Hi

I had a interview for a job as Sales Aministrator on Thursday, towards the end of the interview the employer asked me about a work trial, I said you will have to ask at the Job Centre as I dont know much about it. Friday Morning she phones me and asked if I still wanted the job, I said yes, she then said good, I've arranged a work trial through the Job Centre for 2 weeks and could I start Monday, I told her It would have to be Monday Afternoon as i'm at the opticians in the morning and have to sign on. I was a bit annoyed, as this was done behind my back but if it gets me the job it's OK.

Friday afternoon the Job Centre phone me and tell me that they have arranged a work trial to start Monday, I said the employer has phoned me and I have arranged to start monday afternoon, so I told him about the opticians and signing on, he said dont worry about signing on as he would sort it. Then has a go at me about the work trial being more important than the opticians and I should start Monday Morning. I said to him that I thought the work trial is voluntary? He then said that if in his opinion, that i was capable of doing the job and turned it down at the end or if I stopped the work trial half way through , he would stop my claim for JCA.

This can't be right ? Can it.

Advise please

I have just seen this on the CAB website.

Voluntary schemes

Some government schemes are voluntary and you can ask your personal adviser for advice on joining one.

In some cases, however, attendance may be compulsory if the personal adviser feels you will benefit from attendance. In these cases, you will be referred via a jobseeker’s direction. If you are given a jobseeker’s direction to attend any of the schemes below, failure to do so, or leaving before the scheme is completed, can lead to a benefit sanction

I thought work trials was voluntary? and I could leave if i didn't like it.

Anyone with any ideas?

i'm sure you could change your optician appointment, for goodness sake, ive needed glasses for over a year but cant afford it.

I have been working for the last few weeks and declaring what I earn, as it is only 5 or 6 hours a week. I also work voluntary at the local Job Club two days a week. I live at the seaside so most of the work is seasonal, I will have enough hours to sign off in a few weeks.

I had a job interview last week and this work trial was arranged behind my back, now I cannot do my paid work as I have been told to do this work trial or my JSA will be sactioned. All I wanted to know is a work trial voluntary or not?

I'm not too concerned whether you can or cannot afford glasses but I am diabetic and I need an eye test. If you can't afford to buy glasses why not try tesco's opticians where everyone can get an eye test for free and you can buy your glasses online for as little as £10.

lol, thanks for the info about the eye test ect,

i guess if they say you maybe sanctioned then i guess that's what will happen, your under control of a labour government and must do as they say.

no-one knows so much as those about being under the control of the government than those subject to its extremes

Work trials are voluntary. If you leave the job before the trial ends, or turn down any permanant job offer as a result of the trial, then your benefit will not be affected. The whole point of the work trials are for both the employer and potential employee to see if they are suited to each other.

Signed on last Monday at 9.40 AM and was told again by 2 staff that if I turned down this work trial or finished it before the end, my JSA would be sanctioned. I told them that I thought they was wrong, but they wouldn't listen to me. So I said OK I'll do the work trial, can you give me some petrol expenses and dinner money (as stated on the direct gov website) Only after I turn up for the work trial, I was told, I said how do I get there with no petrol. It all got a bit messy and we started going round in circles, I was also given some sarcastic comments by one of the staff. I was then told to press G on the internal phone and talk to someone else to be told to come back in a hour, but I need to be at the work trial in an hour I told her, She said she couldnt do anything until after lunch.

So I turn up after lunch (1PM) and kept waiting for half an hour, to be told that Yes, the work trial is voluntary!! So I said stuff the work trial and walked out.

It's took me 2 days to get over all this. I stopped in and didn't talk to anyone.

I think I've made a mistake by not going to the trial, I was just so upset at the time.

I am so fed up with the Job centre staff for the way they treated me and even more fed up with myself for letting them get to me.

Sounds like the staff at the jobcentre you sign at can't tell their arse from their elbow.

Next time you go in, ask to make a complaint. Make sure you are given the "Our Service Standards" leaflet.

It was a part time job I applied for. The work trial that was set up behind my back was for a full 2 weeks, which I wasn't very happy about. I realise I might have cut my nose off to spite my face but if the employer and the JC asked me what I wanted, This could have been sorted out without any problems at all.

Very similar thing has happened to me, and I just don't know what to make of the whole situation.

I attended an interview, and was offered the job immediately. I told the employer I needed a few days to think, and that I would get back to him, because he hadn't really sold it to me. I am somewhat over qualified for the role. Plus I had another interview, for a much more appropriate and well paid position, in the pipeline!

He really put me in a pickle because he contacted the job centre about doing a work trial without consulting me. This is my main gripe, it all feels a bit underhand. Job Centre have assured me that there are no repurcussions if I decide to leave, but I am still worried that my benefit will be affected. I was made an offer of employment after all and accepting a reasonable offer is part of the conditions.

I am happy that I have been offered a job, but a little annoyed that I will now have to work for three weeks at sub-minimal wage rate. Still, I suppose I get to find out why this particular employer has a high staff turnover, without having to go to the bother of signing off.

What annoyed me was the fact it was set up behind my back, then told if I don't do it my benefit would be stopped. I would have done the work trial, as I have the qualifications but little experience, then the Job Centre stepped in with their 2 pence worth. Direct.gov website says it's voluntary. Anyway I start work on Tuesday:). It's on the Future Job fund, I can get the training I need and get paid at the same time, happy days.