on sick can i quit main contracted job as making condition worse and work more in 2nd job

daviemusicislife

Hi
needing some advice
So i have 2 jobs one in a call center for 39.5 hours contracted a week and a security job doing min 10 hours a week but could be more.

Im currently off sick fully from main job and reduced hours on second job to 10 max due to anxiety with depression the main job causes condition to get worse due to stress of targets etc second job does not.
i have put in a claim for universal credit to top up income but im thinking of quiting main job and taking on more hours with security but as security is zero hour contract i would not be garenteed .would me quiting main job cause automatic sanction ? or would the fact that im trying to take on more hours with less stressful job help me . any advice would be great

Les79

daviemusicislife wrote: »

i have put in a claim for universal credit to top up income but im thinking of quiting main job

So you have put in a claim for UC and you are on sick leave with the main 39.5 hour job?

daviemusicislife

Yeah that's what I have done as income is Lower and needing the housing benefit manly

Les79

daviemusicislife wrote: »

Yeah that's what I have done as income is Lower and needing the housing benefit manly

Fair enough.


I was initially thinking "potential benefits fraud", but it does appear that you may be able to claim housing benefit whilst off sick.


That being said, you are working at another job.


Have you checked this thoroughly (maybe by speaking to the job centre or CAB) to make sure that you are eligible?


That point aside;


- What are your thoughts about the possibility of getting decent hours at this security firm? A lot of zero hour contracts end up having 40 hours available if you merely ask (have you asked?). I personally did a few years on a "zero hour" contract in a call center and always got 40 hours.


- What about maybe handing in a flexible working request with the call center and dropping down to 20-30 hours to lessen the stress? (or even less if the security place gives more hours)


- What sort of work would you like to do in the long term?

daviemusicislife

hi thanks for reply i will reply to each point of what i know just now

That being said, you are working at another job.

as far as working second job while on sick i have checked and its allowed as 2 diffrent jobs and have 2 seprate fit notes

Have you checked this thoroughly (maybe by speaking to the job centre or CAB) to make sure that you are eligible?

i should be from doing online cal and reserch but have appointment at job center tomorrow so might find out more


That point aside;


- What are your thoughts about the possibility of getting decent hours at this security firm? A lot of zero hour contracts end up having 40 hours available if you merely ask (have you asked?). I personally did a few years on a "zero hour" contract in a call center and always got 40 hours.

i know i can get extra hours and prob enough to cover me for dec but jan may be a issue as there is alot less work

- What about maybe handing in a flexible working request with the call center and dropping down to 20-30 hours to lessen the stress? (or even less if the security place gives more hours)

its not so much the hours thats the problem its the actual job the targets are getting worse and the wrap targets are hard to meet sometimes and if you dont meet them you get moaned at , name and shamed at meetings with team and on a board for everyone to see and currently my mental health it worse because of that


- What sort of work would you like to do in the long term?

in long term i wanted to get into music and open up my own venue/recording studio but thats a long way off i went to call center as a way of getting extra money but the stress its causing me is just not worth it

thank you again for the reply

jonnygee2

I can't help you with UC, sanctions etc - I have no idea about those.

But for your job - if the job itself makes you stressed and miserable, it sounds like you cannot do that job. Apparently they do not pay sick leave either, so there's no reason to stay around there.

Christmas is a key time for contracting work, and a good time to get your foot in the door somewhere. I think you should think about what you'd be happy doing longer term (maybe retail? factory work? or maybe it is security?) and, whatever it is, find some work in it now whilst the going is good - if you are decent there's a good chance you will be kept on.

If you can't find anything just stick with the security place, do as many hours as you can, and try your best to get some savings in place before a possible hours reduction in January.

Les79

daviemusicislife wrote: »

as far as working second job while on sick i have checked and its allowed as 2 diffrent jobs and have 2 seprate fit notes

Ah, I don't disbelieve you there!


My point was more about the benefits... It seems you MAY be eligible to claim for benefits whilst on the sick (I had to google it), but the second job may complicate that arrangement. That's why I said "that being said...." because I don't know what impact that would have on that arrangement....

i should be from doing online cal and reserch but have appointment at job center tomorrow so might find out more

Do that, clarify whether you can claim with your 2nd income as well. If you don't, they may get you on benefits fraud (if it is considered as such).

i know i can get extra hours and prob enough to cover me for dec but jan may be a issue as there is alot less work

What about the other months?


And how big is the company? Sometimes you can take hours from people etc. Security firms are usually static work; you'll get the same sort of work year on year so how did it pan out last year per month?

its not so much the hours thats the problem its the actual job the targets are getting worse and the wrap targets are hard to meet sometimes and if you dont meet them you get moaned at , name and shamed at meetings with team and on a board for everyone to see and currently my mental health it worse because of that

I used to work in a call center, initially as a call-taker and then someone who reports on call handling times etc.


It was a load of crap! I had to produce reports on those who had the lowest AHT times (the wrap times weren't always the issue to be fair) and how long you were taking on the toilet. But oftentimes engaging with your manager helped the situation! How do you lower your wrap times? Go seek advice? How are your AHT times? You got anything positive going for you in the place (resolving customer queries or sales targets count)?


It is horrible being on the receiving end, but (at least in my last place) it was just basically noise! Letting it go in one ear and out the other, with SOME genuine attempt to improve (show them some better times on your wrap for the next week or two to show "progress", then go back to your normal self and then rinse + repeat), was the way to go.

in long term i wanted to get into music and open up my own venue/recording studio but thats a long way off i went to call center as a way of getting extra money but the stress its causing me is just not worth it

thank you again for the reply

Sort of gathered that with your username


Have you looked into music-related jobs at all? It isn't my forte so not sure what I can advise, but maybe looking at existing studios to see if they've got any jobs? Or you have any transferrable skills? Or any sort of work which is even mildly linked to it?


Opening up your own venue/recording studio is POTENTIALLY unrealistic if you don't have any initial capital, but there's nothing stopping you from getting your foot in the door via something which is similar.


Now is probably the prime opportunity to start looking for some decent work in that field. Face it, call center work and security work are both dead end jobs which are simply a means to an end. I'm not saying give them up like, but be a bit smart on the sick and try and angle for some better work

Genuineguy03

Regarding UC anyone can apply for it, regardless off employment status. You just have to notify them online or via phone of your total take home pay from each employment you have. Though you for every pound income, up to or equal to the amount in uc your awarded, they'll deducted 63 pence from your uc amount.

If you don't already get working tax credit, you will on uc, which will top up you earnings. If you do get working tax credits, you will need to inform hmrc that you are on UC. Also inform council for council tax purposes too.

As for your question on your employment. Well its not something that anyone can give a clear answer too. Best thing to do is speak to your 2nd employer and ask if they can put you on minimum x amount of hours. But also bear in mind uc will top any reduction in earnings though only upto your maximum uc entitlement. Which is rent and 317.82 a month, plus child tax credit. Note there's a eligibility criteria to be eligible for working tax, which if I reminber correctly is based on number of hours you work.

Though I will also suggest you contact MIND or similar charity that can provide you with support and help with overcoming any mental health issues your facing.