JSA adviser bullying

deebee33

I dont wish to go into detail about the incident here, as I said I felt threatened and bullied and was distressed, I was pushed by a security guard.

I have requested the cctv of the incident and am taking that complaint further.

The fact remains, the 'job adviser' was not behaving in a professional manner, his attitude was bullying, rude and dismissive, I would never ever expect to be treated in the manner he treated me in any other public office, unless I was at a police station being accused of a crime, they are using the new powers of sanctions without any responsibility or common sense.

I believe the sanction was unfairly processed as I did not receive any notice, and I also believe the job adviser acted unfairly and unreasonably too. The sanction seems to me in this case to be punitive and unreasonable, if it had been any other period of the year, fair enough, give me a warning more jobs need to be applied for, but the slow Xmas fortnight is exceptional circumstances in my opinion.

ArtoDeeto

The main thing was did no one tell you they were referring you for not actively seeking??? I mean your payments get immediately suspended until it is looked at and you must be allowed to give your reasons so you should be told. That sort of thing cannot be done surreptitiously - it is not fair and you may be entitled to an immediate hardship payment which you must be informed about.

As to the sanction itself I loathe this business of you MUST apply for 7 (or 10/15/30/3000) jobs a week and if you only apply for 6 (or 9/14/29/2999) you are sanctioned. It is a meaningless numbers game that helps nobody - at least the Claimant Commitment fixes that.

I can't give you an answer as I don't know you or your adviser but, my attitude is, I know if you are looking for a job or dotting the i's (been on jobseekers myself) and if you are going through the motions I will have the decency to put a shot across your bows to step up your game before I would think about a Sanction.

I appreciate that sometimes it is a complete waste of time applying for jobs as you are never going to get one but you still have to do it to comply with JSA conditions - in that case I would expect you to do token until we knock out the problem that is stopping you getting a job. AND NO ONE IS UNEMPLOYABLE; deal with the problem(s) and then you will get the job.

deebee33 wrote: »

I found his attitude threatening, dismissive and bullying, but despite complaints to the manager, I am getting no response.

If you wrote to the manager of the Jobcentre they are obliged to reply within a few days (think 3 but don't quote me). Write again and keep a copy of your letter...

deebee33 wrote: »

He also went into my Universal Jobmatch account even though I have not ticked the box to give permission, he showed me a list of email addresses and asked me which one was mine and went straight into the account.

That is not possible as far as I know.

deebee33 wrote: »

My agreements says 5 actions a week, seeing as I applied for 7 jobs over a 2 week period that included 5 days of public holidays/weekends I thought that was sufficient, there literally was nothing else being advertised over that end of year fortnight in my field.

As above that sounds like noughts and crosses/dotting the i's to me....

mattcanary

ArtoDeeto wrote: »

As to the sanction itself I loathe this business of you MUST apply for 7 (or 10/15/30/3000) jobs a week and if you only apply for 6 (or 9/14/29/2999) you are sanctioned. It is a meaningless numbers game that helps nobody - at least the Claimant Commitment fixes that.

What's the Claimant Commitment please?

StormyWeather_2

mattcanary wrote: »

What's the Claimant Commitment please?

Info here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays/supporting-pages/introducing-the-jobseekers-allowance-claimant-commitment

This thread links to an example:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4863852

sja75

All I can say is that when I emailed the DWP to inform them they had overpaid me, I received an email back the very same day.

rogerblack

cattermole wrote: »

To clarify Roger you can also make a separate complaint about treatment etc. and follow the procedures for that?

Yes.
Very importantly - never, ever mix things up.

If you write one letter saying 'you shouldn't have done this to me, he spoke to me in a horrible tone of voice, I want compensation' - then typically at best one of those will actually get considered.

The most important thing is to get the actual appeal or reconsideration process started. This is the one that has specific time limits, that often can't be moved.

Then and only then do you start bothering about complaints about the particular way you were treated.

likelyfran

rogerblack wrote: »

http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/tribunals/general/upper-tribs-rules-si-2698.pdf

Taking for example - the most recent:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/380/contents/made
The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/380/schedule/2/made

Outlines the cases in which you can make electronic communications.

In short - unless explicitly told you can - you can't.

Hmm, after attempting to wade through some of that gobbledegook - lots and lots of words, not much concretely conveyed - I'm still left with the thought 'unless explicitly told you can't - you can'.

dodger1

deebee33 wrote: »

My agreements says 5 actions a week, seeing as I applied for 7 jobs over a 2 week period that included 5 days of public holidays/weekends I thought that was sufficient, there literally was nothing else being advertised over that end of year fortnight in my field.

Is that standard, these days that you only have to apply for jobs in your own field?

rogerblack

likelyfran wrote: »

Hmm, after attempting to wade through some of that gobbledegook - lots and lots of words, not much concretely conveyed - I'm still left with the thought 'unless explicitly told you can't - you can'.

Certainly you can.
The important point is:
What are they legally compelled to accept as a proper appeal/...
Anything else is irrelevant.

StormyWeather_2

dodger1 wrote: »

Is that standard, these days that you only have to apply for jobs in your own field?

You have to widen the search after a while.

I think it's an unfair sanction. Lots of offices close down or go on skeleton staff for that period and don't advertise until the new year starts.