in thinking this work experience is exploitation?

[sweetkitty]

Bit of background first DNeice leaves school at 15 as she can't be bothered, it was a few months before her 16th birthday so by the time the authorities got around to doing anything she was 16.

Anyway for the next 2 years she has done nothing, not looked for work oh she went to college for a week once!

My SIL is a soft touch DN has a temper and SIL is scared of her, she has walked over SIL forever, SIL pays for hair extensions, her extensive wardrobe, nights put, £160 a month phone etc

Once she turned 18 SIL frogmarched her to the DSS hoping that they would sort her out.

She's now on work experience in a bar so she can have done sort of CV whilst I think on the one hand this is good for her to actually work, on the other hand she is only receiving her file money, she's working full time for less than minimum wage, she has to do 2 months and if she's good she'll get kept on. Don't quite see that happening as there will be done other person they can get in and pay nothing.

I know there's no jobs put there but one can be found as long as its not costing the company anything, it's sheer exploitation.

Work experience for me was the best thing ever. I got my own placement at 14 and decided quickly I was never going to be some flunky working for someone else.

She sounds like a drifter with no direction I think she might benifit more some tough love.

Feel quite sorry for the pub. I can only imagine she brings the same attitude to her time there as she has for her homelife. Maybe though they/having to work and have responsibilities will effect a change in her outlook that your sister has not been able to achieve. I hope so for your neice's sake.

"dole" money? Predictive text typo?

Ah,. thanks, Ilovesooty. I wondered what the hell it was

I've just got a placement on a similar scheme for graduates, and I can tell you I feel fucking lucky. Admittedly it's slightly different in that mine is leading to an actual job with half decent prospects, but I'm going to spend the next six months on £55 a week while doing a full time job. The company I'm going to are getting a pretty good deal, but so am I. Anything that sets you apart from other applicants in this job market is worth going for.

She's there for two months, tops. Yeah, that bar are getting someone in cheap, but right now the extent of her skills will be glass collecting. The rest she'll need to be taught, which will take time and effort. They've taken a chance by having someone in who has no proven record of timekeeping, responsibility, customer service or any of the other skills that you need to be able to prove you have in order to get your foot in the door. They're giving her the opportunity to learn this stuff (and provide a reference), if she so wishes, and that's worth its weight in gold IMO

Yes sorry dole money that bit was on my phone.

I am not complaining about it, I had never heard of this scheme until DN went on it, I was merely discussing it the pros and cons.

For her yes it's a good idea as shes a lazy madam who needs to be taught that if you want anything in life you have to work for it.

But what about other unemployed people who have rent to pay and childcare? I'm so torn.

My tongue is bitten off listening to SIL, oh yes no doubt she will have needed new clothes and shoes for her job, she has one of those pouty Facebook photos everyday with her latest outfit and shoes on it as teenagers do. She does absolutely nothing for herself but that's SILs fault.

There's no father around he left when she was young so SIL has brought her up on her own and done a shit job about it, she's so non confrontational and just gives in to her demands. The thing is SIL was made redundant before Xmas so can run around after her just now, she's actually delighted that DN is out the house and her hair for a few hours she would do anything to get her out the house. It's tragic really to be frightened of your own child.

Unemployed people with rent and childcare will get tax credits and hb - don't forget it's aimed at those who are on "JSA".

Life on benefits is no picnic - but neither is life as a ft working parent.

I think schemes to assist the long term unemployed are a good thing - and tbh constantly training and retraining costs in resources for the employer.

I know people are up in arms about these schemes - but when looking at lOng term unemployment - and especially the minority like your neice who don't want to work, something has to be done.

Benefits as a safety net is a good thing - as a long term way of life should be a big nono (as a want not need idea).

sweetkitty puts it well; that this scheme isn't just going to apply to lazy people - there are plenty of unemployed people, including school leavers who are capable, experienced and motivated who dont need to spend 2 months glass collecting to get a work ethic. At that age I wouldnt have taken more than a day or two to get the hang of a straightforward service job (till/bar), and had about 3 days training for call centre work, including credit card booking).

She's claiming job seekers, so why shouldn't she do some work experience?
I see too many people my age (20) on job seekers just doing nothing with their time. When they're asked why they don't apply for jobs they say 'oh I got no experience av I?'. What your daughter is doing is the perfect solution!

The only reason why I don't agree with this scheme is the fact that whilst people are doing this work for 'free', they could be employing people to do it - reducing our shortage of jobs. But obviously they like free labour -_-

Maryz, I agree that the hotel scheme you describe sound reputable, as it's genuinely interested in offering the youngsters paid work in the medium. I suppose traditionally the charity/voluntary sector has been a way in to a reference/training etc, and I feel more comfortable with free labour in that context.

But say I was unemployed, on benefits, a single parent. I have worked in shops/call centres/hospitals/bars. I am a quick learner and versatile, and would have at least one good reference from a past employer. What on earth would the benefit be to me in 2 months of working for free at a minimum wage, having to grapple with childcare issues?

Maryz where am I criticising my SIL for making my neice get up and work.

I had never heard of this work experience and was merely having a discussion about its merits. Like everything else there are pros and cons.

I criticise my SIL because she is an idiot who is so scared of her own daughter she meets everyone of her demands, DN can run up a £160 phone bill because she knows her mother will pay it, if she doesn't get something she wants she smashes things up and threatens her mother.

At 18 like a lot of people I was working part time and funding my uni degree. DN has no experience because she's been allowed to sit on her bum, she has been offered jobs before but turned them down. SIL enrolled her on a college course, took her there and picked her up, it was 2 days a week for 6 months, she refused to go after a week.

Was there not a scheme a while back that have you an extra £10 a week for working?

What does it matter if your child skives off school?
What does it matter if you don't make them get up for work?
What does it matter if you don't set boundaries?
What does it matter if you don't instill a work ethic?

Not a jot as the state will provide - a girl will get pregnant so 'earn' house, benefits etc. - a boy will get a 'gf' pregnant and will get house, benefits etc.

So it doesn't matter what you do to provide for your kids.

However if you want them to be happy, well that's hard work for a parent.

Same applies for old age - you will be provided for the same whether you save or not.

Our wonderful benefit system.

Of course I have criticised her she has allowed this situation to happen. I have had phone calls with her crying in her car as she's too scared to go in HER house, then a few days later everything's fine and she's telling me what she's bought DN.

I love SIL dearly and it's hard to stand by and not say anything, it's her choice to parent the way she does. She is doing DN no favours by babying her and giving her everything she wants because life is not like that in general.

This isn't really about work experience is it, it's about what a pig's ear SIL has made of her job of parenting a baggage of a daughter.
I'm truly sorry for your SIL sweetkitty, she's made some bad parenting choices along the way but your DN has made some bad choices too. Once they get into teenager land, we can guide them but we cannot absolutely prevent them from bogging their lives up, and your DN must know that things like trashing her home is wrong.