B & Q Work experience

tibbers

Hi,
My son has an informal interview with B & Q tomorrow afternoon to do work experience for 4-8 weeks, with the potential of a job at the end of it. What the Jobcentre didn't tell him was, is it paid or unpaid? and how does he go about signing on? (he still has to sign on to keep his claim open, though he isn't entitled to JSA Income based until August) Does this count towards him not getting JSA at the end of the 8 weeks if it is paid work? and he has to wait yet another 4months or so? And what is an informal interview? Anyone had a B & Q interview for work experience? They don't really tell you much at our JC.
Any help much appreciated

MrChandlerBing

I can't offer any advice beyond utter disgust if it isn't paid. 4-8 weeks free labour for B and Q is a disgrace, surely they would know if they want to take him on after a few hours. It's hardly going to be rocket science is it.

lori64

tibbers wrote: »

Hi,
My son has an informal interview with B & Q tomorrow afternoon to do work experience for 4-8 weeks, with the potential of a job at the end of it. What the Jobcentre didn't tell him was, is it paid or unpaid? and how does he go about signing on? (he still has to sign on to keep his claim open, though he isn't entitled to JSA Income based until August) Does this count towards him not getting JSA at the end of the 8 weeks if it is paid work? and he has to wait yet another 4months or so? And what is an informal interview? Anyone had a B & Q interview for work experience? They don't really tell you much at our JC.
Any help much appreciated

If it is work experience you can be sure that its unpaid!
I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Also, the chances are, after his training, he will be replaced by someone else sent from the jobcentre.
After all, why offer someone a full-time PAID job, when they can churn out "trainees" for free.
I do hope your son gets a proper paying job after his training.

ohreally

Be aware it may be workfare http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/06/workfare-scheme-must-end

http://socialwelfareunion.org/archives/808

tibbers

lori64 wrote: »

If it is work experience you can be sure that its unpaid!
I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
Also, the chances are, after his training, he will be replaced by someone else sent from the jobcentre.
After all, why offer someone a full-time PAID job, when they can churn out "trainees" for free.
I do hope your son gets a proper paying job after his training.

The jobcentre woman told him that B & Q are regulars at work experience placements, so sounds to me like your right in the fact that they won't employ him at the end of the placement. Also its full time apparently, 9-5pm 5 days a week. Now if thats right, and he doesnt get paid, he isn't going to be a happy chappy, (nor will i be!) Thats what we called slave labour when I was a youngster.... Trouble is, I don't think he can refuse to do this work, or he will loose his right to hardship payment and then his JSA when it re opens in August..
Thanks for replies though, will see what happens tomorrow!

dancingfairy

4-8 weeks - that's a lot of work experience! Sounds like slave labour. I'm not sure what you can do about it to be honest though if that's the only way he can get his benefits
Hopefully he will gain a reference, meet some nice people and figure out whether he wants to work in retail, whether he's happy to work in DIY stores longer term etc. I appreciate he may not have any choice in the matter right now though
You also never know who you might meeet, or who might know about a job/training opportunity etc - perhaps someone on the bus he has to get on? perhaps he will see jobs advertised next door (as Band Q are generally on retail parks - perhaps he can hand his cv into other companies in the area).
I appreciate it's not a great position to be in but hopefully it will work out for him.
df

fleesaurus

Oh dear. Better to go to college on a short course and use that as a reference and talk about transferable skills than working unpaid in B&Q. You're not really 'trained' at B&Q.