Mumsnet should stop running ads from workfare companies

[stella1w]

eg. Boots

Frankly, I think workfare is a good idea....thong last time I dared to say that, I got flamed so excuse me whilst I don my flame retardent suit

Cheers Ali for that...had a hairy moment where I got lost in the sleeve of the suit, but I'm back :o

I don't think workfare is as bad as it is made out to be on here. Like any system, there are a few flaws, but I'm not sure those outweigh the benefits.

It's obviously worked for some people.

Surely advertising is only successful if we pay attention to it? If mumsnetters decided to not take their business to these stores it will hit them harder than mumsnet removing their ads?

I understand that it's not a simple as this, and theres more of a moral issue of mumsnet being seen to collaborate with these companies but they do need to get money from somewhere.

Workfare is a generic name for this kind of scheme not an official name CaveMum

Oh and I'm on the fence about the whole workfare thing, so at the min I'm
Not convinced any action should be taken. (possibly as I
Don't completely understand it)

I don't use tesco, simply because our local one seems to suck the life out of me..

YABU... I've been recently listening to a series of interview on R4 with people who have been unemployed for varying periods of time. One man was clearly depressed by the experience, didn't leave his flat for days on end and had basically given up looking for work, thinking he was worthless. A work experience opportunity might give him and others like him a reason to get up in the morning, leave the flat, be with other people and get back a little self-respect and hope. Ideally, that man would walk into a well-paid, stimulating, full-time job... but in the absence of that kind of work, a few weeks work experience might be a good stop-gap. I don't see it as exploitation in the slightest.

In response to those saying that people in work should be worried about being replaced I disagree (again). The vast majority of jobs could not be replaced by someone doing an 8 week stint as a volunteer. Most jobs require more experience, and skills than that. If anything it creates jobs for people to supervise and train the volunteers. (yes a small proportion shelf stacking jobs etc.. May be at risk, but these are the people who could be doing the supervision level).

Is there any evidence that tesco (for example) have CUT numbers of paid staff since using this scheme?

YANBU

Tesco have zero hour-ed contracts of previously full time staff.

You lot had better stop buying the Guardian, then. They offer unpaid internships.

"In response to those saying that people in work should be worried about being replaced I disagree (again). The vast majority of jobs could not be replaced by someone doing an 8 week stint as a volunteer. Most jobs require more experience, and skills than that"

No, not in retail. Shelf stackers get a few hours' training, same with checkouts.
These ARE taking PAID jobs away.

These ARE taking PAID jobs away.

It depends if the workfare people are instead of or in addition to, planned staff numbers, surely?

Which unemployed people are "offered" this scheme?

Oh now let's see.
Tesco. Profits.
If they have to pay someone to do a job why will they do that when they can get workers for free?

Are you stupid?

SoupDragon - the following are going to be 'offered' (forced) into work experience, at tesco or any of the other billion pound profit companies participating.

Anyone on JSA
Anyone on ESA in the Work Related Group (note these people have NOT been deemed fit for work by a doctor, just 'nearly' fit for work - at the moment 70% of decisions are overturned on appeal as the decision makers are not doctors, this includes terminally ill people)
Carers of disabled people in receipt of middle rate care DLA.

People who have only just gone on JSA are being forced into this with threat of sanctions so this is not for long term unemployed.

NB people in the ESA group are not time limited so disabled and ill people have NO TIME LIMIT so they have to work for their benefits 30 hours a week forever....

"Are you stupid?"

Are you?

I"ve worked with work experience people. They were not replacing "proper" staff in any way. Without a work experience person the work would simply have been shared out amongst existing staff. How is this taking paid jobs away?

Whatever the flaws of this particular scheme, I do think it is a good idea for those on JSA to "earn" the money in some way - be it community work, work experience that may teach them new skills or other beneficial stuff.

Soupy, if ds1 gets downgraded to MR DLA in December (technically he should not be but everyone similar that I know HAS been) I will be placed on workfare. Even with a working DH and 2 children with autism to look after, even forgetting that DS4 starts his asd assessment next Monday (It's Peachy btw).

If they offered me something using the hopefully-complete-by-then MA a day a week for experience then fine; but it won't be, it'll be shelf stacking for at least 6 weeks FT and it will mean DH has to stop working in order to care for the boys as there is no access to childcare help for those of us with disabled kids as part of the set up.

The start of Universal Credit is when it will all get VERY scary- this is just a test run. When they say not compulsory they mean 'as long as you are OK losing any family income support including tax credits'.

there are also documents (on my FB page a few days ago) showing intent to force disabled people to work permanently for their benefits and to include those with terminal illness.

DH is currently upstairs sourcing suppliers who don't use workfare to replace Maplins. A lot of our customers ask about such things and it matters to us.

Er. Soup Dragon. If I went on JSA I would have paid for it. You know, out of my taxes and national insurance.
National Insurance being a contributory system of insurance against illness and unemployment.
Why the fuck should citizens of the UK pay twice??
If I have paid for my JSA, why should I then work for a profit making corporation for free??

There is some kind of assumption that eveyone doing it is going to be young, have never worked and are a bit thick.

I really really really hope that everyone who thinks that workfare is so great for "work experience" and "confidence" gets laid off and ends up stacking shelves at Tesco.For £67 a week.
I never used to be this vindictive. That's another thing I am blaming on Dave.

Our company has taken on work experience people (usually school leavers) for a couple of weeks.

We don't pay them and they take it as part of their life education.

We make sure they are exposed to a variety of tasks and somebody monitors them to make sure everything is going well. They do easy clerical jobs, filing, mailshots etc. They aren't taking the place of anybody - in fact it is a pain to think of suitable things for them to do and to supervise them - but we think it is part of our civic duty.

They usually leave us knowing what sort of things they like - or don't like - about office life and have something positive to put on their CV.

We don't really gain anything from doing it.

Hello NW

NW I hope everyone who supports workfare reads my posts and responds to them.

Somehow they never do; either I post into a void or they are not what they want to hear so are ignored.

I read the Guardian & I think Workfare is a good idea as proposed.
If I were long-term unemployed I'd be gagging to sign up for it. Anything's better than pointlessly chasing non-existent jobs.