Unemployed graduate sues ministers for being 'forced' to stack shelves in Poundland

[arista]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/01/11/article-2085142-0F6A37AA00000578-534_634x423.jpg

You are not in China
Cheer up.


And Love
you are getting Paid via your Benefits


"Now lawyers acting for the geology graduate have launched proceedings claiming that she had been made to carry out 'forced labour' or lose her benefits."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2085142/Unemployed-graduate-sues-ministers-forced-stack-shelves-Poundland.html#ixzz1jAewpxK2

[fruit_cake]

I don't have much sympathy for her, but I have a lot less for the bankers who instead of being forced to sack shelves received £millions in bonuses

[Marc]

'museum sector'
Wasn't even aware there was one :laugh:

But on a serious note, if the conditions of Job Seekers Allowance is so serious why is it the first time that we're hearing of it?

[Tom4784]

I've no sympathy for her, in this economy you work any jobs you can. An inflated sense of self worth will get her nowhere.

[arista]

I've no sympathy for her, in this economy you work any jobs you can. An inflated sense of self worth will get her nowhere.


Very Valid Points Dezzy

[arista]

'museum sector'
Wasn't even aware there was one :laugh:

But on a serious note, if the conditions of Job Seekers Allowance is so serious why is it the first time that we're hearing of it?


She got the Right Lawyer.
and is young.


But this Stinks

She is Getting Paid all the time
via her benefits

[Angus]

That's what happens with a generation who have been brought up to have a sense of entitlement and an over-inflated sense of self worth. A lot of graduates these days have degrees that are of no use to any employer - whose fault is that? She should be grateful she has a job at all.

[Niall]

What a ****. She's on benefits, so as far as I'm concerned she accepted all the terms and conditions that came with them, ergo, its only her own fault for winding up in Poundland. Not the government's.

She should stop whining and be grateful she has a job. There are so many people out there who are jobless.

[lostalex]

i'm sorry, am i missing something? How is anyone FORCED to take a job??? No one's forcing her to do anything, if you don't like it quit, dumb betch.

[MTVN]

That's what happens with a generation who have been brought up to have a sense of entitlement and an over-inflated sense of self worth. A lot of graduates these days have degrees that are of no use to any employer - whose fault is that? She should be grateful she has a job at all.

She doesn't have a job, she's being ordered to do this work at Poundland unpaid or lose her benefits despite the fact that she was already doing voluntary work, it's stupid

[lostalex]

She doesn't have a job, she's being ordered to do this work at Poundland unpaid or lose her benefits despite the fact that she was already doing voluntary work, it's stupid

so she's getting money to do work... i'm sorry, what's the problem?? i don't understand.

[arista]

i'm sorry, am i missing something? How is anyone FORCED to take a job??? No one's forcing her to do anything, if you don't like it quit, dumb betch.


She thinks she should get her Money benefits and sit at home.
Thats what 13 years of New Labour Power Did before now.


So She Claims she is being Forced.
Of Course she gets Money each week
from the UK Benefits office.


If she stopped working there
they would End her Benefits.

[MTVN]

so she's getting money to do work... i'm sorry, what's the problem?? i don't understand.

She's on benefits and was doing voluntary work at the same time, now she's being forced to do work in Poundland instead while still not getting paid what she would if it was a proper job, it's ridiculous, if Poundland can create these jobs for people to do as unpaid labour then why can't they actually give people actual jobs??

I dunno if people are misunderstanding this or something, this is not a job, most were against thus idea not long ago http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191490

[lostalex]

She's on benefits and was doing voluntary work at the same time, now she's being forced to do work in Poundland instead while still not getting paid what she would if it was a proper job, it's ridiculous, if Poundland can create these jobs for people to do as unpaid labour then why can't they actually give people actual jobs??

I dunno if people are misunderstanding this or something, most were against thus idea not long ago http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191490

so why doesn't she get a job at poundland and stop claiming benefits then??

[MTVN]

so why doesn't she get a job at poundland and stop claiming benefits then??

Because for some reason Poundland can't offer a proper job but they can offer these unpaid "work placements" instead

[Marsh.]

I don't understand. Have they stopped her taking voluntary work in a sector she's interested in and wants a career in to be forced to do shifts in Poundland?

[Angus]

She doesn't have a job, she's being ordered to do this work at Poundland unpaid or lose her benefits despite the fact that she was already doing voluntary work, it's stupid


That's the rules for all people claiming JSA - it's supposed to give people some work experience, particularly those like her who've probably never done a day's work in their lives. She's not a special case, so why does she think she's exempt from the rules?

[InOne]

I don't understand. Have they stopped her taking voluntary work in a sector she's interested in and wants a career in to be forced to do shifts in Poundland?

Yeah pretty much, in order to keep her benefits. She has a right to be annoyed really.

[MTVN]

That's the rules for all people claiming JSA - it's supposed to give people some work experience, particularly those like her who've probably never done a day's work in their lives. She's not a special case, so why does she think she's exempt from the rules?

She was already doing voluntary work experience, and in the sector where she actually wants to work full time - a heck of a lot more useful than sweeping floors at Poundland

[lostalex]

IF she would get paid more as an employee of poundland than she does on her benefits then she has every right to be angry.

How can Poundland get away with having non-paid volunteers if those volunteerrs arn't making minimum wage? That makes no sense. Sounds like she's making a good point.

This is the government/tax payers subsidizing Poundland for free labor.

Is Poundland a government business? or is it a private business?? I'm American so i don't know exactly what Poundland is, is it like the Salvation Army?

[arista]

Yeah pretty much, in order to keep her benefits. She has a right to be annoyed really.


Yes she can get Angry
But No waste Legal Aid on a Human Rights Con. ( with a Lawyer)


She Gets Paid
working at poundland for nothing - will not Kill Her

[MTVN]

IF she would get paid more as an employee of poundland than she does on her benefits then she has every right to be angry.

How can Poundland get away with having non-paid volunteers if those volunteerrs arn't making minimum wage? That makes no sense. Sounds like she's making a good point.

This is the government/tax payers subsidizing Poundland for free labor.

Is Poundland a government business? or is it a private business?? I'm American so i don't know exactly what Poundland is, is it like the Salvation Army?

Yeah exactly, and no Poundland is a private business and nothing like the Salvation Army :laugh: it's just a cheap supermarket kind of place

[arista]

IF she would get paid more as an employee of poundland than she does on her benefits then she has every right to be angry.

How can Poundland get away with having non-paid volunteers if those volunteerrs arn't making minimum wage? That makes no sense. Sounds like she's making a good point.

This is the government/tax payers subsidizing Poundland for free labor.

Is Poundland a government business? or is it a private business?? I'm American so i don't know exactly what Poundland is, is it like the Salvation Army?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qnQuZ12QT1I/TVyYc_E5iGI/AAAAAAAAAK4/KoT7r56iz6Q/s1600/99CentsA.jpg


Its the Same as 99c Stores


and her benefits are more than poundland basic wages

[InOne]

Yes she can get Angry
But No waste Legal Aid on a Human Rights Con. ( with a Lawyer)


She Gets Paid
working at pounland for nothing - will not Kill Her

But if you've studied hard for a degree in Geology and then made to sweep floors at poundland just to get your benefits, when you've been doing voulantary work anyway, could be quite demoralizing

[arista]

But if you've studied hard for a degree in Geology and then made to sweep floors at poundland just to get your benefits, when you've been doing voulantary work anyway, could be quite demoralizing


FecK Off


She Picked the Wrong Subjects


Life Is Hard.

She is Doing Well.
Even in the News

[arista]

Yeah exactly, and no Poundland is a private business and nothing like the Salvation Army :laugh: it's just a cheap supermarket kind of place

They Have the Same Type Stores in America The 99Cent Stores
I shopped in them while I worked out there,
as well as Ralphs

[InOne]

FecK Off


She Picked the Wrong Subjects


Life Is Hard.

She is Doing Well.
Even in the News

Calm down :idc: Her degree is more worthwhile than some of the others.

[arista]

Calm down :idc: Her degree is more worthwhile than some of the others.


So What.



Sugar Built Amstrad from working on a Stall.



Feck Off About Eduction
She make me want to Puke.

[InOne]

So What.



Sugar Built Amstrad from working on a Stall.



Feck Off About Eduction
She make me want to Puke.

Not everyone is Alan Sugar though.

[lostalex]

If her benefits are more than the standard Poundland wages, then it sounds like it should be the Poundland employee's complaining, not this woman.

[MTVN]

Her benefits aren't more than the average Poundland employee, it would be the stupidest thing ever for JSA to ever be above the minimum wage

[lostalex]

Her benefits aren't more than the average Poundland employee, it would be the stupidest thing ever for JSA to ever be above the minimum wage
well Arista seems convinced they are. Arista why are you lying?

[Angus]

She was already doing voluntary work experience, and in the sector where she actually wants to work full time - a heck of a lot more useful than sweeping floors at Poundland

Sadly, the Jobcentre is more interested in "punishing" people for having the audacity to be out of work - their assumption being that all the unemployed are a bunch of workshy, lazy scroungers. Therefore, they devise ways to ensure that claiming benefits is as unpleasant as possible in the misguided belief that people will stop claiming and start working. Just one major flaw in their logic - there are dozens of applicants for every job going, so those that really want to work are being punished along with the bone idle scroungers.

Poundland is just one of thousands of employers who participate in the "punishment" since they have the benefit of free labour whilst the Government can appease the masses by demonstrating that those claiming benefits are not getting something for nothing.

[MTVN]

Sadly, the Jobcentre is more interested in "punishing" people for having the audacity to be out of work - their assumption being that all the unemployed are a bunch of workshy, lazy scroungers. Therefore, they devise ways to ensure that claiming benefits is as unpleasant as possible in the misguided belief that people will stop claiming and start working. Just one major flaw in their logic - there are dozens of applicants for every job going, so those that really want to work are being punished along with the bone idle scroungers.

Poundland is just one of thousands of employers who participate in the "punishment" since they have the benefit of free labour whilst the Government can appease the masses by demonstrating that those claiming benefits are not getting something for nothing.

I actually completely agree with that

[arista]

well Arista seems convinced they are. Arista why are you lying?


I am Not

She Gets Paid

[arista]

Not everyone is Alan Sugar though.


Of Course


But again So What

[Marsh.]

But if she was already doing voluntary work in an area she was wanting to enter as a full time career path then they should have let her be.

Forcing her to take a position they found for her seems ridiculous.

Although, I think suing ministers is too far.

[Pyramid*]

People need to get things into perspective. This young woman is moaning about nothing. She's been requested to do 2 weeks only, during which time she will still receive her JSA.

2 weeks. 10 working days.

I hardly think her voluntary work is going to suffer hugely -or her for that matter.

Head too far up her own arse and full of her own self importance, thinks she's too good to do the type of job for 10 days that some people do for a lifetime.




Miss Reilly is now taking landmark legal action against the Government after being told she risked losing her £53.45-a-week Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) payment if she turned down the two-week unpaid work experience stint at Poundland.

[arista]

People need to get things into perspective. This young woman is moaning about nothing. She's been requested to do 2 weeks only, during which time she will still receive her JSA.

2 weeks. 10 working days.

I hardly think her voluntary work is going to suffer hugely -or her for that matter.

Head too far up her own arse and full of her own self importance, thinks she's too good to do the type of job for 10 days that some people do for a lifetime.





Yes she is Utter Bad News

[fruit_cake]

it doesn't seem right to me that Poundland are getting free labor.

[Bollo]

I have no sympathy for her, I did an HND in fashion design which is notoriously hard to get into and I knew that when I did the course. I took another (completely unrelated) job to pay the bills and did my chosen subject in my spare time. People need to understand that if they want to work in the field of their choice they have to make sacrifices

[Scarlett.]

Surely the place she was volunteering at would let her do two damn weeks somewhere else to get benefits

[arista]

it doesn't seem right to me that Poundland are getting free labor.



It was only for 2 weeks
Not a Problem.

[fruit_cake]

It was only for 2 weeks
Not a Problem.

she could have come and swept my floors for two weeks. I'd have given her a better reference too :hmph:

[Pyramid*]

Surely the place she was volunteering at would let her do two damn weeks somewhere else to get benefits

Let's look at it this in a far more realistic way. She has chosen a Degree in a subject that clearly is not crying out for graduate workers -that was her choice to chose that type of career to get into - despite it not being an easy one, full of opportunities.

There are no details as to how long she works on a voluntary basis: it may not be the same full time regular hours that she will be expected to work in Poundland. For all we know, she could be volunteering for 2 hours a day from 1pm - 3pm - hardly good work experience in respect of mirroring full time working hours.

Fact and very much the reality is: she seems to expect to be able to accept JSA whilst waiting for her ideal job in her chosen sector to fall into her lap. Real life doesn't work that way - people have to take the jobs that they get, to get off the dole - even those with Degrees. That's life.

Time this little upstart realised that she may in fact have to accept a job such as the 2 week work experience in Poundland - for real if her ideal job in her ideal world doesn't fall into lap soon.

It's life. If she's so adverse to working in a job that isn't in her chosen field - regardless of what said job is - then she should not be entitled to any benefits if she's going to be so bloody fussy. She can take a job in the meantime and volunteer after her normal working hours (Ie: at weekends, days off etc)

She's at it. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Scarlett.]

I agree there, no one starts at the top

[Vicky.]

She's on benefits and was doing voluntary work at the same time, now she's being forced to do work in Poundland instead while still not getting paid what she would if it was a proper job, it's ridiculous, if Poundland can create these jobs for people to do as unpaid labour then why can't they actually give people actual jobs??

I dunno if people are misunderstanding this or something, this is not a job, most were against thus idea not long ago http://www.thisisbigbrother.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191490

Exactly.

This new scheme is stupid and will only end up with more people unemployed in the long run, once employers realise they can get free labour instead of paying min wage to their current workers ;)

Yeah some will say it will be monitored so that this doesnt happen...the government couldnt monitor their own toilet habits, nevermind something like this.

[Vicky.]

Missed the 2 week part of it..

So its totally useless really then...as no future employer is going to be impressed by a whole fortnight of work experience anyways :/

And I still think in the long term poundland will start sacking their 'lower down' workers (warehouse/shelf stackers)...the ones who would require little to no training in favour of getting more free workers. Its all about the profits

[Pyramid*]

Missed the 2 week part of it..

So its totally useless really then...as no future employer is going to be impressed by a whole fortnight of work experience anyways :/

And I still think in the long term poundland will start sacking their 'lower down' workers (warehouse/shelf stackers)...the ones who would require little to no training in favour of getting more free workers. Its all about the profits

Perhaps it's less the work experience from a future prospective employers' point of view: and more to get those who are not used to working full time hours, getting the feel of it, especially if they have become used to not having a strict routine. I still see nothing wrong with it.

As I say: not many of us went straight into our ideal jobs from the minute we began working - or in our ideal sector either.

[Vicky.]

Perhaps it's less the work experience from a future prospective employers' point of view: and more to get those who are not used to working full time hours, getting the feel of it, especially if they have become used to not having a strict routine. I still see nothing wrong with it.

As I say: not many of us went straight into our ideal jobs from the minute we began working - or in our ideal sector either.

And 2 whole weeks will do that?

A much better way to do this (not that the government actually think about things properly...all they care about is numbers) is make it a 3 month placement with a chance of a proper job at the end of it. And pay the person for doing it...maybe not minimum wage(though that would be preferable...as then they get used to having a REAL wage too...which would give incentive to work to most), but they SHOULD be better off than being on the dole. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to give stores such as poundland/tescos etc free work. They can afford to pay people.

Other than that, make the placements in places such as charity shops...who actually are crying out for workers and arent as rich as chainstores.

[Pyramid*]

And 2 whole weeks will do that?

A much better way to do this (not that the government actually think about things properly...all they care about is numbers) is make it a 3 month placement with a chance of a proper job at the end of it. And pay the person for doing it...maybe not minimum wage(though that would be preferable...as then they get used to having a REAL wage too...which would give incentive to work to most), but they SHOULD be better off than being on the dole. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to give stores such as poundland/tescos etc free work. They can afford to pay people.

Other than that, make the placements in places such as charity shops...who actually are crying out for workers and arent as rich as chainstores.


I've no idea. What I do know is that regardless: she's moaning about being asked to do some work for 2 weeks - whilst receiving JSA.

I really don't see what the fuss is about.

If anything, it may make her realise just how hard people in these types of jobs actually have to work. Like I said, given her rather selective career path: she might have to take such a job permanently.

Hundreds, thousands of companies offer these type of placements - to Uni students etc: even if short term: I don't see the harm it will do her. It may not be of huge benefit, but it most certainly won't do her any hard to work full time for 10 whole days.

It's not exactly asking her to push the boat out. She comes across as it simply being 'demeaning' in her eyes.

[Vicky.]

Meh I dunno. It just seems so pointless. No-one will get anything out of it...besides big companies who get a bit of free labour(who do not NEED free labour)

The scroungers (who this is meant to punish) will find ways to get out of doing it, much like they know how to work the current system to their advantage, they always do. And even if they didnt, 2 weeks is nothing. It wont show them the benefits of working as opposed to being on the dole...as they arent getting paid (the main benefit of working being a decent wage rather than the 50 quid a week you get on jsa..I would say anyway)...it wont help them get a job in the future as 2 weeks work experience will make no difference...it wont really show them what its like to work full time, as its only 2 weeks worth, and if its anything like the other government courses you are allowed to have 2-4 days off during that 2 weeks too. So technically you could get away with doing only 6 days.

Its not about getting people back into work at all. Its about finding ways to twist the figures...and thats pretty much it :/

[Saph]

She needs to put some makeup on, get down to the stripclub and make some serious cash.

[MTVN]

Thing is if Poundland want people to stack their shelves and sweep their floors than they should damn well have to pay them the minimum wage for it, not have the government subsidise unpaid labour for them which is just going to be to the detriment of their other employees, why would they take on more workers and give them a decent salary when the Coalition is giving them free labour on a plate.

If these 2 week placements really have to take place (and I don't think they should) than why not have them done somewhere more useful, in charity shops or helping out with other voluntary projects around community's or something like that

[Pyramid*]

Thing is if Poundland want people to stack their shelves and sweep their floors than they should damn well have to pay them the minimum wage for it, not have the government subsidise unpaid labour for them which is just going to be to the detriment of their other employees, why give your other workers a decent salary when the Coalition is giving you free labour on a plate.

If these 2 week placements really have to take place (and I don't think they should) than why not have them done somewhere more useful, in charity shops or helping out with other voluntary projects around community's or something like that

Most charity shops and community work requires people to have CRB's - that can take weeks - that could be an influencing factor.

I really don't see the issue at all.

[arista]

She needs to put some makeup on, get down to the stripclub and make some serious cash.



No thats against her Left Wing Politics.


Sign Of The Times

[Vicky.]

The issue...is that this free labour should be real jobs going to people who actually want to be off the dole(they are not as rare as the media would have you believe). Not people forced to work there...for no real reason... and the government still forking out JSA to them while the 'employers' pay nowt.

[arista]

The issue...is that this free labour should be real jobs going to people who actually want to be off the dole(they are not as rare as the media would have you believe). Not people forced to work there...for no real reason... and the government still forking out JSA to them while the 'employers' pay nowt.


No Vicky
It did her Good


She gets Paid.

[Vicky.]

No Vicky
It did her Good


She gets Paid.

She doesnt get paid...she gets her JSA that she would get anyway.

Im not arguing against this one particular story anyway, Im arguing against the whole scheme in general :p

[Livia]

There is no disgrace in honest toil. A prospective employer will probably be impressed she's got off her backside and done something rather than sitting around taking benefits while she waits for a plum job. There are plenty of graduates doing unskilled jobs.

[arista]

She doesnt get paid...she gets her JSA that she would get anyway.

Im not arguing against this one particular story anyway, Im arguing against the whole scheme in general :p



Not Any More



You Do what You Are Told




Labour Failed.

Conservative-LibDem get it Right.

[Shasown]

Given that the girl wants to continue working in charity shops as a career path, though not on a strictly voluntary basis. I think its a bit daft that they didnt just assign her work in a charity shop as opposed to a chain store that can actually afford to employ people to do the job she was forced into as a placement.

If the jobsworths in the Department of Work and Pensions actually pulled their fingers from their arses and did the job they were supposed to do, they could have approached the shop where she was working voluntarily and asked them to do the placement.

Or is that simply a question of common sense prevailing over bureacracy?

Mind you suing because she had to stop her voluntary work and follow guidelines she has signed up for by claiming jobseekers allowable is a bit laughable.

But this is the sort of thing we can expect in todays society after all where there is blame there is a claim.

[Pyramid*]

She doesnt get paid...she gets her JSA that she would get anyway.

Im not arguing against this one particular story anyway, Im arguing against the whole scheme in general :p


She won't if she doesn't toe the line and so what she's told ....... ;)

[Angus]

She won't if she doesn't toe the line and so what she's told ....... ;)


And don't let's forget that she is probably receiving non contributory JSA, so she is hardly in a position to call the shots. If she doesn't want to work in Poundland no-one is "forcing" her, but then she will have to forego the JSA that other people's taxes have funded.

[Pyramid*]

And don't let's forget that she is probably receiving non contributory JSA, so she is hardly in a position to call the shots. If she doesn't want to work in Poundland no-one is "forcing" her, but then she will have to forego the JSA that other people's taxes have funded.

Quite.

Happy enough to take money when she's most likely not even paid into the coffers in the first instance, yet she moans the first time she gets a chance.

Correct, no one is forcing her. If she is so appalled and so against it - let her fund herself then instead. She has a choice - she doesn't LIKE the choices she has though: and that's her problem.

[Shasown]

I say its all a tad dramatic.

Do you really think she is workshy? Or just kicking up a fuss to maybe get some attention that she didnt receive at home?

You reckon she went to uni gained a degree then plans to sit on her ass claiming JSA with letters behind her name for the rest of her days?

As for no contributions to the tax system etc so far, she may have had previous jobs, she may have paid taxes, her parents may be fantastically rich and have paid taxes all their lives at super rate. None that really matters. She will hopefully contribute to the system in the future. Thats one of the basic principles behind the UK Welfare State.

[Vicky.]

Exactly.

This new scheme is stupid and will only end up with more people unemployed in the long run, once employers realise they can get free labour instead of paying min wage to their current workers ;)

Yeah some will say it will be monitored so that this doesnt happen...the government couldnt monitor their own toilet habits, nevermind something like this.

Olllllld thread, but told ya this would happen.

http://www.boycottworkfare.org/

This week, Boycott Workfare has been contacted by a concerned member of staff working at high street retailer Shoe Zone. Their first hand experience, which they bravely wanted to share with us all, provides yet more evidence that workfare is replacing paid jobs. As with Argos and Superdrug, Shoezone are using ‘work experience’ from the job centre to cover the busy Christmas period instead of employing temporary staff or giving current staff the option of over-time.


I dont understand how ANYONE can defend workfare at all. Even if you think jobseekers are scroungers and that, surely you can see that this is bad for the country? Ridding us of paid jobs and replacing them with free staff while allowing massive companies to up their profits at the cost of the tax payer.

[Kizzy]

Me either, a friend of my nephew just worked very hard in his local halfords,he was so sure he had the chance of a more permanant position.
His manager was singing his praises, and he worked well with other staff.
Two weeks later the store won't return his emails, his jobcentre advisor has recieved no feedback, and a new recruit from the workfare programme has started work....

[King Gizzard]

JC/DWP is a complete and utter joke with the sole intention of finding ways to get innocent people off benefits and not actually helping them obtain long term work

[arista]

JC/DWP is a complete and utter joke with the sole intention of finding ways to get innocent people off benefits and not actually helping them obtain long term work



They are changing how it works, now.

[Kizzy]

The guardian online has posted that only 3.5% of those on workforce get long term work.
Will the government now admit it's a sham?

[Vicky.]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/nov/30/sick-disabled-work-benefits-programme

Getting better :rolleyes:

Sick and disabled to be forced to do free work too.

from that article

The MWA scheme also does not work. The DWP's most recent study is clear about its efficacy: it has zero effect on increasing people's chances of getting a job. Nevertheless, the idea of forcing those on benefits to undertake weeks and months of unpaid work has spread. In August the London mayor, Boris Johnson, announced he was using European social fund money to force 18- to 24-year-olds to commit themselves to 13 weeks of unpaid work.

So why keep pushing with it eh? Why so keen to provide free labour for businesses?

[Kizzy]

I don't know vicky... It's disgusting how anyone can justify this slave labour I don't know!
An honest days work for a decent days pay that is the only way that society will prosper.
I don't know where they are getting these policies from...
the 1880's from the sounds of it!

[Marcus.]

silly girl

[Kizzy]

Who is silly and why???

[Vicky.]

So..it turns out workfare IS replacing actual jobs. Most of us knew this already, its just basic common sense...offer an employer free staff, they will take advantage.

Instead of just copying the links and such...

Homebase poster here: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/homebase-workfare.jpg

This poster, leaked yesterday from Haringey Homebase, shows exactly how employers view workfare: an easy way to cut the wages bill. Homebase claim “We ensure they work alongside, not replace, paid colleagues”, but a staff member has told us that since tens of workfare placements were brought in, overtime has been cut for everyone. Some people’s hours have been cut from 48 down to 8 – far below the threshold for Working Tax Credits – because that is all they are contracted for.

It turns out 750 hours with no payroll costs – the figure for just one week in just one of Homebase’s 342 stores – does have a massive impact on the paid work available. Apparently it’s an effect that is popular with the regional manager, who we’ve heard has been trying to get all Homebase stores in her region to use workfare, and has been suspending or moving managers who don’t.

Full article here:

http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=2404

Guardian article also:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/apr/06/homebase-criticised-work-experience-claims

Contact Homebase:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/homebase
On Twitter: Tweet to @homebase_uk
By email: order.enquiries@homebase.co.uk or info@homebase.co.uk or enquiries@homebase.co.uk
By phone: 0845 077 8888 or 0845 601 6911

Or contact the company they are owned by: http://www.homeretailgroup.com/contact-us/

Since this came out...homebase have had this to say

https://twitter.com/Homebase_uk/status/321606478882562048

[arista]

Is this Policy Dead now?

[Vicky.]

Unfortunately not. Its still being used.

[Kizzy]

I don't understand what is happening here... is this employer exploiting the workfare system? or do the government know that this practice happens and are turning a blind eye. If they are why, of what benefit is it to keep people on the dole not earning the means to pay direct or indirect taxes?

[Vicky.]

I don't understand what is happening here... is this employer exploiting the workfare system? or do the government know that this practice happens and are turning a blind eye. If they are why, of what benefit is it to keep people on the dole not earning the means to pay direct or indirect taxes?

I have absolutely no idea.

Apparently the dwp pay the companies 2k or so to take on the workfare people in the first place too :S