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Universal Credit and Job Offer

23 replies

gottoget · 07/08/2024 11:46

Ds has just graduated and is living at home on Universal Credit, spending his days applying for jobs.

Our family home is a 25-minute train journey from St Pancras. He's received a job offer with the condition that he moves to London so he can travel by tube - the company thinks the trains aren't reliable enough - which is true to an extent, but the majority of people in our town commute to London.
The job is not well paid. Will he be penalised by Universal Credit if he turns down this job?

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 07/08/2024 12:04

Well if universal credit don't know about it then they can't do anything can they? If he's told them then I'm not sure

OpizpuHeuvHiyo · 07/08/2024 12:06

Affordable places to live near a tube station within London will generally take a lot longer to get to a workplace than a 25 minute train ride into St Pancras.

Rather than turning down the job, I would suggest that he writes back to the employer detailing (a) the statistics on that train route's reliability over the last year, and (b) the increase in journey time to work that a move to somewhere affordable in London would create, and propose instead that they make it part of a condition of his probation period that persistent issues with lateness or failing to attend when needed due to any kind of train-related issues will result in him failing probation. Then the onus is on your son to make it work - ideally by always aiming for the train that is BEFORE the one that he needs to get in order to not be late, so that in the event of a train cancellation he is still on time getting the next train.

There is usually a way to make it work

OpizpuHeuvHiyo · 07/08/2024 12:15

ALSO - if you check with the employer's HR it might be that this is a "standard" term that can be waived in the case of your son - if they are a regular graduate employer giving jobs to recent graduates from universities like Liverpool and Edinburgh they may not tailor their standard letters for someone whose home address already very close to the Greater London area - I know some people consider places like St Albans to be basically "London" despite it being just the other side of the M25.

ByCupidStunt · 07/08/2024 12:34

Life doesn't get much better than being 21, single, and working and living in London to be honest - he should go!

gottoget · 07/08/2024 12:45

It's a small company - no mention of HR, actually very few mentions of anything - all very casual. DS was asked in the interview whether he owned his house. The guy knew where we lived - the train service has become more unreliable - but that's not just our train service, trains are just not reliable anymore.

OP posts:
Sinderalla · 07/08/2024 12:48

Since when do employers get to dictate where you live and how you get to work?
As long as you get there on time what business is it of theirs?

ArdMhaca · 07/08/2024 12:50

Is the new job subsidising tube travel ?

MapleTreeValley · 07/08/2024 12:51

That's a ridiculous thing for the company to insist on. Your son should go back to them and say he can't move to London but he'll make up any time if he's ever late for work.

ValleyPalley · 07/08/2024 12:59

Is this even legal?

What if your son signs a lease and then fails probation? Ridiculous request.

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 07/08/2024 13:05

Its quite a common term these days 'relocate or reliably commute' and it sounds like you admit there are issues with reliability. No one wants to employ someone who can't be reliable even if its out of their direct control.
Edited to add:

In response to your question no UC can't sanction him for this because forced relocation isn't something they make people do. Its not a condition they would enforce.

StMarieforme · 07/08/2024 13:15

ValleyPalley · 07/08/2024 12:59

Is this even legal?

What if your son signs a lease and then fails probation? Ridiculous request.

Location isn't a protected characteristic. And employer can indeed employ those who live in a commutable distance. If he says he can't move, they will withdraw the offer, and he will not be in trouble.

Lookingoutside · 07/08/2024 16:58

This nonsense is very likely the tip of the iceberg with this particular employer. He should turn the offer down. There will be other opportunities.

TheSquareMile · 07/08/2024 19:56

@gottoget

Which part of London is the job in and in which field?

gottoget · 07/08/2024 20:05

TheSquareMile · 07/08/2024 19:56

@gottoget

Which part of London is the job in and in which field?

Why does it matter?

OP posts:
DragonFly98 · 07/08/2024 20:07

gottoget · 07/08/2024 20:05

Why does it matter?

Wow, you do understand this is a discussion forum op?

gottoget · 07/08/2024 20:11

DragonFly98 · 07/08/2024 20:07

Wow, you do understand this is a discussion forum op?

yes that's why I asked😉 The answers to those questions could be very identifying.

OP posts:
jay55 · 07/08/2024 20:19

Is it a career job or a job?

If a career job, I'd take it and say I was looking for somewhere. London rental market is still mental and it would take a while to find somewhere anyway.

gottoget · 07/08/2024 20:48

jay55 · 07/08/2024 20:19

Is it a career job or a job?

If a career job, I'd take it and say I was looking for somewhere. London rental market is still mental and it would take a while to find somewhere anyway.

I think it's a job that might lead to a career job elsewhere. The company feels badly run, quite a few red flags.

OP posts:
TheSquareMile · 07/08/2024 23:22

gottoget · 07/08/2024 20:05

Why does it matter?

@gottoget

I was wondering whether I could offer useful advice which was particularly relevant, as I live in Central London and know people who work in a really wide variety of fields.

The stipulation about living in London is something I am aware of within areas such as trading, when people are working for firms with a considerable reputation, but that wouldn't tally with the concept of the job being poorly paid.

My concern for you would be how he would pay for accommodation in Central London if he is being paid very little.

Having said that, it's not uncommon for people starting out in a first job in certain quarters to be paid a relatively small amount. They are generally subsidised by their parents and are not dependent on their own income.

The question about the sphere in which he has been offered a job has a certain relevance; there are some fields which are extremely difficult to get a start in in London, advertising and television, for instance. If I knew of someone offered a starter job in advertising, I would try everything I could to make it happen for them, because it is so hard to get into.

If it is a very special job which he would never be able to find in his own local area, moving to London would be something to think about, but you would need to be totally sure that the job offer was bona fide and also be prepared to fund his accommodation for several months, which could mean quite an unexpected expenditure for you. I would look up the company on the Companies House database, just to be sure.

If it's something like working in a computer shop, I'm not sure I would pursue it.

LadyLapsang · 08/08/2024 08:21

When he made his claim did he state he would work in London? What is the salary he has been offered? Will he be required to attend the workplace five days pw? What will be the full cost and time of the commute door to door? How long has he been claiming and is he also considering short term work so he does not have to rely on benefits?

gottoget · 08/08/2024 08:42

TheSquareMile · 07/08/2024 23:22

@gottoget

I was wondering whether I could offer useful advice which was particularly relevant, as I live in Central London and know people who work in a really wide variety of fields.

The stipulation about living in London is something I am aware of within areas such as trading, when people are working for firms with a considerable reputation, but that wouldn't tally with the concept of the job being poorly paid.

My concern for you would be how he would pay for accommodation in Central London if he is being paid very little.

Having said that, it's not uncommon for people starting out in a first job in certain quarters to be paid a relatively small amount. They are generally subsidised by their parents and are not dependent on their own income.

The question about the sphere in which he has been offered a job has a certain relevance; there are some fields which are extremely difficult to get a start in in London, advertising and television, for instance. If I knew of someone offered a starter job in advertising, I would try everything I could to make it happen for them, because it is so hard to get into.

If it is a very special job which he would never be able to find in his own local area, moving to London would be something to think about, but you would need to be totally sure that the job offer was bona fide and also be prepared to fund his accommodation for several months, which could mean quite an unexpected expenditure for you. I would look up the company on the Companies House database, just to be sure.

If it's something like working in a computer shop, I'm not sure I would pursue it.

Edited

@TheSquareMile Thank you for your thoughts.

The area he is moving into is generally well-paid - it's technical and numerate, but getting started is always a challenge in any career. The employer has a solid track record on Companies House but Glassdoor would indicate it is not the most supportive environment for a new graduate in terms of training, work culture and has limited opportunities for peer interaction despite being in the office throughout the week. Some of the interview questions were highly "unusual" suggesting that they are, at best, unaware of modern recruitment practices and employment law.
Taking the risk might be acceptable if he commuted from home - but if the reviews turn out to be fairly accurate and it is indeed a toxic environment, moving to London & signing up for at least a six-month lease (that we would have to guarantee) is fairly risky.

And whilst we are happy to support his hopes and dreams it's also important to help him analyse job offers realistically, to weigh up the risks and the benefits and make decisions with his eyes open.

He hasn't told Universal Credit about this job and it seems that they wouldn't expect him to move, so the ball is in his court.

OP posts:
Lookingoutside · 08/08/2024 09:07

'Some of the interview questions were highly "unusual" suggesting that they are, at best, unaware of modern recruitment practices and employment law.'

Thought so.

LaurieFairyCake · 08/08/2024 09:10

Fuck no, I'd run screaming from that job

Or I'd take it for six months and if there was any issue with a train I'd immediately hop in a taxi and suck up the cost

At least if they living with you he will have a lot of spare money for taxis if a train goes wrong

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