To ask for opinions on the 'Get Britain Working' white paper?

[Locutus2000]

Now it's out in full?

This. Of course it suits the neoliberal agenda to foist all responsibility onto individuals to avoid making any real systemic change. Intergenerational trauma, poverty and learned helplessness are interlinked - if people do not have people in their lives who work, role models who gain a sense of satisfaction and self esteem and identity through employment, it remains an alien concept. People just accept their lot in life. There absolutely needs to be recognition of the complexity of the social issues and inequalities that are at the crux of this issue, before beginning to address these. The ‘benefit scrounger’ narrative is an unhelpful trope that serves to other the most vulnerable in society and prevent those with power being held responsible.

@AnotherChildFreeCatLady

Removing benefits for the voluntarily unemployed is one labour policy I fully agree with.

How are they identifying the people who are voluntarily unemployed?

I detest these kind of people. I started a new job last year and left within two weeks due to such a nasty manger. i since found out she had reduced numerous other people to severe states of anxiety to the point that they left. yet she is still n the job?

Where did you hear that @BobbyBiscuits ?

None of the Gatsby Benchmarks or sub-categories have anything about how to make CVs, cover letters, and such. It's all strategy-based like 'linking the curriculum to careers', 'raising aspirations', 'the governing board approves of the whole school career programme', 'careers are taught in English, Maths, Science, and PSHE', not operations based about what is taught or in the programmes. https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/good-career-guidance

I worry that the "radically improved digital offer" is going to be more digital hoops to go though that creates barriers for people.

We may be in the 'age of google', that doesn't mean everyone can access them. Not only have teachers been discussing for a while the issue of the focus on teaching coding while a significant potions of kids don't know how to save a document that doesn't have autosave, there are a significant amount of adults where the move to digital has made these complicated and out of reach. I've dealt with companies who would swear up and down that they're Disabled Confident and all about accessibility, but all their training is digital. One lost someone with over 30 years experience because their disability meant they could not complete the annual training once it had moved online that they did just fine with when it was in person.

I've been in an employment support office for disabled adults, DWP backed, and there were people where simply logging onto the computer took over ten minutes of support. This move that everything must be 'radically' read more online removes support to work.

They can work a 9-5 office job if they have the necessary experience and qualifications and live in a city or areas with good transport links. If their only realistic option is unskilled work most of that is on a rota basis including evenings and weekends. If they live in a rural area and either don't drive or have an hours commute even 9-5 won't fit in with normal childcare hours.

If they live in a rural area and either don't drive or have an hours commute even 9-5 won't fit in with normal childcare hours.

I think WFH is beginning to help people in rural areas. I live in a very remote area but I'm able to work full time from home and earn a decent income.

How many fully WFH jobs are there now though? The only ones I’ve come across recently are for very senior positions and even then the advert states travel is required.

I work in a primary school and my biggest gripe is that we teach coding and not basic computer skills. We have children in year 6 who struggle with writing and we let them use laptops but they need support to log on and I have to teach them how to save and print. Keyboard skills are non existent so they are slow and don’t produce enough work. Computing in primary should be about teaching keyboard and basic computer literacy and moving onto office programs which are of more use to the majority than coding will ever be. Teach coding later to those that have the interest in it.

@cassgate it is an incredibly gruelling process. We applied for so many. I helped DS in the earlier stages but he obviously had to pass the test and interview stages himself. It was a pure numbers game in the end- we spent months and months applying. I think getting a trade related entry level job helped him (which again, was down to my help).

I think the problem is that so many kids and teens are incredibly IT literate when it comes to using phones, games consoles and mobiles but completely lack keyboard and email skills, as pointed out.

Playing games and using social media is a totally different digital skill set to those required for job applications.

@Resilience completely agree.

It's like homeless people on the streets, they didn't aspire to that as children

One huge issues we have is cycles of sen that aren't supported with family's eg they can't read well or have adhd and have a bad association with school that's carried onto the children.

Where are all these jobs people are going to be forced to do? Imaginary future jobs on paper for the most part. It's just an excuse to cut benefits and will cause hardship for disabled people and other vulnerable groups.

OP- I found the white paper to be insubstantial. A lot of talk about joined up this, and coordinated that. Seemed to me that they have decided to set arbitrary targets and then have dumped it all on local governments to work miracles. Every local authority will be expected invent how to spin straw into gold.

The most disappointing part was the failure to say the intention as to how they intend to slash disability benefits by £3bn by 2025/26 tax year. The promises to help the NHS were funded at a penny to the pound of need, and certainly they can’t create £3bn of savings in 5 months.

I don't know. Maybe the majority do require people to travel sometimes. Mine doesn't, I've never been to the office of my current employer or met any of my colleagues. But even if some travel is required with most WFH jobs they may still be doable for people who live rurally/remotely whereas before it just wouldn't have been an option. Twenty years ago, if I'd wanted to live here the only option would have been low paid or seasonal work.

They still pay income tax on any pension income at the same rate as if it were earned. Those under state pension age and short years to full state pension will still pay voluntary NI contributions too.

Not all are on benefits, they count from age 16 so millions are quite literally students who cannot claim benefits.

Or in the right places. It’s not like an unemployed skint person can afford to move to where jobs are.

Fully funded?

How will they grow the economy? Will this help?

I’m currently “economically inactive” as a cancer patient on my 3rd fit note.
I do wonder how they intend to “provide support to keep me in work” while undergoing radio and chemo?
I am sure my situation would apply to many non-cancer health conditions where realistically there is no chance I could work for what will likely be years.
I fear that the “make work pay” rhetoric is about slashing benefits when they are already crumbs.

Anything in tech will be wfh, esp engineering.

@EasternStandard it was on the news on TV I think this morning. I forget which channel. Not GB news don't worry. If that still exists?
I saw a couple versions of the story. The min wage increase has pushed loads of employers to cut staff/recruitment. Apparently.

No they’re not. My dh is currently job hunting. Software developer WFH jobs have dropped hugely, even hybrid isn’t as plentiful atm.

Do we know what is going to happen to youngsters assessed as unfit to work and still waiting for specialised MH treatment?