The Work Programme New Thread

donnajunkie

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

No you tell me, you made the claim, you not I, claimed that ' Workfare and work programme are not the same thing ' so read the below and tell myself and the whole group your reasons for claiming that 'Workfare and work programme are not the same thing'

See #2283 from September last year and #2252 from December

with workfare there is an obligation to do a work placement. there is no obligation to do a work placement on the work programme.

donnajunkie

KevInChester wrote: »

It all depends on the provider, your advisor, and your status on the providers books. You can be mandated to work for free whilst on the Work Programme, and for some providers this is done incredibly often. So whilst technically not the same, one often results from the other, to a disproportionate degree.

workfare is solely about doing a placement. yes it is possible you may do one while on the work programme but it isnt a requirement of the course and many people dont do a placement.

donnajunkie

KevInChester wrote: »

Also whilst I was on the Work Programme I had to go in once a week, once a fortnight for a pointless chat with an advisor (and job search), and once for a pointless job-search (without chat). Some people there had to go in every day for 6 hours at a time. I also heard some advisors actively threatening people with having to go in daily unless they managed to get 'x' amount of interviews within the next month.

mine isnt as bad as that at the moment but they do like threatening people as well. i think they need reminding that they need you on side as well if they want you to help them get their bonus when you get a job.

donnajunkie

tigercubx wrote: »

I had my first WP interview/'review' today & the advisor confirmed that universal job match is mandatory, which I already knew anyway, she then went on to say that I have to apply for jobs even if they're 90 miles away (no car or driving license!!) and if I click on a job that is in the recommended jobs section of job match and don't apply I could get sanctioned. She then went on to say that if you don't view the recommended jobs on the job match home page then benefits can be stopped straight away as it is proof you're not looking for work, apparently. I have retail experience and was made to apply for a legal secretary job ! Completely ridiculous.

sounds like they are taking liberties. they do that often.

AP007

donnajunkie wrote: »

workfare is solely about doing a placement. yes it is possible you may do one while on the work programme but it isnt a requirement of the course and many people dont do a placement.

So how does the wp then become the same as workfare? I am confused

I have been told and I have been on the WP since August 2011 and leave it in July 2013 that I will never do a placement as they do not run such a scheme.

donnajunkie

tigercubx wrote: »

PS, watch what you say to your advisor. Mine was bragging that she had got a guy sanctioned because he said he was better off on benefits.

you cant get sanctioned for that.

donnajunkie

AP007 wrote: »

How on earth can you be made to apply for a legal sec job when you have never been one? Did you ask?

mine has told me if i think i could do it and i have transferable skills then i should still apply for a job that i dont meet the criteria for.

AP007

donnajunkie wrote: »

mine has told me if i think i could do it and i have transferable skills then i should still apply for a job that i dont meet the criteria for.

there are no transferable skills to be a legal secretary from retail

donnajunkie

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

Now AP007, you made a claim that """Workfare and work programme are not the same thing""" Would you care to explain to the group why, when they can stop your benefit for 26 weeks for not undertaking a mandatory activity, you believe they are not the same thing ?

mandatory activity does not mean work placement.

KevInChester

donnajunkie wrote: »

workfare is solely about doing a placement. yes it is possible you may do one while on the work programme but it isnt a requirement of the course and many people dont do a placement.

I didn't say it was a requirement, or that you 'will' have to do a placement. For example I wasn't made to do one, though I know many that were.