The work programme

Desecrated_Landscape

melysion wrote: »

Sorry -but you haven't convinced me at all. Fair play to the person that is keen - good on them. BUT, you are still getting work for free when you should be paying them. Its as simple and as straightforward as that. My attitude would be different if you didn't NEED the extra pair of hands but as you do - it should be a paid job.

I do hope that if the person is good you find him work. You will owe him that at the very least. I also hope you don't try to boost your commis chefs confidence by making it clear that they aren't at the ¨bottom of the pile¨ for a while.

Sometimes the best things in life are free and my commis needs to learn to delegate her own words are she feels scared to ask a chef higher than her to do something for her to ease the pressure. She is only 18 and doing college part time with her having someone to help not only will she pass on skills but will learn skills in communicating and team work. I had the exact same problem as a commis so i know best in how to deal with this issue not you.

melysion

Desecrated_Landscape wrote: »

Sometimes the best things in life are free and my commis needs to learn to delegate her own words are she feels scared to ask a chef higher than her to do something for her to ease the pressure. She is only 18 and doing college part time with her having someone to help not only will she pass on skills but will learn skills in communicating and team work. I had the exact same problem as a commis so i know best in how to deal with this issue not you.

I dont care that I know nothing about the commis chef and her development. What I care about is you getting work for free when you should be paying for it.

As I say - good on the unemployed guy who is willing to do it. I hope he does well and gets something out of it - as in a decent paying job. If you didn't need someone to help, that would be different. But you do - so nothing you can say will convince me you aren't exploiting someone.

You have your free labour when it should be a paying job. Its the problem with these WP programs or whatever else is out there. People getting free labour when they should be paying for it. Not only are you taking advantage of someones misfortune but you are doing someone out of a proper paying job - making unemployment even worse than it should be. Whats to stop you getting loads of these people in for free, month after month, one at a time? Nothing. Sigh.

Anyway, we will have to agree to disagree so I am out.

Fingers crossed for the guy though. Hope he does well.

AP007

melysion wrote: »

I dont care that I know nothing about the commis chef and her development. What I care about is you getting work for free when you should be paying for it.

As I say - good on the unemployed guy who is willing to do it. I hope he does well and gets something out of it - as in a decent paying job. If you didn't need someone to help, that would be different. But you do - so nothing you can say will convince me you aren't exploiting someone.

I wonder why the OP didn't just contact the WP and say they had a real job one that pays and take on someone who wants to learn and train them up.

That's really helping someone

Desecrated_Landscape

melysion wrote: »

I dont care that I know nothing about the commis chef and her development. What I care about is you getting work for free when you should be paying for it.

As I say - good on the unemployed guy who is willing to do it. I hope he does well and gets something out of it - as in a decent paying job. If you didn't need someone to help, that would be different. But you do - so nothing you can say will convince me you aren't exploiting someone.

You must of missed where it says we will get this guy his level 2 in food hygiene. Has it not crossed your mind that this costs money? Add that to 4 weeks training in a 1 rosette awarded restaurant and a daily meal for free it is hardly exploitation is it?

melysion

Desecrated_Landscape wrote: »

You must of missed where it says we will get this guy his level 2 in food hygiene. Has it not crossed your mind that this costs money? Add that to 4 weeks training in a 1 rosette awarded restaurant and a daily meal for free it is hardly exploitation is it?

Yes it is without a wage. Sorry. Nice try, no cigar.

melysion

AP007 wrote: »

I wonder why the OP didn't just contact the WP and say they had a real job one that pays and take on someone who wants to learn and train them up.

That's really helping someone

My point exactly.

melysion

Just so other people know - I don't like starting fights. I just have a strong sense of social justice! lol. Apologies for sounding argumentative. My point still stands of course, but perhaps I shouldn't get so heated about it. And I am glad the unemployed guy is getting something out of it at least.

PlymouthMaid

Well I actually think it is a good opportunity and if I were long term unemployed I would jump at it People need to realise that if they have no skills to offer and need training or study to get there then unpaid 'work' is often required. This sounds mutually beneficial so long as the person does actually learn and gain skills. I imagine a novice in the kitchen can be a liability rather than an asset and so whether it is a profit making operation or not seems irrelevant and the experience will doubtless be way more useful than manning a till in a blooming charity shop (and anyway have you seem how much charity shop managers and the big bosses get paid which makes 'charity' seem a little hollow?).

Hope it works out.

thehappybutterfly

I must admit Im erring on the side of the OP here. He's giving someone much needed experience and, hopefully a wee qualification plus useful contacts. You've also got to remember the time employees are going to commit to training this volunteer. They're hardly going to hand the chap an apron and a knife and tell him to get on with it. This could be a brilliant opportunity especially if you can involve him in all aspects of running a kitchen - from veg prep to dressing plates on the pass.

OP - Id make a point of keeping the poor chap away from washing up as much as possible just to prove that he's not going to be an unpaid KP!

melysion

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

I must admit Im erring on the side of the OP here. He's giving someone much needed experience and, hopefully a wee qualification plus useful contacts. You've also got to remember the time employees are going to commit to training this volunteer. They're hardly going to hand the chap an apron and a knife and tell him to get on with it. This could be a brilliant opportunity especially if you can involve him in all aspects of running a kitchen - from veg prep to dressing plates on the pass.

OP - Id make a point of keeping the poor chap away from washing up as much as possible just to prove that he's not going to be an unpaid KP!

As long as that is what is going to happen and that the unemployed chap isn't just there to wash the dishes or give the commis chef a confidence boost I could be persuaded. Only *could* though. lol