Voluntary work or lose benefits

[Marjoriew]

Government intend to cut benefits of claimants on JSA who refuse to do voluntary work of 30 hours a week over a 4-week period.
Benefits could be stopped for up to 3 months if claimants refuse to comply.

Totally agree, Riven. The attitude of the Govt seems to be that the jobs are out there for the taking, and the unemployed are choosing to stay at home in front of Jeremy Kyle instead. So not the truth for so many.

When I was on benefits, (single, SAHM) I applied to every local job I could find that fitted in with DDs school hours. Got quite a few interviews, but was told was overqualified! (Am an ex-teacher, long story but don't have qualified status here as trained abroad - ironically, on a far better course than the many PGCE-trained teachers here!) So.. highly skilled and experienced, willing to do anything.. but apparently unemployable. Wouldn't have cared - cleaning, cooking, etc. Just wanted to be working. No joy. It was a huge trap, the only way out I could see was retraining, so eventually went back to Uni (and as it turned out, no job security in what I trained in either. Sigh..)Also going back to work made me and DD extremely vulnerable financially - cost of living in the UK is huge, we lived in rented with whopping fuel bills too. Still was willing to risk it just to get out of feeling a victim of society.

Am a bit afraid this system won't work for millions of reasons already mentioned. Just wish that each Govt wouldn't keep trying the same things, expecting a different outcome. I think they should prove beyond doubt that paying jobs are out there and not being filled before going ahead with this. I don't necessarily think it would be demeaning - after all, doing something is better than doing nothing - but I think it may be the thin end of the wedge. Have been terrified beyond belief by reports from the US on how prisoners are the greatest workforce they have, and how the prisons there have become hugely profitable businesses for the Govt. From the sounds of this 'voluntary work' scheme, we could end up going the same way!!

Sometimes you need to 'lie' on your cv and not provide al your qualifications - if a job doesn't need a degree or higher education but you would accept working in it as a short tyerm measure e.g. caring, cooking etc etc then it may be better just to hide these. Was a while ago but that's how I got a temporary job by not showing a degree / A levels and took a job making soup at local factory (after graduating).

As far as the scheme goes in principmal I agree if you are on JSA for more than a year you put something back into society - its not a punishment for being a 'scounger' but should be seen as being able to contribute back.

Although I see what the Government is trying to do here, I don't think they've got it right. I think there is a danger of the unemployed undercutting many low paid workers and hence putting them out of work as the unemployed are cheaper to use to carry out the work.
I don't think trying to get the long term unemployed some form of work is a bad one though as it will boost their employability.

Nigella, my Dad put into society for 30 years before his job and that of his colleagues disappeared from the UK.

He didn't want handouts, he didn't want pity, he didn't need motivating, he needed a job. It took him 3 years of soul destroying rejection to find a job - picking up litter. He wasn't too proud to do it, he saw it as a way back to work, a new start.

Where are those jobs picking up paper going to come from now, if the government are getting the job done for £1 an hour from the unemployed? Why can't those people be paid a decent wage to do a necessary job?

Having spent a number of years living in the states, I shudder to think that people here might want ANYTHING in this regard to be like the states. The US is a huge country where there is supposedly all this wealth, but yet many people have nowhere to live, no access to medical care, and no hope of bettering themselves. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer - and the rich don't give a damn.

I thank God I am no longer living there. Any country that denounces a programme that makes sure everyone has access to affordable medical care and screams out that is it socialism and marxism is sadly uneducated and not even remotely interested in helping their own.

I'm curious as well... would these 30hr/wk placements for those whose children are in school be within term time? And accessible by public transportation? And in family friendly hours?

Because I can see this being a bit of a hardship for single parents of children in school as well otherwise. I'm not a single parent, however, they do seem to have a target painted on their backs lately, don't they? (On the other hand, I haven't seen this government get tough on non-payers of child support ...or have I missed something?)

This appears to be punitive in nature as opposed to actually taking steps to assist someone back into work. And for that reason alone, I have a problem with it. I can also see it creating problems for those that DO have those lower paying jobs that might get replaced with "forced volunteer workers" (for lack of a better term).

whomovedmychocolate isn't it really a sad waste for society if highly qualified people are doing menial jobs?

And then what jobs are the low/unskilled people meant to do? More effort should be made to match people to jobs. My friend fancied working as a postwoman as the hours suited her, but she was told she was overqualified. Too right!
If you are well-qualified you will eventually get a good job, unless your chosen profession/industry is in decline, then of course you will need to re-train. There's nothing wrong with taking lower-paid work in the meantime, but it does seem daft to expect people to work for minimum wage when they could be doing so much more for society.
Also hopeless to expect the long-term unemployed to do a good job if they are being forced into it - the scheme might have some limited benefit where people are truly volunteering.

Triggles I don't think anyone on the thread has said wants to lose our universal healthcare or basic benefits for the unemployed. Doing 30 days of litter picking in return for a year's job seekers allowance is a reasonable balance.

But HalfCaff, if jobs are not there they aren't there. It's a free market capitalist economy. People provide services other want. In poor communities no one pays for cleaners. In richers ones there are jobs to be had hence the regular stream of leaflets through our door offering pet walking, personal training, chidlren's parties, cleaning, ironing and a host of other services.

What we need to go is get taxes down, get more businesses moving here and get the economy moving again. Most people surprisingly are employed in small businesses in the UK so if we can make it easier to take on staff then more jobs will be created.

Xenia the 'jobs' you mention may help people to make ends meet but they are not really 'jobs' - they are cash in hand and do not contribute to pensions, NHS etc. Anyone on benefits doing this type of work had better watch out they don't get caught!

My DP works full time but also does about 8 hours a week as a volunteer. He is also a 40% tax payer yet still feels he has something to give as a volunteer. Why should someone who pays nothing into the pot, not do something for society? If you don't want to do the work, fine, starve. Your decision.

Xenia - I didn't say anyone on the thread wants to lose the universal healthcare. I was merely responding to the poster that was holding US practices up as a good example.

How can people be 'Overqualified' for a job?
Why is that used as an excuse?

Ripeberry, it's very common for employers to consider people over qualified. Recruiting and training, even for low skilled jobs is expensive so they don't want to employ people who might leave quickly when something better comes along.

I don't think employers like it as they see you as using them as a stop-gap whilst something comes up for them.

HalfCaff, I wish what you said was true - not everyone qualified in a high earning job will get a job in it, sadly. Not the way things are at the moment, and heaven help you if you've had a career break. The less experience there is on your CV, the bigger gaps in there, the more out of the loop you are. Yes, you can bang on doors to do voluntary work placements, etc, and maybe things will come right. However, unless it's the private sector you're going into at the moment it's pretty doomed.

Hammy, what about their children? They don't really get a say do they, is it okay for them to 'starve' too?

wubbly have you seen oliver twist?

Well if they have children they'd better go out and do the voluntary work so their children don't go without. No brainer really.

no one wants anyone to starve but i do think this is a step in the right direction.

I have indeed. Let's look on the bright side though, we'll need to employ a few Mr Bumbles to hand out the gruel.

Hammy, I think you're kidding yourself if you think the government will let children starve for the sins of their parents. Whether they care or not, the headlines would be very bad PR.

I'm from the US and I don't think their policies should be held up as a good example.

I'm so glad I don't have to live there anymore.

That fact that your healthcare coverage is tied to your job and there are so many loopholes for an employer to get out of offering coverage is a major reason why I'd not live there.

he does have an IDS look about him