rude, arrogant jobcentre staff.

dekaspace

I have been signing on about 3 weeks, looking for any job which would take me, and I do have a guaranteed job staring in June, but until then I need cash.

I went to sign on today and the woman signing me on gave me a lecture, saying "you are 21 now, you have to look far harder to look for a job and not be lazy and expect us to pay you" She then goes on and tells me how simple it is to get a job in area and im not trying hard enough etc.

I wanted to shout back at her but didnt want the hassle and just bit my lip

I mean im getting £0 money from jobcentre, so they ARENT paying me to sign on, typical sterotypical attitude that people on benefits are lazy.

bigspender1971

did you get her name? I would report her. If you have been following your job seekers agreement then she should not be so patronising.

ianian99

bigspender1971 wrote: »

did you get her name? I would report her. If you have been following your job seekers agreement then she should not be so patronising.

I would complain too, they get crap of the dodgy geezers and they take it out on the decent people that won't give them !!!!!! back.
Just because you are signing on it doesn't make you a scambag so you shouldn't get treated like one.

dekaspace

I didnt get her name, but I could go back in, as id recognise face, and the funny thing is im goinf far and above my means to apply for jobs, I spend anything from 2-4 hours a day, walking around town, going into shops, bars, takeaways asking if jobs are going, looking in paper, on internet in library etc.

I mean im trying hard to find one, id even do part time work as my current income is £0 and anythings better than that.

debsy42

I know just how you feel, when I first went to sign on I felt like telling the snotty madam to stick the JSA where the sun don't shine after the way she looked down her nose at me. I'd recently been made redundant, signing on for the first time ever and not sure of the procedures etc was made to feel like poo on her shoe. Like you I bit my tongue but truly wished I'd said my piece to her.

However, when I'd been in a couple of times and saw a couple of other people that were lovely, I felt my faith restored and am sure that this madam is not indicative of all staff. I've signed off now and am back in work and hope I don't have to darken the Jobcentre doors again.

astonsmummy

Have you tried agencies?

dekaspace

Yes I have, but most in my town are for HGV drivers or Forklift Drivers etc.

I dont mind part time work, as my last job was part time, though it had a huge amount of overtime.

I just like anyone want a job where its enough to give me even £10 a week more than signing on, as if I get the full £45 a week plus £50 a week HB I need at least 20 hours a week to work, even then its only around £80 a week after tax, the system is flawed.

I remember my last job, £80 a week after tax, yet council works it out as £100 a week as they dont count the tax, so they said I earned far over threshold for support, so I was WORSE off than on benefits, yet had abusive customers, death threats, money problems etc.

peter999

dekaspace wrote: »

"...and not be lazy and expect us to pay you"

She definitely should not say this to you.
If it's same woman next time, show her your written jobsearch record to "bring her under control".

The pity is they spend so little time with you, they really don't know who you are or what you're about.

Just keep a written record of what you've been doing & show them if anyone starts giving a patronising lecture.

peter999

bjo_2

peter999 wrote: »

She definitely should not say this to you.
If it's same woman next time, show her your written jobsearch record to "bring her under control".

The pity is they spend so little time with you, they really don't know who you are or what you're about.

Just keep a written record of what you've been doing & show them if anyone starts giving a patronising lecture.

peter999

If you show her your jobsearch record and insist she types it into her comuter
otherwise you will ask for her supervisor and make a complaint against her.
have done so in the past and their face will look a picture.
next time you meet them they will bend over backwards to help you.
regards
bjo

Three_Dancing_Dragons

dekaspace wrote: »

I remember my last job, £80 a week after tax, yet council works it out as £100 a week as they dont count the tax, so they said I earned far over threshold for support, so I was WORSE off than on benefits, yet had abusive customers, death threats, money problems etc.

So you've worked for the Jobcentre yourself then?

rachnbri

Report her!

I work for the job centre myself - not in the same type of job but have done previously - and her colleagues jobs are made so much harder by people like her. When I was working with people on JSA I loved people like you who really wanted to work because then I felt I could really help and do what I signed up for in the first place. Unfortunately there are too many people within the organisation who feel that it's their job to give everybody, without question, a hard time - ironically they're the same people who never take the measures available against the people who actually are taking the p**s!! Maybe they like to feel important but don't like confrontation!

Next time you sign tell the signing clerk that you're struggling to find work and ask for an appointment with an adviser and also ask them if it's possible to sign with a different person. I know in my office staff are so short that it's difficult to change signing point but it never hurts to ask. Also if you have an appointment with an adviser (advisers are a higher grade to the person who you sign on with) you may be entitled to more help finding work, depending on your circumstances. Please remember that when you're signing the person that you see has limited time - it sounds like you've had a really bad experience, but in my office the signing clerks have 5 mins so certainly no time to lecture anybody!

In my experience on both sides of the desk I would say most people are committed to their jobs and there for the right reason, but the problem with our department is that we don't get rid when we should. Not your problem I know but please don't tar all with the same brush as the majority really do want to help.

Good luck.