Is it really compulsory to go on the Work Programme

neilcr_2

Interesting story revealing Sainsburys and Waterstones not taking part in the unpaid work schemes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/10/unions-shops-unpaid-work-schemes

LadyMissA

neilcr wrote: »

Interesting story revealing Sainsburys and Waterstones not taking part in the unpaid work schemes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/10/unions-shops-unpaid-work-schemes

The work experience scheme however is not the Work Programme

neilcr_2

LadyMissA wrote: »

The work experience scheme however is not the Work Programme

Whatever you want to call it. Sainsburys and Waterstones are actually paying wages while Tesco,Asda, Morrisons,Burtons etc are employing people who are forced to work for benefits which work out at under NMW rates.

silv.surfer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...d-work-schemes

Exactly the same story and details were Front Page in the Daily Mail on Friday - there are more details of how A4e got the Job by Default etc. -But I dont know how to add the link to Daily Mail online to show on here.

Perhaps some kind Techie could find it and Show it on here - The printed version had lots more interesting details but maybe the Online will be a summary like the Guardian.

Thanks to anyone that goes Fishing for me.

P.S I think I will get waders on and try a bit of fishing myself - I like to learn

Been fishing, got a catch- dont know if it works-wouldnt copy/paste, had to write it down. Is there easier way ?

http://mailonline.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

gingerandrubarb

Hi,
My mum was put on this programme before xmas. She was referred to the Triage who firstly explained how to do a CV, interview techniques etc...
Then when my mum never found a job she was referred to Triage again and was put in a placement with a local charity shop. Basically she had to work 3 days sorting out stock in the back. If she didn't accept the placement her benefits would have stopped.
To be getting JSA you need to make yourself available for work. That includes going to all interviews, searching regularly for jobs, handing out CV's etc.. and going on the programme is basically a way to gain work experience which will benefit that person in the long term as it can be added to their CV.
No you wont be paid by the company (in my mums case, the charity shop) as the benefits agency are paying you benefits. (Basically it's there way of making sure your not just claiming and doing !!!!!! all to find work) I don't agree with forcing people to go on it, but i can see the benefits in the long term in regards to gaining experience, dealing with customers and employers, timekeeping and making sure there is not huge gaps within your CV when you do come to find work. xx

LadyMissA

neilcr wrote: »

Whatever you want to call it. Sainsburys and Waterstones are actually paying wages while Tesco,Asda, Morrisons,Burtons etc are employing people who are forced to work for benefits which work out at under NMW rates.

No, it's not whatever I want to call it. They are two totally different things.

Parva

I don't suppose that anyone saw 'Look North' tonight (the regional BBC news, last night now)? It featured an article on 'a4e' which highlighted the fact that they are making millions yet falling short of targets. For anyone that doesn't know 'a4e' are one of the 'Work Programme' providers. In particular the report was aimed at Sheffield where a4e were supposed to get a 34% return to work figure, they indicated that they had achieved a figure of 24% but the real figure was alleged to be 9%!

So out of 100 'clients' they managed to get 9 back into employment - and what percentage of those actually found employment under their own steam and not as a result of what a4e had done?

The government has to be seen to be doing something, we all know this. Alas, what they are actually doing is a huge failure....

GotToChange

gingerandrubarb wrote: »

Hi,
My mum was put on this programme before xmas. She was referred to the Triage who firstly explained how to do a CV, interview techniques etc...
Then when my mum never found a job she was referred to Triage again and was put in a placement with a local charity shop. Basically she had to work 3 days sorting out stock in the back. If she didn't accept the placement her benefits would have stopped.
To be getting JSA you need to make yourself available for work. That includes going to all interviews, searching regularly for jobs, handing out CV's etc.. and going on the programme is basically a way to gain work experience which will benefit that person in the long term as it can be added to their CV.
No you wont be paid by the company (in my mums case, the charity shop) as the benefits agency are paying you benefits. (Basically it's there way of making sure your not just claiming and doing !!!!!! all to find work) I don't agree with forcing people to go on it, but i can see the benefits in the long term in regards to gaining experience, dealing with customers and employers, timekeeping and making sure there is not huge gaps within your CV when you do come to find work. xx

Whilst it is great that you are seeing the positive side, what on Earth do you think a few weeks sorting clothes in the back room of charity shop will do to enhance her CV? (It cannot have been so bad, that this role is seen as an improvement can it?)

Aside: It gets my goat when the assumption/generalisation is that "the unemployed" do nothing all day... Granted, it is hard to fulfill some life goals whilst unemployed and therefore broke, but no-one with half a brain does nothing with their time and it is insulting to suggest so.

If a person's self-worth is inextricably bound up in "work", then - in today's society - God help them. Each and every employed person in this country could be out of a job without warning.

GotToChange

Parva wrote: »

I don't suppose that anyone saw 'Look North' tonight (the regional BBC news, last night now)? It featured an article on 'a4e' which highlighted the fact that they are making millions yet falling short of targets. For anyone that doesn't know 'a4e' are one of the 'Work Programme' providers. In particular the report was aimed at Sheffield where a4e were supposed to get a 34% return to work figure, they indicated that they had achieved a figure of 24% but the real figure was alleged to be 9%!

So out of 100 'clients' they managed to get 9 back into employment - and what percentage of those actually found employment under their own steam and not as a result of what a4e had done?

The government has to be seen to be doing something, we all know this. Alas, what they are actually doing is a huge failure....

I didn't see it - but this doesn't surprise me at all. A4e are c--p and their providers little more than useless, possibly doing more harm than good.

Having said that, Sheffield is dead in the water anyway; I live around 20 miles south-east of it and am aware of it's history so even 9% "success" rate would be an accomplishment.

Apparently another piece on Newsnight that I am just about to look for on iplayer.

dandelionclock30

One of the interesting points made on the Look North programme was that Emma Harrison had paid herself a huge bonus and was about the only person who benefitted from the scheme.
It would in my opinion be better for the Government to run community work shemes where people get NVQs and experience, working at the rate of the NMW. The cost of this would be instead of the billions pumped into the work programme.
I think it would be more honest for the Government to say that for the majority of unemployed people the situation will not change for a long time to come. Its around 1/4 - 1/3 of all adults who are of working age who are out of work which is massive amount. If you take into account 2.62 million on JSA and 9.5 million economically inactive.