Mandatory Work Activity Placement

RachRubyD

Hello I am currently claiming job seekers (well actually had to do a rapid reclaim and have an appointment on wednesday to sign back on due to visiting Ireland at the weekend, so not fully signed back on yet).

I have only had previous experience working at ASDA for a couple of months of christmas contract and so have been referred to the Mandatory Work Activity Placement. I have to complete 30 hours per week for 4 weeks at an agreed placement. Which is bad enough making your work full time for a month for your normal £200 sign on benefit.

Anyway I had a letter couple days ago saying had an induction Wednesday 17th July with the program leaders to "Agree upon an appropriate work activity placement" so the letter says.

However I recieved another letter in the post today which is details of my work placement that they have already set up for me. Its at a local firestation and is manual labour/diy and admin work and neither of them are work am looking for. It clearly states on my job search details that I am looking for retail,beauty and customer service all skills that I have and also will help me in the future.

I have just finished a part time course in Media, Makeup and Hair and doing a level 3 in the same course this september and hoping to work in the Beauty Sector. I really hoped that I could get an placement in say a beauty counter or salon to help me as these are the jobs am going for and don't have the skills as not had sale experience or experience in salon.

I also volunteer (since january 2013) at my local barnardos twice a week (due to college) which gives me retail and customer service experience and skills.

Now the placement says i've been placed their to help the community. However I thought the course was to help you gain skills to get a job not to help community. I also already help community by volunteering.

I am really upset and having panic attacks (suffer from anxiety) about having to do this placement as I am very shy of men due to going to an all girl school and college class of girls and having no father figure. And if its an firestation its obvs going to be mainly men and I will feel uncomfortable. Also the work I have to do is very D.I.Y with fitting equipment and so on and I am useless at this.

Do I have an legal rights to fight against the placement since i've not even had an induction yet or signed any paperwork. The letter clearly states that the placement is to be agreed upon which it hasn't.

I am not work shy and actually excited to work in a placement that will benefit me and my career in the future. I don't see the point in sending me somewhere where I don't have the skills and going to hate and don't want a job in the path either.

Also I will have to take 4 buses a day some at 8am and 10pm to get to the placement location.

Am wondering if I could make an argument that i could get my own placement at my barnardos shop I volunteer in and they wouldn't have to pay transport as its a 5minute walk away from home and also gives me skills i need for my career.

Am just really upset and feel that stressed because if I don't do the placement can lose benefits up to 3 years.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated

rogerblack

RachRubyD wrote: »

Now the placement says i've been placed their to help the community. However I thought the course was to help you gain skills to get a job not to help community. I also already help community by volunteering.

Community work placements are not always designed to help you get a job.
They can be just to 'keep you in touch with the world of work'.

It is unlikely that Bernardos is involved in the work program - if they in fact are, then you could ask that your placement is transferred over, but this is not required.

Though difficult to agree with at this point, it could reasonably be seen that helping you deal with men in a professional environment will help you both personally and professionally.
If you are actually having panic attacks - contact your doctor.

RachRubyD

I don't mind working with men and have in the past but would feel uncomfortable in a big male enviroment and am never going to get a job that is mainly male based as the beauty sector is very female based. Most men would feel uncomfortable working at a salon with just women.

Its such a shame because I really hoped that this placement would give me the opportiunity to get on the beauty sector or retail career path. I wouldn't even mind working at ASDA or Tesco's. I just hate admin work and also manual labour. It says I will be fitting equipment using drills etc and so on but I can't use them and my have hypohydrois so sweat alot so find it hard to do manual labour.

Due to feeling stressed I now have a migrane as I get them during stressful times.

Its there nothing legally I can do as I have signed no paperwork at all or agreed to anything. I have in writing a letter from them saying my placement will be agreed upon. It hasn't so clearly I have a good case against them.

You should be allowed to pick your own placement or actually have a choice in where your given. I am sick of the job centre to be honest it seems they just want to not pay you and take you off job seeekers but make no effort in helping you find a job. Infact they try and stop me volunteering and going to college but I always argue that both of them will help me get a job.I go to all appointments early as well and do my job search each week and signed up to Universal Job Match and I see every week people who aren't signed up and haven't done anything to help find a job but still get paid where I am made to jump through hoops and I wasn't brought up to lie so I always get punished for being honest.
I went to a course a few weeks ago which they sent me on with reed and it was really good and we where told that only 4% of jobs come from the job centre. Says alot.

jacques_chirac

I would see this as a positive. You have some irrational fears that you are going to need to get over, and this is an opportunity to work on them.

What is your concern with working with a group of men? Think it through - chances are it is not valid. Personally I prefer working with men, far less office politics. Plus, they do have female fire fighters nowadays!

Many retail and customer roles will involve admin work. Again, what is your concern/ 'hate' about it?

No one will expect you to use a drill without training.

Anything new will cause a level of anxiety, that is natural. What you need to do is rationalise the reason for the anxiety. It will not disappear altogether, you will no doubt still have first day nerves, but you will be able to manage them.

I don't think you have 'a good case' at all. As part of your Jobseeking Agreement you agree to undertake any reasonable direction. This a reasonable direction.

RachRubyD

They aren't irrational fears I can do them I just don't feel confident. I have had the basic experience of admin work and its not for me. I find working on computers for a long time gives me a migrane and also I can't really do paper work as I have extreme sweaty hands. I know all sounds like excuses but when you already nervous about sweating it makes it worse.

I don't understand why the haven't at least spoken to me about it bfore just placing me somewhere. Surely for the business sake and my own its best to find a placement thats going to suit the business and person.

As for feeling anxious obvs thats to be expected but I wouldn't feel that way if I felt confident about my placement. I already volunteer in retail and have no issue with this.

Why did they put in writing that the placement would be agreed upon if it hasn't? just a bit weird. Am just hoping when I speak to them tomorrow may offer me somwhere more suitable. As I said I don't mind doing it but working 30 hours for 4 weeks in somewhere you hate and offers no skills you need for career path isn't really fair.

jacques_chirac wrote: »

I would see this as a positive. You have some irrational fears that you are going to need to get over, and this is an opportunity to work on them.

What is your concern with working with a group of men? Think it through - chances are it is not valid. Personally I prefer working with men, far less office politics. Plus, they do have female fire fighters nowadays!

Many retail and customer roles will involve admin work. Again, what is your concern/ 'hate' about it?

No one will expect you to use a drill without training.

Anything new will cause a level of anxiety, that is natural. What you need to do is rationalise the reason for the anxiety. It will not disappear altogether, you will no doubt still have first day nerves, but you will be able to manage them.

I don't think you have 'a good case' at all. As part of your Jobseeking Agreement you agree to undertake any reasonable direction. This a reasonable direction.

jacques_chirac

How are you going to do beauty work with extremely sweaty hands?

How do you know you will hate it?

If computer work gives you a migraine then get your eyes tested.

The best way to build your confidence is to get relevant experience.

All experience is relevant - think of the transferable skills you can take from it.

You are making excuses.

RachRubyD

I already do beauty work and use a towel to wipe my hands. I have to just get on with because otherwise i'd end up being miserable and doing nothing with my life. Had it since a child and had tough times in life with it but had to just get over it. Am just worried I will end up leaving wet marks on paper or computer mosue and someone saying stuff. And am getting an operation in the next few months to hopefully cure it.
I already have had my eyes tested actually in the hospital and its genetic that I have migranes and stress or straining brings it on.

I already have the skills though as i've worked before and volunteer so I don't see what am going to get from this placement. I could really do with working in sales or beauty sector and gaining experience there as this is where I struggle to get experience.

I am making excuses I know but I don't think its fair not to be given at least a choice. If they explained that there is no where suitable for me and they feel this is the best placement i'd say fair enough. However it feels like they just shoved me anywhere without looking at my skills that I have or need because they know they can blackmail me with removing my benefits. Also I start on thursday at 1 and go home 1.30 and then next day 12-2pm. I will be travelling longer to my placement than in it which is a joke also.

I was hoping that I would be able to get a job at the end of this in retail or beauty.

Suppose just have to grin and bear it as always. All the jobs right now are for christmas as well

jacques_chirac wrote: »

How are you going to do beauty work with extremely sweaty hands?

How do you know you will hate it?

If computer work gives you a migraine then get your eyes tested.

The best way to build your confidence is to get relevant experience.

All experience is relevant - think of the transferable skills you can take from it.

You are making excuses.

stevemLS

I don't think you will get the sympathy you seek.

You have erected a whole series of barriers which make it seem insurmountable.

One thing struck me, you complain that you might have to get a bus at 8am. That is the world of work, personally, I have to get one at 6am, every working day, not just for 4 weeks.

Try talking them through one at a time.

Mr_Falling_Star

I would have thought four weeks working in a fire station would have been a dream job for a lot of women!

RachRubyD

Haha firemen never look like you think but no i'd rather go somewhere as I said going to help my beauty career. Oh well thanks for the advice made me dread it a little less.

Just going have to see what happens tomorrow. Suppose its only for 5 weeks. All I can do is put my point across and try ask for another placement if thats not going to happen have to just get over it as not worth losing benefits over. Really hope can get a job soon its just getting worse as the weeks go by. Hard to find a job whilst studying think the people who employ students tend to look for younger ones as can pay less a wage. Plus doesn't look great that i've only had one job at the age of 22

At least am studying and volunteering though but more you do the more you get punished it seems.

Also yes I am complaining about having to leave my house at like 6.30 because am not earning anything unlike you. I have to get 2 buses to college and get up extra early as the rush hour but I don't mind doing it as I love my course and its worth it. But am geting up extra early to travel an hour to a place I don't want to go to no one would be happy about that.

MissMoneypenny

RachRubyD wrote: »

details of my work placement that they have already set up for me. Its at a local firestation

Me, me, me. I'll do it. :T:T:T:iloveyou: