JC staff-how friendly is too friendly?

Calien27

Yes I am...why?

princessdon

Just musing if the friendliness is an attempt to show your claim is fraudulent. Ie the next question is how often you stay over with bf etc ? Far from being friendly they hypothetically could be gaining evidence.

Calien27

Hmm, never thought of that.

But this all started long before I got pregnant, the pregnancy questions/comments is something that only occured a couple of days ago :undecided

kazzah60

I think it is fine to be friendly- but I do feel commenting on your pregnancy bump and asking if the father is around are a step too far

I think it IS making the Op feel uncomfortable otherwise she wouldn't be thinking about it after she had signed on.

I agree, I don't think a complaint is in order- but perhaps a small smile and " gosh you're embarrassing me" comment to the advisor might be enough to make him realise he MIGHT have overstepped the mark on this occasion - it may well be that he is genuinely friendly and lack experience in making small talk - but if someone gently points that out to him now- it will help him in the future

Calien27

kazzah60 wrote: »

I think it is fine to be friendly- but I do feel commenting on your pregnancy bump and asking if the father is around are a step too far

I think it IS making the Op feel uncomfortable otherwise she wouldn't be thinking about it after she had signed on.

I agree, I don't think a complaint is in order- but perhaps a small smile and " gosh you're embarrassing me" comment to the advisor might be enough to make him realise he MIGHT have overstepped the mark on this occasion - it may well be that he is genuinely friendly and lack experience in making small talk - but if someone gently points that out to him now- it will help him in the future

Thanks I will give this a go if he get's chatty the next time I'm there.

flowers422

from my experience everything they say to you in the jobcentre is to trip u up.
for example i commented on a operation i had on my foot and my advisor went along and made comments on wether i was mobile or not {i wasn't} he then asked wether i was able to actively seek work at the time. this didnt apply to me as i was on income support at the time but he wanted to penalise me for not being able to seek work while on jsa.
I think they are indeed trying to gather evidence to use against you.

BitterAndTwisted

Not everything that happens in the JobCentre is sinister manipulation, or at least designed to gather evidence to trip you up. My advisor was a friendly chap. So friendly that he rang me up on my mobile after my first signing with him, wanted to chat for ages and then asked me out. Talk about a tricky situation. Trying not to offend in order to avoid possible victimisation but not encourage at the same time took all my powers of tact and diplomacy. For months and months. I'd rather have used those powers for the benefit of an employer.

flashnazia

Calien27 wrote: »

Yes I am...why?

Why aren't you living with the father if he's still 'on the scene'?

scooby088

flashnazia wrote: »

Why aren't you living with the father if he's still 'on the scene'?

What has that got to do with anything? It's perfectly reasonable for OP partner to live seperate from the OP.

OP I would just like to add that I would keep the JC advisor at arms length and wouldn't answer too many questions whether they are personal or not divert the converation to what you are there for.

flashnazia

scooby088 wrote: »

What has that got to do with anything?

Because I'm a cynical git.