Employment confusion

[andrewducker]

When I was unemployed for about 18 months back in 1994-95 (just after graduating), I was sent on a few training courses, and put into unpaid work placements. Is this actually different to what's currently being proposed?

I'm not trying to snark - I'm actively confused as to whether this is in any way a new thing.

Comments

[iainjcoleman.livejournal.com]

On your original question, there's an interesting discussion on the Bad Science forums here, starting from this comment:

I don't understand how this is much different from the existing New Deal program. Long term unemployed in this case probably means 6 months, which is what it means now anyway.
After being on JSA for six months you are then put on the New Deal and get extra support and are expected to get a volunteer job for 3 months during this period. Extra help and reduced hours are allowed for people with minor illness that stop them working certain amounts of hours.

Having been through it myself what happens is that you work for 4 days a week and on the fifth day you go to a job search center (you do this even when you haven't a job and are expected to go more often if you don't) and spent 8 hours applying for jobs, updating CV etc. I didn't find this horrible, the support was very good, you were able to reclaim travel expenses, you get a £15 bump in JSA :roll: and so forth, the support was there but sadly the jobs were not and no amount of effort can get you a job that isn't there. People were volunteering in charities like the Citizens Advice Bureau (including me), others in retail work for large chain stores (free workers for them who aren't covered by job contracts) or where ever they could find it. It didn't feel like the slave labour people are claiming it will be, some people were obviously against it and they just seemed like the ones who don't want to work, most enjoyed it and actually wanted to work the fifth day rather than job searching. The biggest problem with it, no jobs once it's over, it's a massive comedown and most people know the work they are doing is fruitless with a slim chance of a job at end, but what can you do? stop and lose all benefits for three months is the alternative already. Also if you take more than 5 days sick in the 3 months of work you get "fired" from the job by the job center and kicked off new deal and jsa for three months.

Anyway, like i said, this thing from IDS actually seems less forceful than the existing new deal which makes you do 3 months of work with much harsher limits and always has the threat of "we'll cut your benefits if you don't dance monkey boy" mantra around it.

Same shit, different government.