NMW to increase again next year to £12.21 ph.

[ZoeZee]

If you’ve not had a pay rise this year, despite bringing it up to your employer, and now there’s set to be another 6% NMW increase next year (which is fantastic, don’t get me wrong) the pay gap is narrowing ever more between skilled/unskilled employees.

Skilled and those with MANY years of experience, might as ditch their responsible/stressful jobs (which often keep you awake at night) and look for something that doesn’t have the added responsibility?

Almost 20 years experience means nothing to some employers! AIBU?

Any employers who have a view on this increase, please let me know how this might affect you and your staff.

You need to inform UC if you go out of the country for a holiday

Even poor people are allowed a holiday, especially if they work.

Why would I share my finances with you? Do you want to share yours with me? I assume you want to pick over it and decide whether you feel it’s justified or not? Hence the “if it makes you uncomfortable for some reason” comment. Did you want my wages and details of any child maintenance I get? Perhaps the details of why I divorced and am a single parent to three children?

You don’t feel it’s all excessive. I don’t really care if you do or don’t, I do feel it is excessive.

People don't like to tackle problems they just like to divert and complain. Both problems can coexist and need resolving by vastly different measures.

It's easier to complain than face the difficult reality of the situation.

But you're claiming to be so broke you need a state top up. People who are broke don't go on holiday (I know, because I've not had a holiday in several years!)

For various reasons, several. That ok with you? Now we have clarified I work FT, I have owned a business and employed people in the past, I don’t have a degree and I pay tax am I allowed to have more than one account?

You are allowed a holiday. You are allowed multiple holidays a year while claiming UC. Not sure what your issue is? You think you should get a non means tested benefit?

But you want state help, so you need to jump through the hoops they ask in order to obtain that help.

So not raising the lowest wages as per the norm per year is the answer?

of course you can go on holiday.

Up to 4 weeks out of the country. You just need to send them a journal message or whatever.

How is that a hardship?

And only asked if you were comfortable sharing your UC income, the one you are so cruelly housed about.

You are not. That’s OK.

Maybe. But equally addressing the biggest elephant in the room, the extortionate rental market, may solve some of the issues too.

Exactly.
It is absurb to think that a NMW job is automatically not stressful.

Don't be daft. Public money is splashed about all over the place, mainly into the pockets of foreign shareholders it seems. The notion that people on UC with a full time job should have to report to some twit in a miserable job centre, report when they take a holiday, are not allowed to be ill, and have to show their bank statements is patently ridiculous. As has been covered, these top ups are to benefit employers. And I don't think it's been mentioned that they also keep the very corrupt housing/rental market afloat. More public money into the pockets of landlords..does anyone check their bank statements? How many times they holiday? Or even if they are doing their basic duty and keeping their extortionately expensive rentals in good order/ free of damp.

Maybe looking at business VAT and tax evasion fraud too.

My sister owns a place in France and she invited us. She is not on NMW and is quite well off. Our last holiday of any sort was nearly 7 years ago, so she invited us and financed most of it.

Is that ok? Can I still get the payrise and UC? Have I checked out enough or do you want to continue to try to prove how I’m not poor, I’m rolling in all the “free money” and selfishly closing businesses because I want a fair wage?

Exactly and is anybody checking those items that slide though business accounts without paying VAT?

The notion that people on UC with a full time job should have to report to some twit in a miserable job centre, report when they take a holiday, are not allowed to be ill, and have to show their bank statements is patently ridiculous

Why? You think UC shouldn't be means tested? Or that noone would try and fraudently claim?

I am amazed that people find showing bank statements onerous!

Not directed at me I know but healthy monthly payment????

Could you live on less than £400 a month? It's abject poverty.

Fantastic, of course. My children are older now so I am not impacted at all. Some people may struggle to find any nurse space at all or that the increased costs are unsustainable- but I would say go for it.

as a side issues, I am public sector, but I if I had a business, I would not hire an entry level employee on minimum wage. I could get someone more experienced for marginally more. That person would also have references, very useful as it will be hard to let people go if they are unsuitable.

Are you really.suggesting that businesses don't have to show a lot of paperwork? @Grandmasswagbag

Fuck me, what do people learn at school these days.

Don’t even try it. You know exactly what you were asking and why. Don’t try that one with me.

It’s a top up. The less you work the more you get.

You need to stop taking this thread so personally.

Maybe they are very careful with money and can manage a small amount a month? Maybe they have it paid for them by family members?

Why not?

Is there anything that makes you uncomfortable?

We have to accept that too many sectors such as retail, hospitality, leisure and care have been paying shit wages for years to increase their profits while expecting the benefit system to subsidise their workers.

Then they complain that there is a shortage of staff willing to take on their poorly pay jobs.

That can't carry on.

I have some sympathy for really small businesses but beyond that staff need to have wages that they can live on.

That's presuming they can work.

A friend became disabled suddenly and was expected to live on that whilst they took over a year to do the disabilities assessment. She got no help with her mortgage and lost her home in the end.