To think people in decent jobs don't realise how hard it is to get a second crappy job..

[ssd]

I keep seeing comments on the tax credits threads about tc claimants needing to work more, like its that easy.

I can imagine if you have kept up your job since having kids due to either being able to afford childcare or having that and a mix of free family help, then you will be earning a decent enough wage and there might be overtime at your organisation, or at the very least you will be on set hours/days...so if you wanted overtime you'd know when you were available to work.

I can imagine thousands on tax credits arent in this position. I work part time and have been trying to get a full time job, or at least another part time job that would fit in with the job I have.

Its bloody impossible and trust me, I'm trying!!

Full time jobs are very rare, round here its all part time job requiring full time flexibility...so they offer you 20 hours a week and expect you to be free all week to fit around them, this makes it impossible to have 2 part time jobs

So for every poster saying "work more", please consider this isnt as easy as you'd imagine.

We have a job going at my ace if work. Evenings and weekends. We actively try to emply mums. In fact they are paid more as work
Realised it is not worth their whe coming in for minimum wage. And they are soon transferring everyone to living wage. (Plus the 'mum' bonus) we are crying out for staff but cannot get anyone to apply? They are also flexible in that if your childcare can't start until an hour after the shift time they will allow you to start an hour late! I don't understand why we can't get staff? It is a lovely place to work an done of the easiest places in the industry to work! Regular hours can be agreed although we are technically on zero hour contracts but the manager sets the shifts so you work the same each week.

If it doesn't need to be zero-hours, why not advertise it as regular core hours? With the possibility of more hours by mutual agreement?

People don't trust zero-hours "jobs" - quite rightly.

Dolphins if you're not getting applicants it's not rocket science - your HR people are either looking in the wrong place, or they are offering terms and conditions which are not competitive.

Because occasionally we don't have the customers do we 'close' for few days and as it is a charity we can't carry a salary for the closed weeks. (It isn't often, maybe once a quarter?) Plus we have Xmas shutdown. And we are busier over the summer so your hours go up.

We don't pay for adverts. It is all doe. Via social media. I know I know! But there isn't the budget!

There's your answer Dophin - most people can't afford a period with no income especially if it's too short for qualify for any benefits, and if there are more hours in the summer then childcare will be an issue for many.

We can't recruit externally in my department at work - despite a starting salary being £35-40k for a junior member of staff. People with the right skills are thin on the ground and they can earn more elsewhere. The problem is poor HR practices, and terms and conditions which are below market rates. That's the free market for you.

And you're asking applicants to bear the whole risk for that.

And indeed, you're aware of the level of risk, but applicants aren't. So they have to calculate on the risks being even higher. Because you haven't told them what's actually on the table.

Try setting regular core hours and being honest about when you plan to have closures. Also say that additional hours may be available.

As I said above, you won't actually be paying out more in salaries. But what you're offering will be WORTH more to applicants, because they can plan around it. So tell them this in the advert! And make it so!

Can't you offer so many weeks over the year dolphin? Like a TA? Or some core weeks with extra shifts available if wanted?

Dispatches on Channel 4 NOW

As an individual, maybe in theory you could re-train for something well paid, something that works well with childcare or whatever. (In theory.) but in practice, as a society, this isn't good enough. If there is a competition for "good work" (comfortable work) as opposed to "crap work" (often the most vital work in our communities) then I don't really care who "loses". Someone will, and that's not ok. It just isn't ok that people can work so hard, doing such important things, and have such a struggle. I don't care if that person has fewer qualifications than the next person along. It just isn't ok.

But the state is tackling that - with the higher minimum wage and the cut in social housing rents.

Are they?!

speye.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/government-complicit-ha-stooges-to-shaft-the-social-tenant/

Have you seen the article on Investing Solutions? I think it is who made 5.5 million from housing benefit finding housing places for non related people.... shocking

I saw a report on them on the BBC news. Think it was on Friday night.