A job's a job..

morganedge

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

That's absolutely fine, but the problem comes when you expect society to financially support your choice not to work.

But society does support that choice. Silly to look a gift-horse in the mouth, maybe?

Harry_Flashman

morganedge wrote: »

But society does support that choice. Silly to look a gift-horse in the mouth, maybe?

You're right. Doesn't make the action right though.

Choices like that should be something you earn, not that other people pay for.

LisaB85

K_P83 wrote: »

That reminds me of when my sister was on JSA.

At the time she couldn't drive. They picked a job for her about 30-40 miles away. The job wasn't even nearly "considerable hours". Basically she would have naff all in her pocket after she paid for the travel.
And then they grumbled when she turned it down solely based on this fact.
She wasn't refusing to work, she just wanted help getting a job in a sensible location.

Ahh i know the feeling well.

Up at 6:30am, back at anything from 6:00pm onwards, depending on how much overtime we're FORCED (yes, you may say you can't be forced, but try working where i do) to do.

So then anything you need to get done, you're relying on your holidays, or if you're REALLY lucky, a Saturday off (which are coming less and less frequent now - maybe 1 in 4, 1 in 5 or even 1 in 6 which isn't uncommon now (it used to be 1 in 3).

Manual job, so you're physically drained by the end of the week, so you're only day off - Sunday, is spent doing nothing, just relaxing, when you'd actually like to be doing SOMETHING. But ahh wait, all the things you wanted to get done you can't get done on a Sunday - because those places don't work Sunday's either.

Great.

My last job was by no means easy, I got up at 530ish to allow myself to relax a bit before climbing out of bed Would start work at 8ish til 5pm and home just before 6 although I did have weekends off but during the week I did nothing....It was a very draining job but I could get there relatively easily and didn't have to worry about struggling to work in bad weather.

I want to work I enjoy working but I don't want a job where my safety is at risk to get to the job, where I will become ill due to stress or otherwise.

Luckily the jobcentre are reasonable about this and generally understand public transport etc.

LisaB85

AzimScot wrote: »

The minuate you raise an objection to a job, which can lead you more money out of your pocket than in you get labeled backward and against working and a benefit scronger.

Exactly, you get told to buy a bike etc ironically what employer would really recruit someone who had to bus for 45 min then walk for an hour down dangerous roads in the dark?

I called the employer and asked if there was transport and explained my situation at which point she was upfront and said own transport was needed for the job, she didn't want to waste her time interviewing me knowing that in the snow/heavy rain/mud I'd be late to work or not get there at all.

Harry_Flashman

AzimScot wrote: »

and a benefit scronger.

Which, if you expect the rest of us to support you while you object to a job, is exactly what you are.

My last job was one which lead to quite a few health problems due to stress so guess what I did?

Did I sack it and decide to sit on my arrse allowing the working man's tax dollar to support me? No, I stuck it out until I could find another job which suited me better.

morganedge

Harry_Flashman wrote: »

You're right. Doesn't make the action right though.

Choices like that should be something you earn, not that other people pay for.

Maybe it 'should' be, but that's not the way it is.

It kind of becomes a question of personal morals rather than anything else.
Maybe there's lots of people who are envious of people who have so much free time and dont go to work, but their own moral compass wont allow them to join them.

It's the world we live in (UK especially)
Some people can lead rather a comfortable lifestye whilst not having to life a finger. Maybe we should ALL embrace it!! All 60 million of us!

snowqueen555

I earn under 15k and I feel your pain, its not a good wage to live on, knowing many unemployed people probably have more money than me to spend. A few young people on jobseekers I know get around £75 or something per week and they usually live at home with their parents so they get that money to spend on themselves, and handouts from parents.

When I was unemployed I felt very ashamed, and despite working in a terrible job right now, it is probably better than sitting at home doing nothing and looking at the reactions of my friends and family when I tell them I graduated and am unemployed.

Unfortunately most of us get trapped in the rat race, what alternative is there OP, I am sure your friend feels the same as me

desert_rose

If you can find a balance between work and leisure that must be the way to go and if I could find that I'd be a very happy bunny!
The fact of the matter is that generally speaking, we've become a low wage economy.

Minimum wages topped up with tax credits and associated benefits seem to have become the norm over the past few years. And its not just for those who've left school with little or no qualifications.

We have family who've found themselves in jobs paying not much above minimum wage even though they're highly qualified in their respective fields of expertise and have impeccable work histories.

Although they're not earning very much, they're really happy because they get time to spend with their kids, have taken up old style frugal attitudes to consumerism, are very involved in the community and take advantage of any and every free course on offer through the local college network.

You always get a home baked cake or pie when you pop around for a visit and they've always got time for you as they're never rushing around trying to do a million and one things just to keep on top of stuff.

Not a bad way to live...

ILW

Nothing wrong with turning down jobs, as long as you are not taking others peoples money (Many who will be doing the type of work you choose not to) to fund your chosen lifestyle.

Esoog

You might have an extra £25 in your pocket at the end of the week than the guy who chooses not to work, but he's enjoyed a nice, stress-free day, with a freedom to do what he wants with his time, whereas you've been taking orders, slaving away at work for 10 hrs.

Hmm, from what I gather from these work-shy types (I'm fishing for a bite...:D) actually they don't seem to be having nice stress free days with freedom to do what they want. They're either getting harrassed by the DWP (shame) into applying for jobs they don't want/jumping through other hurdles or appearing/watching Jeremy Kyle with their dysfunctional families! . Whilst all the time wishing they had more money than they do but with the same amount of effort (ie none) - which is an interesting situation. Lots of these people that "choose not to work" (or perhaps employers choose not to employ them; not that they would have you think it was that way around!) seem to be very angry and dependant on fags & booze.

Of course I'm being tongue in cheek here in certain parts; but my point still stands - the grass is always greener on the other side works both ways.

I read the other day a post on here from someone wanting to go bankrupt who received £1800 a month (possibly more) in benefits alone as a single parent with 2 kids, it did make me think "what's the point?" but reading into it you could see that was her; there was no way of gaining more money or improving her life (which she wasn't too impressed with). At least with a job you stand a chance of bettering yourself and your position in life if you have the drive to make it happen (and a slice of luck).