discovered he has 39 years NI contributions he no longer needs to sign on for them - so we told the WP provider that he wouldn't be coming back and hubby can now concentrate on job hunting

Modster

donnajunkie wrote: »

you were lucky as the response i would expect to what you said would be something like, there are new jobs appearing everyday online, you just have to look for them.

I wouldnt call it lucky considering I was only in 3 times a week as a result of me not giving consent/CV, I would call it standing my ground and letting my thoughts be known.

donnajunkie

Modster wrote: »

I wouldnt call it lucky considering I was only in 3 times a week as a result of me not giving consent/CV, I would call it standing my ground and letting my thoughts be known.

you were lucky because they conceded. they dont normally do that.

Mischa8

dontone wrote: »

I've no idea. I've had them giving me rollockings for missing an appointment last year because I was in hospital having tests for ovarian cancer (apparently laying in a hospital bed is not an good enough excuse for missing appointments :eek: even though I told them about it) to one threatening to remove my "benefits" because I had an accident with that diary thing they gave me - my fault entirely for spilling tea on it on the morning I was due to sign. But I did give them details of what I did.
My response to removal threat was a kind of go ahead because she failed to notice that I don't get anything except NI. Her face was an absolute picture. Never seen anybody go crimson that fast before
I'm not a person who likes conflict, but there are times when I really have to bite my tongue in there. Some of them forget that we unlucky ones are part of the reason they are actually working. I think that some of them are a bit out of their depth in dealing with all kinds of people (tbh it must be a horrible job) but there's not need for the rudeness.

Either way surely if you are ill in hospital abuse from them is illegal?

Seems to me they are jobs worths who think they are above the law.

I suppose they also don't like people challenging them either!

scooby088

LadyMissA wrote: »

NMW is not the starting point its the pay of a bad company. Even my old company don't pay NMW. They took on a junior with no experience and paid them £18k.

It could be the starting point of every job that is vacant today, nothing in law say you have to pay a office junior 18k per annum only that you have to pay NMW.

There is now a stigma to minimum wage jobs as there is in the usa, making NMW job seen as worthless people doing worthless jobs, and the sooner that myth is dispelled the better.

dandelionclock30

scooby088 wrote: »

It could be the starting point of every job that is vacant today, nothing in law say you have to pay a office junior 18k per annum only that you have to pay NMW.

There is now a stigma to minimum wage jobs as there is in the usa, making NMW job seen as worthless people doing worthless jobs, and the sooner that myth is dispelled the better.

I think as soon as employers start paying people proper living wages the better. NMW is only really o.k for school leavers not adults with a home to run and a family to look after.
Given that a lot of NMW jobs are part time often a person would be no better off doing one of these than claiming benefits. Theres often little chance of more hours and the jobs dead end. So these jobs are only worth it for those who cant claim, students etc.
People need proper jobs which are full time on proper pay.

scooby088

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I think as soon as employers start paying people proper living wages the better. NMW is only really o.k for school leavers not adults with a home to run and a family to look after.
Given that a lot of NMW jobs are part time often a person would be no better off doing one of these than claiming benefits. Theres often little chance of more hours and the jobs dead end. So these jobs are only worth it for those who cant claim, students etc.
People need proper jobs which are full time on proper pay.

I completely agree with you but I have found that most jobs on offer now especially on jobcentre are all either self employed rep jobs or NMW. Employers only pay NMW as they have to I am sure if they could get away with paying less I am sure they would.

dandelionclock30

Yes its disguisting isnt it!.
A few years ago they would have been struggling to get anyone for a NMW job at all as most people could get something decent no problem.
Even now people dont want to do rubbish jobs that lead nowhere. A person is better off using their time constructively instead of doing mindless crap.
What I think is really bad is how much care assistant type people get NMW to do personal care and they sometimes get hit and sworn at!.
Its a national disgrace unemployment and low wage work in this country.