Advice needed regarding Mandatory work experience

Andrea2528

I need some advice regarding mandatory work activity. I've got a very unpleasant personal advisor who is threatening to place me on the MWA. I've been on ESA a while as a result of having social anxiety which makes it very difficult to work alongside other people. I explained this to the Personal advisor and he was trying to show that he understood but the when I next went to sign on, he seemed to have gone back to showing a lack of consideration.

I had previously explained to him that I would prefer to do voluntary work in preference to the Mandatory work experience because it might provide an opportunity for someone like me to try out various work environments without feeling the pressure to stay in one place. I told him that this would be the best approach for someone with my social anxiety condition. He seemed to agree with it as long as I started to sort things out. I rang the voluntary organisation in our area, who are trying to find something suitable. I told the personal advisor about this and then his attitude had completely changed from the previous fortnight when he seemed to be happy with me looking for a voluntary position. The first thing he said was that he was going to place me on the MWA. I couldn't believe what he was saying. The previous fortnight he seemed to agree to me doing voluntary work instead. Any advice about what I should do as this is really worrying me and I'm getting really agitated and very depressed about everything?

sangie595

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I need some advice regarding mandatory work activity. I've got a very unpleasant personal advisor who is threatening to place me on the MWA. I've been on ESA a while as a result of having social anxiety which makes it very difficult to work alongside other people. I explained this to the Personal advisor and he was trying to show that he understood but the when I next went to sign on, he seemed to have gone back to showing a lack of consideration.

I had previously explained to him that I would prefer to do voluntary work in preference to the Mandatory work experience because it might provide an opportunity for someone like me to try out various work environments without feeling the pressure to stay in one place. I told him that this would be the best approach for someone with my social anxiety condition. He seemed to agree with it as long as I started to sort things out. I rang the voluntary organisation in our area, who are trying to find something suitable. I told the personal advisor about this and then his attitude had completely changed from the previous fortnight when he seemed to be happy with me looking for a voluntary position. The first thing he said was that he was going to place me on the MWA. I couldn't believe what he was saying. The previous fortnight he seemed to agree to me doing voluntary work instead. Any advice about what I should do as this is really worrying me and I'm getting really agitated and very depressed about everything?

It might help if you could explain why you are unable to work with people at work when you think you can do so at voluntary work. They are all still people, and even in voluntary work you cannot simply drop everything and walk away. That is not what "voluntary" means. Volunteers also need to be reliable.

What you might prefer is less important than what your medical circumstances are - has your doctor said that you are unable to work in any situation with other people? Can you point your advisor to medical opinion that you are unable to deal with other people? THis will carry more weight than your preferences.

sangie595

PS - why are your two posts different? In the other one you say that you want to work but only work from home? Working from home doesn't mean that you can avoid any contact with other people. And there really isn't a lot of voluntary work at home available.

tomtontom

Are you getting any help to manage your condition? Social anxiety can be debilitating, but you're not going to move forward unless you expose yourself to new situations.

Andrea2528

I tried to edit original post and there were technical problems with getting it published. So, it's somehow got posted as two different posts. I would prefer to work from home.

The reason I would prefer to do voluntary work, even though it would probably involve working with other people, is because it provides a less pressurised way to enter the workforce. I would prefer to work on my own due to social anxiety, which has always been a problem. I have left so many jobs as a result of severe anxiety in the workplace. I saw the doctor and I eventually ended up on ESA. However the medical assessor did not see the problem because it is more a psychological and emotional problem. Obviously, though I have to find a way to start going out to work and I think that voluntary work offers a less invasive way of achieving that than having to go on the MWA. Please believe that I don't want to stay unemployed but social anxiety is a problem that I have had for a long time.

tomtontom

Are you on ESA or JSA?

Why not think of this as an opportunity to try something new? The reality is that there are very few meaningful employment opportunities from home (unless you have a profession and/ or are established in employment).

DCFC79

What's the difference with voluntary work and going on the MWA ?

Both are volunteering. You could find your own place to volunteer at.

BigAunty

If you post on the benefits forum, there may be a member there who is more knowledgeable about the process and your options.

Unfortunately, you may experience judgemental posts there but will hopefully get constructive advice there.

[Deleted User]

Andrea2528 wrote: »

but social anxiety is a problem that I have had for a long time.

Yes how do you think people cope with this in employment, then? :cool: thinking about someone else or working with aids helps greatly down to reading up how you can help yourself.

Please don't hide behind volunteering to avoid whatever, when odds are you'll be working around even more vulnerable people - how will you cope then?

Spare a thought for the person serving you could have depression themselves for all you know.

Flyonthewall

Andrea2528 wrote: »

I had previously explained to him that I would prefer to do voluntary work in preference to the Mandatory work experience because it might provide an opportunity for someone like me to try out various work environments without feeling the pressure to stay in one place. I told him that this would be the best approach for someone with my social anxiety condition.

It doesn't really work like that, the idea is stay in one place and keep volunteering to prove yourself employable.

However, volunteering for one place for short lengths of time may work well for you. If it starts to get too much you can remind yourself you're not there much longer and hopefully you can force yourself too keep going. No pressure to stay all day everyday and hopefully as you get to know people there you'll feel happier sticking around.

The first thing he said was that he was going to place me on the MWA. I couldn't believe what he was saying. The previous fortnight he seemed to agree to me doing voluntary work instead. Any advice about what I should do as this is really worrying me and I'm getting really agitated and very depressed about everything?

He sounds a rubbish advisor, but he may well have changed his mind by next time.

Try not to worry (easier said than done, I know). Look for voluntary work you'd like to do and see if you can get anything. If you do tell the advisor. If he tries to put you on MWA just say you already found something that is suitable and be firm, but polite. He can't force you to do anything you don't want to do.

Try looking on here: https://do-it.org/opportunities/search

DKLS

Andrea2528 wrote: »

Please believe that I don't want to stay unemployed but social anxiety is a problem that I have had for a long time.

In that case, tackle it and seek help, ask your GP for a referral to a low intensity CBT service, there is a great evidence base for CBT helping with anxiety.There are even free CBT resources online to help you

I was terrified of public speaking and it was holding my career back, so enrolled on a course run by RADA it was fantastic. It hasn't cured me, my knees knock and the I have a flock of butterflies in my stomach before speaking, but I can deliver a presentation to hundreds of people and engage the audience.

Whatever holds you back in life, done let it control you, take action and tackle it.