Jobcentre Receptions

tinshed

Just wondered if anybody elses job centre has a reception and has numerous members of staff servicing this area. At the last count mine had 4 JC staff and 3 security guards. Upstairs theres a further 4 security guards per floor. Why the need for so many? You then go to sign and JC staff are either chatting to each other ignoring their "customers" or theirs never enough staff at the desks.

Just curious really.

1940sGal

Very similar to my local JC. I've seen at least 3 security guards on at one time and it's not very big compared to others. Staff regularly appear to be doing very little.

The_ICT_Engineer

When I was last in Ely Job centre at the end of last year. Not a guard in sight. They must get a better class of Jobseeker there. So no guards required.

OneYorkshireLass

My local JC has a security guard who creepily looks over your shoulder when you're looking at the leaflets and then looks directly into your face as if he's committing you to memory. I also saw him once get so close to someone using the public phone that he was practically breathing down the mouthpiece.
*shudders*

notts85

The people at reception are customer service managers, there are so many because they are the first point of contact to anyone that comes in and are responsible for taking you booklet and letting the right advisor know you are there

MissSarah1972

tinshed wrote: »

Just wondered if anybody elses job centre has a reception and has numerous members of staff servicing this area. At the last count mine had 4 JC staff and 3 security guards. Upstairs theres a further 4 security guards per floor. Why the need for so many? You then go to sign and JC staff are either chatting to each other ignoring their "customers" or theirs never enough staff at the desks.

Just curious really.

there are between 2-4 people on the front desk and 4 security and upstairs there is 3 security on a desk

MissSarah1972

notts85 wrote: »

The people at reception are customer service managers, there are so many because they are the first point of contact to anyone that comes in and are responsible for taking you booklet and letting the right advisor know you are there

they are? Funny as a few of them have signed me in the past and taken my bi weekly appointments.

Gaz1971

They should try talking to people with some basic manners and stop ignoring people, then they wouldnt need security staff.

mynameistallulah

notts85 wrote: »

The people at reception are customer service managers

No, they are not.

Elvisia

I've tried speaking to the 'civilians' at the front desk and I have always been stopped by the security guards (one of whom I call Fat Bob, don't know what his name is but he's got the most enormous beer belly). I had a meeting with an advisor, I got there early and was smartly dressed with all my forms in order and he parked me down the end of the JC in an area with only empty desks, I kept saying was he sure this was right and he said yeah I'd have to wait...turns out the woman I had to see was the other end who said she'd have to sanction me for being late as by the time he finally worked out who it was I was there to see she had to go! Fortunately instead of being my usual mousey self I nearly exploded and she said "OK just this once".

I think security guards should be for security, and receptionists or advisors should be for receiving and advising. The guards stand between every 3 desks and make you feel like you're on a day visit to a prison. It doesn't help with self esteem, although it's quite entertaining when someone starts an argument and the guard ambles over like they do in Jeremy Kyle and threatens to pick them up by the scruff of the neck.

KevInChester

mynameistallulah wrote: »

No, they are not.

In some cases they are, I know one of the ones at the Job Centre I go to is as they have a name badge that says so.