The Work Programme New Thread

leroy1985

update from me, so went in today after ive been taken down from daily to twice a week, this when the bitter jobworth told me id be coming in everyday for the rest of the time im on jsa, so that obviuously was bollox, now they are making it once a week and i email them everyday before 11am to say what ive done and what im gonna do next day

oh and what a difference a nice advisor makes hey? she the smiley type, very nice person, she looked at what ive done and said just keep at it, youre doing everything rite, nice to get a bit of encouragement for a change rather than being looked at like a liar by that stupid !!!!!, ill only have this advisor for 3 weeks though so thats a shame

i ask her if its cuz they are getting busy. she said yeah the goverment were saying that EVERYBODY will have to come in daily for six weeks then it changed to everyday all the time, but she said in reality thats just not possible so they now do what im doing now, obviously some jobcentres probably realised this earlier but i think the jobsworths wanted to do it, well they at least wanted to try it

grai

leroy1985 wrote: »

obviously some jobcentres probably realised this earlier

great you're doing better leroy i hope they see sense and get us all back to 2 week signing - as more come off the work programme the numbers are just set to go up & up at the JC so I don't see how this level of nonsense can keep up

my advisor in London has had the attitude that the whole thing is crap from day 1 which has been good for me

but his Polish manager who he calls Eva Peron still thinks she is back in the Eastern Bloc working for the Communist Party and is at his desk the whole time checking on him :mad:

she knows he's a loose cannon and is kind with people but she wants claimants to suffer so she is on to him

me and the bloke next to me waiting to sign were watching her and he goes "why don't you leave the guy alone and go and do some f&8king work"

the jobsworths are dangerous - why are people like that?? I don't get it

I know I will go in there one day and Eva Peron will have got her wish and my nice advisor will be gone

donnajunkie

grai wrote: »

but his Polish manager who he calls Eva Peron still thinks she is back in the Eastern Bloc working for the Communist Party and is at his desk the whole time checking on him :mad:

he should be putting in a complaint of bullying and victimisation against her. he should be seeing his union rep if hes in the union. if hes not in the union he should join.

SJ32116

It really is taking me every ounce of self control not to lose my rag with my work programme advisor. He's such a horrible bloke. Completely nice to you when anyone else is in earshot but as soon as its just me and him you can tell he thinks you're scum because you're unemployed by his general attitude and the condescending way he speaks to you.

When I had my 1st interview with him he asked what jobs I wanted to do and I told him. Yet he ignored this completely and my file says I'm looking for warehouse work. I do apply for warehouse work because any job is better than nothing and I certainly don't think I'm better than it as I've done it before. However I'm not a fan of them trying to force warehouse work on me and that's all they send me in e-mails about "job opportunities". Even more insultingly half of these are warehouse "apprenticeships" which means doing the same hard manual work as everyone else in the warehouse for less than half the pay!

He also seems to dislike me because I turned down an interview for 8 weeks warehouse work that they set up for me as I got an interview on the same day for a full time position. He constantly says I made the wrong decision and that I'd be in work if I listened to him, but who in their right mind would turn down an interview of a full time role for an interview for an 8 week stint in a warehouse?

Morlock

SJ32116 wrote: »

He also seems to dislike me because I turned down an interview for 8 weeks warehouse work that they set up for me as I got an interview on the same day for a full time position.

Withdraw your consent for the work programme provider to contact third-parties on your behalf. Then you won't be subject to any more unsuitable job interviews that have been set up for you.

CD72

Hello everyone... am new to this forum. I have been looking around really to reach out and get some feedback as I am constantly in a state of anxiety about signing on and the methods and proof I am being asked to provide in my job search.

I fell into debt in 2010, and since then, haven't worked properly. Because of the nature of what I do, I have only been able to find short term work. I have had 3 month spells, days. I have signed in that period but my claim has never broke. I have been in theough the work program - working for 3 months while on it (a job I sourced myself) I have even took less money a week than benefits as to stay off the system.

I spend 4 hours each day looking for and applying for jobs. I write all this down, providing links online to the positions I have applied for, plus I print out any responses I have leading to interviews or rejections as I am not qualified enough. Last week I went in to the JC to sign and was told that I am not doing enough - I am not explaining what time of day I am starting the job search, how long I am taking to write a letter, how long I am travelling for interviews, etc. Is it me, or is this level of detail just a bit OTT? I don't believe they read it anyway! What I find... frustrating is that, I pointed out to the advisor that 'the reality of finding work, with my skillset is competitve enough and while in theory, there are plenty of jobs out there, consideration must be taken into consideration that I cant drive, due to my epilepsy.' He said, :Ok I will let this go, but be sure to remember what I said' Also, in that two week period, I had a day of work too.'

I have to say, it makes me sink deeper and deeper in depression. Surely there must be some more innovative and constructive ideas to help unemployed people like myself into long term work. They just don't seem to want to know.

Am sorry for ranting on, I just feel so alone about it all.

SJI85

CD72 wrote: »

What I find... frustrating is that, I pointed out to the advisor that 'the reality of finding work, with my skillset is competitve enough and while in theory, there are plenty of jobs out there, consideration must be taken into consideration that I cant drive, due to my epilepsy.'.

In theory your epilepsy shouldn't come into it, at least not from a driving perspective, as few jobs require you to actually drive. An employer cannot stipulate a driving licence as a requirement, unless it is an essential aspect of a job (e.g. as it would be for a bus driver, or a support worker who is supporting people unable to use public transport or taxis/needs to carry bulky medical equipment).

To stipulate a driving licence as a requirement, when driving is not an essential part of the job, is breaking the law. I appreciate a number of employers still do this, however.

Should you require further support, such as help with travel costs or taxis once in employment then Access to Work can help. I believe it's still in existence.

As for the additional details you're expected to provide, it does seem unreasonable/over the top.

Last time I looked at the guidelines you are only expected to write down all steps taken to find a job, and how long each step took. If you can't find any suitable jobs on a given day you need to give a reason why the vacancies you've looked at

For example, for one particular day: -

Searched websites x, y, z. Found vacancy as admin assistant at company x. Applied through company's website with CV and cover letter. Time taken 3 hours.

Updated CV and uploaded onto CV library, reed and indeed. Time taken 1 hour.

Attended Work Programme appointment. 2 hours.

Noting down the start and end times of your jobsearch seems rather pointless, providing you can demonstrate you're spending x amount of hours looking for a job.

CD72

Thanks for your advice.

I asked about Access to Work with my advisor but he said he knew nothing. Having the facility to travel would be a massive help in my profession.

grai

CD72 you are certainly not alone with the anxiety and feelings of powerlessness in the face of the job centre staff and their underlying attitudes of contempt

of course they are never blatant because they know you could get them for it - but it's all going on underneath

try not to let it get to you and definitely don't take their bait - bite your tongue

I've found this thread great because you do realise there are loads - thousands - of people feeling the same as you do about claiming

also people are full of information

I have also been able to lessen my stress by putting concerns on here about what the job centre had in the pipeline for me and asking on here if people knew about it

invariably I got information and knowing what was in store really helped me stop worrying so much

rant all you like on here! that also really helps

CD72

Hi Grai... thanks for your reply.

I have an interview with an advisor on Friday and I know it's going to be a battle of wills.