Trying to mitigate the work program! Help!

Daedalus

I am confused, if there are significatly less jobs than the amount unemployed, so only the most employable at the time get the jobs, how is these schemes meant to solve that? Is it not just making those who there isn't a job for slightly more 'skilled'. Would have thought creating jobs would be a better use of the money.

dandelionclock30

Daedalus wrote: »

I am confused, if there are significatly less jobs than the amount unemployed, so only the most employable at the time get the jobs, how is these schemes meant to solve that? Is it not just making those who there isn't a job for slightly more 'skilled'. Would have thought creating jobs would be a better use of the money.

The Government wont do job creation for the sake of it because of the costs.Look at the public sector where some people havent done a days work for years.They are getting rid of a lot of council workers etc.
David Cameron is well aware that the work programme will not help ease the unemployment situation.He is not an idiot and is advised by economists etc.
It suits the government to have a lot of unemployment because it keeps inflation low and also provides a pool of cheap, ready labour for buisnesses.
I read on here that some of the Government have interests in the workprogramme providers.So what is happening is that they are paying themselves-a lot, to deliver a failing programme.
Its pretty bad really.

marybelle01

Mrcrimbo wrote: »

There's some good advice here, for which I am grateful.

But, hang on.....there's some real sweeping statements being flung around from people who know nothing about me! I could be a 68 year old who is ill or a PhD holder. Or even a 17 year old with more kids then people who've actually got decent jobs these days. I really don't remember asking for peoples 'opinion' here. Dear Daily Fail....Erhm sorry I meant Daily Mail.

Typical DM people. Quick to critise, never able to come up with the goods about how to fix the real problems. Keyboard warriors, hot air. Puff. Again, just how the bankers and politicians have engineered the system. Well done to them because they can come on the MSE forum and see their dirty propganda is working. As someone who has studied history, it is indeed an impressive feat as others who have tried engineering the social enviroment have eventually ended up dead (Gaddafi is a good example of that!)

In terms of the work program, I will make myself clear. It is not working, period. I'm not interested in doing anyones home work for them regarding the matter other that making this fact clear.

Further to this, I am an 100% conscientious objector to it. And as someone who've HAD friends work in McD who have been treated by their managers like nothing but (censored), I know where I stand in regards to working with them.

In fact, I go OUT of my way to not eat there. As for the free food, about watching that documentary about that guy who ate nothing but Mc'Ds for a month LOL. Liver packed up. So they can shove their free food ...exactly where you guessed it

Seriously? You have gone from "I want to avoid the work programme" to "this is a principled political stance and anyone who disagrees with me is wrong"? Wow, it seems you also have something in coomon with Col. Gaddafi - a subjectively narrow view of the world and your place in it. You do not get to tell people what their opinions are or should be, and if you ask for "advice" (not that I suspect advice was what you were ever after) on a public forum then you should expect that there will be people who don't agree with you.

In fact, you have had a lot of very good advice, and from many people who actually don't agree with the work programme, but who are realistic enough to:
(a) recognise that you have no choice,
(b) think that there may be some use in going and make the best of what must be done because they have personal experience of the fact that it at least works for some people
(c) or, believe that it is not unreasonable to put conditions on benefits receipt since so far your efforts to obtain employment on your own haven't paid off.

So what have you got to lose? Except possibly for your snobby attitude towards people who normally and everyday work in minimum wage jobs at places like Poundland and McDonalds, possibly because they may actually like it (shock, horror... not everyone is like you and wants or needs to be in the fast track for a major career break any moment - and how's that working out for you?) or because they would rather do that than claim benefits.

You say you would rather do anything than go on the work programme "even cleaning the toilets in a care home". Wow, there's that attitude again. You'd genuinely be willing to sink so low as to work in a care home? Is there some unique quality about care homes that makes their toilets different from others? And perhaps you could clear up - is it the residents, the employees, or both in care homes that you have such a low opinion of?

However, there is some great news. There are literally thousands of care jobs going, some of which may even, if you are lucky, include cleaning the toliets. There are seldom enough people who want to do this sort of work in any area, and there is a huge demand for staff both in homes and providing support to people living in the community. Turnover is huge (so you won't have to wait long to get a job), the pay isn't great normally, and the hours are long, but you won't mind since you have already indicated that you feel a calling to this type of work, and would do anything to avoid the work programme.

If that doesn't suit, perhaps you should go the whole hog towards being a "100% conscientious objector". It's difficult to make such a principled political stand when the only people you tell are a bunch of strangers on an internet forum. Anonymously. Whilst meekly getting up for your work programme appointment like you were told. If you want to be a "conscientious objector", I feel it ought to be pointed out to you that this requires an effort on your part to refuse and take the consequences, not to slink around avoiding and hoping to hell nobody cuts your benefits.

scooby088

OP I was on the work programme before getting a job, I found the experience of no value to me as I was already hitting way about my job search targets, but I liked going to see my work broker as he was a decent bloke. OP if you sign off and then sign on within 2 years you will be back on the work programme. The only way off it is to get a job over 16 hours per week. Even working under 16 hours you will still have to go into the work programme provider.

I can see OP's point about working for nothing at big companies like poundland or mcdonalds as these companies can afford to pay them a wage. You may aswell do community work with the dregs of society doing community pay back on a weekend.

justjohn

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

David Cameron is well aware that the work programme will not help ease the unemployment situation.He is not an idiot and is advised by economists etc.
It suits the government to have a lot of unemployment because it keeps inflation low and also provides a pool of cheap, ready labour for buisnesses.
.

Would say cameron IS an idiot. He is commiting political suicide.
We are in a recession and he is squeezing the majority of his voters that have the least amount of money. He is only cost cutting and squeezing the last shilling out of the poorer in society. He is not getting the big savings from the rich or better off.(because thats not in the interest of the tory party)

After this stint in office, he will get booted out and people will be very anti-tory, just like the end of the thatcher years. The lib dems are untrustworthy by there voters so there goose is cooked.

ILW

justjohn wrote: »

Would say cameron IS an idiot. He is commiting political suicide.
We are in a recession and he is squeezing the majority of his voters that have the least amount of money. He is only cost cutting and squeezing the last shilling out of the poorer in society. He is not getting the big savings from the rich or better off.(because thats not in the interest of the tory party)

After this stint in office, he will get booted out and people will be very anti-tory, just like the end of the thatcher years. The lib dems are untrustworthy by there voters so there goose is cooked.

The "poor" never voted Tory anyway so he will not lose many votes.

justjohn

ILW wrote: »

The "poor" never voted Tory anyway so he will not lose many votes.

Some did thats how the tory's got into power.lol. that and the lower working class.

Unemeployed people do vote tory !!!!

LannieDuck

Mrcrimbo wrote: »

At this point, I've got some ideas. First one is to try and find some sort of 'voluntary' work, anything, even cleaning the toilets in a care home, if this is allowed? Any idea what the critera are for this to be allowed as an excemption to the work program? Or, who and how I need to prove all this to without getting sanctioned.

As a PP said, have you tried looking for full time employment in a care home, if you'd be happy doing that sort of work? That would get you out of the WP.

Takeaway_Addict

justjohn wrote: »

Would say cameron IS an idiot. He is commiting political suicide.
We are in a recession and he is squeezing the majority of his voters that have the least amount of money. He is only cost cutting and squeezing the last shilling out of the poorer in society. He is not getting the big savings from the rich or better off.(because thats not in the interest of the tory party)

After this stint in office, he will get booted out and people will be very anti-tory, just like the end of the thatcher years. The lib dems are untrustworthy by there voters so there goose is cooked.

Actually when the bread hits the floor I think you'll find people will look back and realise that compared to most other economies the UK is doing pretty well and actually the Tories didn't do to bad a job.

Plus the fact the other choice in Milliband is frankly a more scary option

jobseeking_help

Mrcrimbo wrote: »

Hi all.

I'm currently on JSA, and have been slapped onto the work program. I'm trying to find out about what exemptions there are to being forced on to it.

Get a job? Yeah, very funny but I saw that one is coming. I'm not going to bore you with my circumstances but you'll have to believe me when I say that I've sent off untold amounts of applications, had loads of interviews etc. And, I am still trying of course.

Now this work program crap is only going to further zap what little energy and determination I have left to fight on. Plus, if I'm being forced into poundland or mcdonalds thats going to decimate my self esteem entirely.

So, now we're past that, atleast I can safely say that I had at the enrollment stage refused all non-mandatory forms (permission to provide personal data to third party in particular)

But despite this they still clearly have me by the bawls. Theyre already going to be sending me off to one of their 'mandatory' gulag courses, where I get to move 20 tonne piles of cobbles uphills with my bare hands every day for aslong it takes, come rain or shine.

At this point, I've got some ideas. First one is to try and find some sort of 'voluntary' work, anything, even cleaning the toilets in a care home, if this is allowed? Any idea what the critera are for this to be allowed as an excemption to the work program? Or, who and how I need to prove all this to without getting sanctioned.

Next. Sign off entirely. I know every forum as it's fair share of synical trolls who would be delighted to know that there is one less miserable leeching parasite sucking away the blood of the economy, but that's down to their own lamentable ignorance.

But anyway, how long would I need to sign off to 'start again' my claim, what I mean is resetting the time I have before I'm forced back on to the work program again?

So yeah, any links or info setting out the rules of the work program or whatever would be an even bigger plus. I've had a quick scoot on the useless DwP website but found only PR !!!!!! about the WP

Thanks to all genuinely sympathetic and helpful suggestions.

McCrimbo

If you look at most of the complaints about WP it's about being given no help rather than having to do anything. It does all depend on the WP provider of course. However if you are not a good bet for a job ( in the eyes of the WP staff ) then they will in all probabability leave you alone and concentrate on participants who will get work and earn the WP staff their bonuses.