The government and media seem to all state that we have more vacancies for work than ever before. The reason for this is that many of the jobs on offer are not reflecting the current living cost crisis, so the salaries are appallingly low, who in their right mind would opt to go back to work when they know what will hit them is poverty and hardships? I was ill health retired ten years ago, and subsequently get an occupational pension, that is topped up with legacy benefits. Back in 2013, I was advised in no uncertain terms NOT to opt for UC and I took the advice, whilst benefits froze, I was substantially better off, even now during the economic crisis, cost of living crisis, inflation soaring and interests rates hiking, I am still better off. I've been part of the Civil Service for most of my working life, reasonably well educated (I have an undergraduate degree (2:1), a masters degree (merit), both business related, plus and ILM award, three professional accreditations and two vocational qualifications- with the usual GCE A-levels and GCSE's.
Two years after ill health retirement I really did try to scramble to return to full time employment, don't believe what you are told in terms of employers being sympathetic or empathetic in helping someone who is registered disabled back into the workplace, I have had much the opposite reaction AFTER the potential employer has seen my qualifications and in-work achievements. In the time that followed I did take voluntary work in the community and that did not really pay off positively either, although I am able to put this on my CV so it does not look as if I have been lying in bed for the last ten years waiting for something to land in my lap or drop out of the sky. It has not and it will not.
So, more recently I have started to re-apply again for paid employment, and there is an abundance of jobs, that whilst comprise of the work I wish to do, does not have the salary that I will need to sustain the occupation unless I try and find a second job to supplement my income and boost/supplement it to anywhere levels that I can afford. This is a dreadful situation to find ones self in. Retirement has all but destroyed my sanity and soul, and due to poor economic management which began with a Labour Government, (out of the banking crisis 2008), it appears that administration has screwed my generation. I hope the Tories remain in power, because I fear that a Labour Government will end any hopes for me to gain full time, well paid employment in one job, with one employer.
I will have to find two jobs just to make ends meet and I have the added burden of being disabled as well. I want to get back into work, a hard days work is good for you well being both physically and mentally.
I sympathises with those in a similar predicament- even those who are not disabled. If only Labour had made all the right decisions many years ago, the Tories would not have had to have made the decisions of austerity, which as a knock on effect, I might have been able to have worked from home under the Department I used to work for. One thing is for sure we all need to vote Tory next time around and keep these damned socialists out of government for at least another decade. Thank God for Corbyn, he made the left un-enticing and unattractive to the most pedestrian of voters. We MUST allocate the blame to New Labour. The tories have helped us all, EVEN the Truss administration had good intentions and that is the only foul up the administration has made in twelve years of Tory rule, that is damned good going in my opinion.
Has anyone else had a similar experience as myself? How did you overcome hurdles of re-entry back into full time paid employment? Do you feel embittered towards the way New Labour paved the way for the situation the entire country now finds itself in? Maybe some people have a good argument or angle, I would like to read it. Pro Thatcherites are as welcome to comment as much as pro Blair-ites / Brown-ites.