JSA when training or are you forced to accept unpaid training?

theone999

missbiggles1 wrote: »

But, if you do this training, you will have the skills and this will open up opportunities for you.

Most people would consider this a good thing, so I'm puzzled why you don't.

I did not seek advice on whether this is beneficial, I sought counsel on whether it is compulsory. The difference is clear.

I obviously believe that is it not beneficial and thus only need to make the case that it is not compulsory.

BJV

theone999 wrote: »

I'm sorry, so when you are offered to give away 40 hours of your life / labour away for free without even reimbursement costs to gain an interview, not actually a job and be left with no money for the week, you'd not blink twice and think that this is a good deal?

Sarcasm aside, if I am not compelled by law/legislation to do this, then I need to give no further reasons. I have already checked my Claimant Agreement, it does not say anything like this, and from it's wording, I believe I'm not compelled to accept this.

OMG!!!!!


So sarcasm aside - why would you not want to opportunity? If it can lead to a job why not?


Good jobs are not just going to fall into your lap, so please get off your bum, get some experience. I know I have my own business and have had to recruit in the past.


If the person is unemployed I want to see that they have been doing something constructive with their time. It shows not only a commitment to getting a job but also self discipline and motivation.


P.s If you are on JSA then the tax payers are actually paying for you to find a job anyway.

BJV

Ok sorry my last post was a little harsh but why not? It could be a really good thing. Being long term unemployed affects not only your pocket but also your self-esteem. Training could help with all of these.

pmlindyloo

There has been some publicity about employers getting 'free work' from Job Seekers claimants so this may be a case in point.

Perhaps the best approach is to ask your advisor if this is a legitimate advert and what would be their advice?

This then has the added bonus of protecting you from being sanctioned if you do not take up the 'training'.

I can see why you are questioning this.

I don't see that anybody is going to be able to answer your question other than the Job Centre.

If it is a scam then hopefully something will be done about it. If it isn't then it is possible that the Job Centre will know of previous people who have done the 'training' and will know the outcome.

p00hsticks

pmlindyloo wrote: »

There has been some publicity about employers getting 'free work' from Job Seekers claimants so this may be a case in point.

Perhaps the best approach is to ask your advisor if this is a legitimate advert and what would be their advice?

This then has the added bonus of protecting you from being sanctioned if you do not take up the 'training'.

I'd second this - you need to get the Job Centre's view /authorisation because otherwise you could end up having your benefits stopped either way - sanctioned if you've turned down a legitimate offer, or stopped because you are not available for work.

theone999

BJV wrote: »

OMG!!!!!


So sarcasm aside - why would you not want to opportunity? If it can lead to a job why not?


Good jobs are not just going to fall into your lap, so please get off your bum, get some experience. I know I have my own business and have had to recruit in the past.


If the person is unemployed I want to see that they have been doing something constructive with their time. It shows not only a commitment to getting a job but also self discipline and motivation.


P.s If you are on JSA then the tax payers are actually paying for you to find a job anyway.

BJV wrote: »

Ok sorry my last post was a little harsh but why not? It good be a really good thing. Being long term unemployed affects not only your pocket but also your self-esteem. Training could help with all of these.

I am not the long-term unemployed, I have a professional and postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field without the need of further training. In effect I am passing through after some unfortunate events this year. Were my personal finances better or my parents richer, I would not seek state assistance.

If you look further up this thread, not many long-term unemployed could use "prima facie" correctly in a sentence.

I am confident in my abilities to find gainful employment in the field I was qualified for. I have once, and I will again.

I would not like to waste my time and erode my finances further by attending not even an offer of employment but a week of unpaid training with no expenses. It is not conducive to my future employment outlook by attending any such courses for jobs completely unrelated to what I am already quite adequately qualified for.

Diary

The job was seen and applied for on universal Jobmatch, the site the DWP mandate people on JSA to use. This site is well known for scams, anything that looks remotely dodgy on there probably is. Firms on universal Jobmatch can circumvent employment laws by making any 'training' voluntary and paying for lunch. Not many people complain as they are under the misguided assumption they will get a job.
I would get in writing from DWP/ advisor job centre you will or won't be sanctioned if you do or don't take it up. If you are allowing your advisor to see your activities on ujm he will know you've been offered this and it's vital to get the sanction thing in writing.

theone999

Diary wrote: »

The job was seen and applied for on universal Jobmatch, the site the DWP mandate people on JSA to use. This site is well known for scams, anything that looks remotely dodgy on there probably is. Firms on universal Jobmatch can circumvent employment laws by making any 'training' voluntary and paying for lunch. Not many people complain as they are under the misguided assumption they will get a job.
I would get in writing from DWP/ advisor job centre you will or won't be sanctioned if you do or don't take it up. If you are allowing your advisor to see your activities on ujm he will know you've been offered this and it's vital to get the sanction thing in writing.

*sigh* why are there so many "employers" that are complete dicks. when I post here, it is inevitably something bad.

BJV

theone999 wrote: »

I am not the long-term unemployed, I have a professional and postgraduate qualifications in a relevant field without the need of further training. In effect I am passing through after some unfortunate events this year. Were my personal finances better or my parents richer, I would not seek state assistance.

If you look further up this thread, not many long-term unemployed could use "prima facie" correctly in a sentence.

I am confident in my abilities to find gainful employment in the field I was qualified for. I have once, and I will again.

I would not like to waste my time and erode my finances further by attending not even an offer of employment but a week of unpaid training with no expenses. It is not conducive to my future employment outlook by attending any such courses for jobs completely unrelated to what I am already quite adequately qualified for.

Being educated to post graduate level is not a guarantee of employment. There are lots of very well educated people unemployed.


I also have many many qualifications both industry based and academic yet while I was out of work I cleaned toilets to get by. Being what some may consider to be extremely highly educated affords me the luxury of being able to see that it is not my job, vocation or title which defines me. Instead it is my actions. For me rather than erode my finances or add to the benefits bill I worked behind bars, cut my expenditure, cleaned toilets.


I am not suggesting for a moment that it is fair or just for employers to expect anyone to work for "free" with no hope or option of anything in return. However the opportunity to gain additional skills????


Sorry but for me the day that I genuinely think I know everything and have nothing more to learn is the day I die! What ever field you are in additional skills even in a non related line can always be useful.


As a post has already said speak to your job centre as ultimately it would be their decision to potentially stop or sanction your JSA.

theone999

BJV wrote: »

Being educated to post graduate level is not a guarantee of employment. There are lots of very well educated people unemployed.


I also have many many qualifications both industry based and academic yet while I was out of work I cleaned toilets to get by. Being what some may consider to be extremely highly educated affords me the luxury of being able to see that it is not my job, vocation or title which defines me. Instead it is my actions. For me rather than erode my finances or add to the benefits bill I worked behind bars, cut my expenditure, cleaned toilets.


I am not suggesting for a moment that it is fair or just for employers to expect anyone to work for "free" with no hope or option of anything in return. However the opportunity to gain additional skills????


Sorry but for me the day that I genuinely think I know everything and have nothing more to learn is the day I die! What ever field you are in additional skills even in a non related line can always be useful.


As a post has already said speak to your job centre as ultimately it would be their decision to potentially stop or sanction your JSA.

The matter has resolved itself. I wrote a very legalistic and formal letter to HR outlining my position and raising several points of contention relating to theirs. They amicably and mutually agreed that it was not for me and the matter will progress no further. The least my years of education can do for me.

It is unhelpful to portray anyone who does not want to take unpaid training or like to clean toilets as a "skivver" and not a "striver". If they offered me the job of cleaning toilets I would have accepted even though I do not like it. The entire point of this thread was to ascertain whether it is compulsory to take an offer that is not a job or even a job interview but 40 hours of unpaid training.

Like I said, I'm just passing through and I am trying to the best of abilities to find gainful employment. It's pretty much a rite of passage for graduates these days.