To wonder what jobs the government are expecting people to get?

[Nosleepforthismum]

Following on from the many, many threads about this. I’m genuinely wondering what jobs the government are expecting people who claim disability benefits to do, specifically those suffering with their mental health? From an employers perspective, it would be very difficult to run a successful business with an employee that took a lot of time off work. You’d need a job that had no deadlines and didn’t need a physical presence and I can’t think of many jobs off the top of my head.

YANBU

I have not worked for 14 years. I have been sacked/managed out from most (including NHS). All my jobs were physical ones... the only time I touched a computer was to clean around it.

Yet, apparently I can walk into a WFH job with ease (according to some on MN), on the basis I am posting on MN to begin with.

They don’t expect them to get jobs, they merely need the rhetoric as cover to be able to pull the rug out from under people who are already suffering. .

I work full-time. I also receive PIP, because I have MS, fibromyalgia and a nasty heart condition. Being disabled is expensive in all sorts of ways. Getting rid of PIP would be Rishi Sunak helping me out of work, not into it.

Since covid, there are far more work-from-home jobs that may suit people who have different issues.

For example, during covid, I underwent chemotherapy. There were days when I slept at lunchtimes and days when I struggled to pull a thought process together but because I could work my own hours through a week, I was able to make it work.

For those who have some forms of anxiety or agoraphobia, wfh may work well.

There are three factors which aren’t mentioned by the poster above

• Seniority of role - often it’s easier to flex and WFH if you’re in control of what you do on a daily basis and can run your calendar more proactively than others

• Sector and type of role - it’s a hell of a lot easier to WFH with flexible hours if you’re a diversity and equality manager responsible for briefing HR colleagues and the leadership, than if you’re an IT support first line who has a headset and gets auto-dialled in etc

• True “remote” vs hybrid: some people on here say they “WFH but occasionally pop into the office”. How much of that is proactive (they choose to pop in) vs expected? Only 100% remote roles can guarantee the above poster’s independence. There are however plenty of “WFH” roles which have 90% flexibility to work from wherever, but then you’re expected to be there for major offsite, or client meeting etc - how does that work..

They don’t think that far. It’s a marketing job.

You are hilarious. I love your comments

Tbh there are many entry level WFH call centre jobs that will hire you if you speak English and can read. Training provided.

Of course disabilities may mean the work is still unsuitable but it is actually perfectly possible to go from say, cleaning to a WFH job.

This ^

I would hope that if he attempts to get this through parliament it would be voted down by the House of Lords.

It seems to me that every government clearly on its way out suddenly reverts to dog whistle.

I'm the same, got finished by HMRC 14 years ago because of time off sick, got Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Hypermobility, Dyspraxia, Peripheral Neuropathy, Arthritis, Vitamin B12 Deficiency, Underactive Thyroid, Endometriosis, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD. How they can expect me to get a WFH job I don't know, I sleep half the day because my sleep pattern is fucked up, I can't walk more than to the toilet & back, my bladder control is nil, my brain fog is so bad I don't know what day it is half the time, I have zero concentration & struggle to retain information. About the only jobs I could do are bed & sofa tester, or maybe life model online if I can lay in the sofa. Who would employ me, I know I wouldn't.

The Tories don't revert to dogwhistle, but to cruelty when it is clear that they are going to be dumped out of office. Sadly, whilst they think it's clear, I am less convinced, and if they retain power the disabled face a bleak future.

I think probably every person who claims benefits will be out in force voting Labour, so I wouldn’t worry too much.

UC won’t be going anywhere, there’s been too much investment but I very much doubt PIP legislation/changes will get through by Oct 24.

Some people work full time and still receive PIP high rates for mob and care- just because you get PIP it doesn’t mean you can’t work or function normally in the work place with reasonable adjustments. It’s not an out of work benefit. Doesn’t apply to everyone of course.

the government don’t even let its own employees wfh - civil servants have been told they HAVE to be in the office a minimum of 3 days a week and SCS the full 5.

Could you be any ruder? I have already stated that I work full-time so I am obviously not claiming UC and equally obviously I already know that PIP isn't an out of work benefit. The millions of people living it up on benefits didn't make much of a dent in the Tory majority last time, did they?

Like people people with autism my autistic daughter finds using the phone incredibly hard.

There are lots of jobs where you can work part time and remote.

What you tend not to be able to do is do those things and

• also want to only work school hours
• be picky about what you do and want something fashionable/popular

Companies & public sector bodies are far more flexible than they were.

I think there's often a focus on what someone with mental health issues can't do. Its much easier to see a way back to working if you focus on all the things you can do. Imagine starting small and building up.

I know a guy with mental health issues. He knows he needs a break after a few months, so he works in short term contract roles. He'll do a few months earning decent money, then have a gap of a few weeks to recover.

Nat6999 what treatment are you having? Vitamin b12 deficiency and underactive thyroid are very treatable and should be medicated.

Surely the range, combination and severity of disabilities is so massive that there’s no one size fits all answer? Obviously some will never be able to work. But others will if the right job and reasonable adjustments can be found?

I have M.E/C.F.S, hypoe4mobility, agoraphobia, panic disorder, general anxiety, anorexia nervosa and doby dysmorphia. And apparently now depression. Also currently on waiting lists to find out whether autism and/or CPTSD are reasons for my persistent and plentiful anxiety disorders.

As soon as WFH become a thing, I jumped at the chance. Gained qualifications through the latter half of covid, and now WFH full time in a role that fully aligns with my interests and passions. I had previously been on benefits since 15, with only very part time jobs.

I was in a good place when I started my current job. I was able to go out by myself in the local town, had a control of the panic attacks, therapy had helped the eating disorder and I was managing my energy levels so I wasn't feeling rubbish constantly. Never had been depressed. I had spent a long time managing my conditions and was in a great place.

I'm now a total mess. Yes, I love my job, but even with WFH and fantastic colleagues and a fantastic role, I cannot cope. I cant leave the house. I have random, frequent panic attacks, im fatigued with constant headaches. I can't look in the mirror without breaking down, the body dysmorphia is so bad. I am now depressed, suicidal, everything has flared up to the extreme and life is not worth living if i have to live like this.

Perhaps work can help some mental health issues, if they're milder or temporary or situational... but perhaps not when its persistent mental illness.

I should've stayed how I was. I don't know what happens from here... i still have my job, dunno how long for. For all my good will and intention I had, work has NOT helped improved my conditions, but rather the extreme opposite.

I was more use to the world, the people around me, on benefits. I now need a lot of care from others. I'm an absolute mess.

My daughter has never focused on what the can’t do, that is the problem. She has been told by professionals that she needs to recognise when she is struggling, to voice it and communicate it with the services working with her.She struggles to understand and handle her emotions and needs to learn to pull back before she goes into crisis. Her sixth form college didn’t want her so I fail to see what job will and who is going to take responsibility for her safety if her opinion as to what she needs and can/ can’t do now will count for nothing.She has made several attempts on her life when overwhelmed and desperately needs specific treatments that will help her move forwards,not a bit of talk therapy . There are massive waiting lists with burnt out professionals leaving and struggling to cope with demand for properly diagnosed and ill people.

She is worried sick about her future and desperately wants to be able to complete her education and have a career eventually. Forcing her into work with completely the wrong treatment will push her into crisis and further away from her goal.

I would say it depends on your disability.

I had a nasty accident with head injury back in 2016... I can't do certain jobs because I am unable to concentrate or sit for long hours.

Nevertheless, I am working FT in a role almost tailored to me. It took me a long time to find this job. Many failed employments and a unique set of skills made it possible.

How many people with depression or anxiety are able to cope with moving around jobs until they find the right one?
How many employers are looking for a unique set of skills that someone might have AND are willing to pay a decent wage?

And lastly, believe it or not, we are in a recession- there are not that many jobs out there. The competition is tough.

What I’m finding terrifying is the government’s apparent ignorance, their complete dismissal of the realities as regardless mental illness and their declaration that it’s going to be a one size fits all provision with professional opinion ignored- anybody with mental illness off pip and in work with generic cheap “ talk therapy”(that most will have had and found didn’t help).

Which jobs are going are just going to ignore safeguarding, reasonable adjustment rights and protected disability? How are job centre staff qualified to comment and say what my complex daughter needs to do?

Since, with a very few exceptions, most MPs - particularly Tories - have barely done a day's real work in their lives. or had to compete with others at interview, I'm presuming they're expecting that we all have rich toadies who can help us get a nice little non job with a charity somewhere.

Quite how their nonsensical worldview on every disabled person will be able to get a job fits with the narrative that Mogg, the senior civil service and others with bugger all clue about life want everyone back in the office leaves me bewildered. Talk about the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing

I don't know what they all learned from their overpriced educations at Eton and Oxbridge (with the occasional LSE usurper) but logical thinking certainly wasn't on there. They're certainly not an advert for any of those institutions.

It won't be long before there are mass suicides at this rate.

@Nat6999 some of those conditions are very much treatable…I think if you can have kids and run a house with those conditions then a part time job would suffice. Unless I’m wrong and you don’t have kids/run a house. I find working easier than being at home to be fair. I also have an underactive thyroid, polycystic ovaries (which can cause pain at times of the month), tachycardia, high blood pressure, adhd. All except the adhd are managed with meds, the adhd I have learned to manage myself. I’m not saying this is the same for you, I’m aware we are all different….