Job center plus on strike....

[k4blades]

Sack the lot of them....

A perfect example of useless civil servants if ever there has been one.
A documentary shown tonight I believe, examines how some of the staff work. One chap was asked to fill in a form so he could get Job seekers allowance, so he copied his shopping list onto it, it was rubber stamped and he got paid. In another example, someone was asked to provide a copy of their CV. Across the bottom of the CV they had wrote "Don't give me the job as I want to keep claiming benefits", again accepted as OK.
And having worked in business, its common knowledge that if you want to recruit a decent employee, the last place you look is the job center.
They simply are not fit for purpose, and yet as so typical of the public sector, they think they have some right from our taxes to bigger than average salaries, bonus' and pensions.

Sack the lot and let them find out what it really means to be looking for job.

[Old Cruser]

Not sure how to read your post, are you saying that all people who sign on with the job centre are not worth employing? Or are you saying don't go through the job centre as the staff there are not good?

[k4blades]

Mainly the latter.
If someone is worth employing, they will generally manage to get a job without the "help" of the Jobcenter. There maybe some who do genuinely need help and many of them are being let down by the jobcenter, the staff couldn't care less, its only tax payers money being spent on benefits. And many of the people who use the jobcenter on a regular basis only do so because its the only way to get their benefits.

[Alsatian]

Just seen the Dispatches programme on Ch4 about the JobCentre Plus staff.

What a waste of space/time/money/manpower if the results shown on the programme was a representative sample (and I have absolutely no reason to believe that it isn't)!

[Pete]

What were the results shown on the program?

[Old Cruser]

D & B ! Missed that programme!

K4B, probably right.

[Alsatian]

What were the results shown on the program?

...that the job centre staff weren't doing what they should be doing, eg:

1. One guy was completing his weekly form to state what he had done to try and get a job, EXCEPT, he just put down items on his shopping list!!! The assistant didn't spot it  ??? and told him his money would be in the bank!!!!!!

2. Another guy had to show the staff copies of emails (on his phone) that he'd sent to firms applying for jobs.............he'd put on one line of each of the emails something to the effect of "Please don't give me a job I still want to claim benefits"! That assistant never spotted that either and told him he'd be receiving the money into his bank account!!!!!

3. Another person wanted to start her own business providing Nannies, the job centre staff just laughed at her, she now advertises (successfully) for staff in local shops/cafes etc.!!

The list went on (and on and on), I was appalled at the lack of interest shown by the staff, and then they have the b@lls to want to go on strike due to OVER WORK???!!!

What a load of b@ll@cks - they'd complain if there was too little work and staff (they) had to be laid off. Get a grip and realise how cushy you've had it previously and accept that, at some time, you have to join (us) in the real world!

[Pete]

Sack the lot of them!

[emmz]

Agree totally. I've been with the Job centre for 11/2 years now claiming them awful benefits, they dont give a rats arse to what im doing, and now because im under A4E (will rant in a min about them) I dont have to show ANY evidence im looking for work I turn up between 3:30-4 every other wed sign on the dotted line and walk out. Where is the help to search for jobs? Its abismal
A4E employed under the jobcentre are just as shit. I see them once every month (ish) The fact that half the time they dont send a letter out to tell you of your appointment but then text you the afternoon before that you have an appt the morning after I think is shocking. Twice ive phoned to tell them i aint going due to childcare problems and the fact i have not recieved a letter.
I so want a job yet am recieveing little or no help to actually get one, bah

[k4blades]

Did you not hear anything from Maplins? Debenhams are recruiting.
My wife is considering changing jos, but there is little out there and when something comes up they are massively over run with applications. She's got a good CV as well, and still struggles to even get a reply.

There was something on the news last night, I think it was Newsnight, about zero hours contracts, which some employers are starting to use. They give you a job but don't have to commit to any specific number of hours so one week if they are busy you are working flat out, the next, you might get no hours.....totally unworkable for many people, especially those with kids, isn't it time the Govt sorted out the employment mess in this country, not by providing millions of micky mouse jobs but by providing a legislative framework that suits the employer, employee and the tax payer that has to pay for those out of work.

[therealjr]

Zero hours contracts are annoying but the other one that gets on my nerves are for waitresses like my step daughter used to be.
Regullarly she would be told she had a shift on a Sunday say 4 till 10 and then she was either rung at 3 o'clock and told not to go in because the pub was quiet (no pay)  or be sent home at 6pm for the same reason and only be paid 2 hours. The flip side of the coin was that she was expected to stay on and do extra hours after her regular shift if they were busy.
The management just figured staff were 10 a penny and they could do with them as they pleased.

[k4blades]

And then there are the "interns" often used by MPs. While the rest of us are obliged by law to pay people a minimum wage, they employ people and pay them nothing.

I'm all for a flexible workforce and employers having less regulation, etc but a lot of this is yet more corporate greed, which tends to ignore the bigger picture and wider consequences, as always, very little joined up thinking by the authorities.

[Old Cruser]

Emmz I wondered how you got on with the Maplins app, sorry it didn't come to anything.
JR - the fact that management treat staff so badly is just as you say because there are so many unemployed who are desperate to work - at anything, and so are treated unfairly. It is time the government sorted out our employment probs --- but won't! 
It's the one good thing about being retirement age - I don't need to worry about finding work.

[emmz]

Oh yes i never updated, no they never got back to me to tell me yes or no which i find fustrating..Debenhams I did apply for but again never heard anything back, they were not advertising places on their website the last time i looked but will look again,
Tried the Range but never heard back
Had Oraange interview not long back didnt get that one ( I did hear back!)
Now looking to go to college and do an IT course along with my math course

[Old Cruser]

Well done for trying Emmz 
 I take it it is shop work you are looking for, or you open to other types of work?
Sometimes the smaller retailers in Chesterfield will stick a notice to their window/door advertising for staff, but of course you have to be there at the right time.
At least you are not letting it beat you.
Thumbs up from me!