deleted

RuthnJasper

jayII wrote: »

I totally agree that workfare shouldn't be sending loads of people to work for somewhere like Mr T. I really think they should be doing something that at least partly benefits either the community or the workers. People could also be encouraged and helped to find their own more personally suitable placements, as you did.

Congratulations on getting your job.

I completely agree. I am fortunate in that I DO have a job - but I also volunteer in my spare time to do things for the community. I started with selfish motives - when my beloved Jasper became ill, I thought the "karma element" might look kindly upon him and prolong his life for a little longer if I gave up my spare time for others - I even gave up my Christmas Day. Didn't work; he died anyway. But now I find that I REALLY enjoy helping out people in my community.

But I guess, like others have suggested, the time spent in community works needs to be balanced against time needed for serious job searching and interviews, preparation, etc.

There is also the unfortunate connotation between those on benefits giving something back by doing useful work in the locality and those ne'er-do-wells who have been sentenced to Community Service for their petty crimes. That, surely, must be in the backs of some minds for honest and deserving benefit claimants.

I'd certainly rather get out there and DO something for my benefits rather than sit around in my PJs all day - but I CAN understand why some feel aggrieved.

I'm also sorry that the OP felt sufficiently annoyed to remove their opening post (and glad that someone quoted it). Regardless of their viewpoint, this is an interesting thread with sensible, useful (whether or not I agree with them) replies and a valid topic.

I wish the OP happier times ahead. x

marybelle01

The_ICT_Engineer wrote: »

Clearly there are few of members of the Daily Mail (Hate) Reader's (no apostrophe in "Readers") Club making comments on this thread. They truly believe everything that's printed in the Daily 'Bigot' and what Duncan Smith & Grayling tell them.

The unemployed are demonised by being portrayed as having low IQ ,workshy, no work ethic, barely able to read or write (insert comma here) or have (no "a" here) very basic numeracy, and have problem (add an "s" - "problems"; or if you must stick with problem, there should be an "a" in front of it - "a problem") with drugs or alcohol. They are a easy target for the Government and the right wing press.

Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen 78° 55′ 0″ N, 11° 56′ 0″ E

I don't normally come over all "grammar police", but given your comments about how all unemployed people are demonised as being illiterate...

Cate1976

Despite what the Daily wail and Con Dems are saying, the vast majority of people on benefits are genuine and would rather be working. Don't tar all of them with the scrounger brush.

Notmyrealname

The_ICT_Engineer wrote: »

The unemployed are demonised by being portrayed as having low IQ ,Workshy, No work ethos, Barely able to read or write or have a very basic numeracy, and have problem with drugs or alcohol. They are a easy target for the Government and the right wing press.

You may find it hard to believe but there are some of us who have held the opinion for a very long time, even through times of low unemployment, that people who have been on the dole for a long time, say a year, should do something to earn the money they're being given out of the pockets of those who do work for a living.

It is absolutely ludicrous to hand out hundreds or thousands of pounds month after month to a claimant with them having to do nothing for it in return. Community projects are a good way of addressing this especially in a time where the govt is a bit short on cash. It doesn't benefit commercial enterprise, it does nobody out of a job and it gives back something to those who are paying the bills and putting a roof over the head of those in the community on unemployment benefits. It also benefits the claimant by getting them out of the house and doing something and giving them a sense that they're not just a drain on society and are giving something back.

MissSarah1972

Notmyrealname wrote: »

You may find it hard to believe but there are some of us who have held the opinion for a very long time, even through times of low unemployment, that people who have been on the dole for a long time, say a year, should do something to earn the money they're being given out of the pockets of those who do work for a living.

It is absolutely ludicrous to hand out hundreds or thousands of pounds month after month to a claimant with them having to do nothing for it in return. Community projects are a good way of addressing this especially in a time where the govt is a bit short on cash. It doesn't benefit commercial enterprise, it does nobody out of a job and it gives back something to those who are paying the bills and putting a roof over the head of those in the community on unemployment benefits. It also benefits the claimant by getting them out of the house and doing something and giving them a sense that they're not just a drain on society and are giving something back.

You talk as if the unemployed have never paid tax!

Hundered or thousands of £'s a month to a claiment? Wow I'd love the thousands please against my £284 a month which I am happy to pay back when I get a job. The roof over my head is not paid for by the benfit system.

westv

I'd be interested to know what percentage of the long term unemployed already take part in voluntary work but I don't suppose that information is recorded in any official statistics.

RuthnJasper

wantsajob wrote: »

Problem with things like workfare is businesses see it as a means to free labour, rather than a way of helping improve someone's employability. In most cases, unpaid employees replace paid ones - and this is at the tax payer's expense, not that of the business making millions.

I declined a Job Centre offer of work experience at the big T, although this was not a mandatory thing - just a suggestion of something I could do should I chose to. Mainly because I knew this particular store had already laid off lots of people, and Christmas was coming up - so obviously looking for free labour in the run up to a busy period. If they just got rid of loads of employees, then chances are there's no real job available.

I recently managed to initiate my own work experience placement, by contacting the organisation directly (within civil service), and this fortunately led to an actual job. So it's not that I'm workshy and lazy. I turned my nose up at the big T thing as I don't want to be used and abused for the benefit of a multi million pound organisation, while getting £0 as my reward, with no real prospects at the end.

Forgot to say earlier, wantsajob - many congratulations on your deserved job success. If only everyone was as level-headed and resourceful as you, the world would be a far better place. x

wantsajob

Wouldn't it be nice if they gave people a little for their time though, even if it's just £10 per week?

Instead it's "do it or you lose what little money we give you", which is rather punitive, and possibly illegal under EU law. I believe it should be voluntary and there should be an incentive, not a punishment for not doing something. Just like there should be for being in employment as opposed to being on benefits. How are these "down and outers" going to learn to respond to incentives, and learn to make decisions which benefit them, if all they experience is punishment?

If you force people into such placements who don't want to do it, just do it for the benefits, and have no real interest - will they, and society, actually benefit?

Is it beneficial to sanction people, and put their income down to such a level they might be inclined to steal? Society doesn't care about them, why should they care about society!

Person_one

RuthnJasper wrote: »

I'd certainly rather get out there and DO something for my benefits rather than sit around in my PJs all day - but I CAN understand why some feel aggrieved.

Its called 'Job Seekers Allowance'. Its not charity, its not a wage, its the state fulfilling its responsibility to ensure you don't go under while you look for work. All you have to do to be entitled to it is seek a job.

Lots of unemployed people do voluntary work off their own back, I did the first time I was on JSA. However they should be able to choose what cause they give their time to and fit it around their own lives and job search.

Only criminals should be sentenced to community service, not the unemployed.

jayII

Person_one wrote: »

Its called 'Job Seekers Allowance'. Its not charity, its not a wage, its the state fulfilling its responsibility to ensure you don't go under while you look for work. All you have to do to be entitled to it is seek a job.

Lots of unemployed people do voluntary work off their own back, I did the first time I was on JSA. However they should be able to choose what cause they give their time to and fit it around their own lives and job search.

Only criminals should be sentenced to community service, not the unemployed.

This sums up my thoughts and feelings exactly. Thank you. :cool: