Deceived by the job center

[frozenelsa]

It can be hard for some people to assert themselves - I'm all for a quiet life - but you reach a stage where you have to do it, or you'll just get picked on. Hopefully if you complain loud enough and back it up with their own guidance she'll leave you alone and switch to someone else.

 

The JC seem to have the impression that everything is all one-way ie they tell you what to do and you just have to accept it, but they're public servants who actually have far more rules to follow than we do; if they don't follow them then they too can be reported - and to a lot more people too.

 

I reached that stage on monday. She thinks shes clever and was visable annoyed on monday when I informed her I had had her sanction overturned. Shes well known at my JC+ for being hell bent on sanctioning people and making our lives a misery.

[Mr.P]

The JC seem to have the impression that everything is all one-way ie they tell you what to do and you just have to accept it, but they're public servants who actually have far more rules to follow than we do.

 

One reason I object to being address by first name, or worse, mate - That will be Sir to you buster.

 

Sometimes, these public servants need to be reminded that they are here to serve the public (not just JCP staff). Even my bank manager knows better than to use first names.

[antone]

When I worked for JCP I would tend to address claimants as "Mr or Ms Smith". First names would have been too familiar, and as for "Sir"? I'm a civil servant, not a slave. I mean, if someone really insisted then I guess I'd have complied ("Yes massa, I be a-pickin' de cotton") because some battles just aren't worth fighting. But Jeez, Walt!

[Mr.P]

When I worked for JCP I would tend to address claimants as "Mr or Ms Smith". First names would have been too familiar, and as for "Sir"? I'm a civil servant, not a slave.

 

Didn't mean to cause offence - The majority of JCP/DWP staff are trying to do a difficult job under increasingly greater pressure. The rhetoric and policy from central office and the ministers in charge do little to help the situation.

 

There are some front line staff that try to be chummy and use first names or address a customer as "mate", or even worse, "chap" . The last one seems to be growing in popularity amongst the young kids on till duty in the local supermarket - They either get a quick verbal slap-down, or I have a go at the duty manager

[jasta11]

Latest bit of JC whistle-blowing here.. getting to be quite the norm isn't it.

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/stitching-up-claimants-part-job-says-3537051

[JoeyJoeC]

I challenged it and lost.

[JoeyJoeC]

It can be hard for some people to assert themselves - I'm all for a quiet life - but you reach a stage where you have to do it, or you'll just get picked on. Hopefully if you complain loud enough and back it up with their own guidance she'll leave you alone and switch to someone else.

 

The JC seem to have the impression that everything is all one-way ie they tell you what to do and you just have to accept it, but they're public servants who actually have far more rules to follow than we do; if they don't follow them then they too can be reported - and to a lot more people too.

 

Complain loud enough and you will get one of their "security guards" escorting you out the door.

[Charlotte_Henderson]

First off, if you want to gain employment, why don't you want to do the course ?

 

 

 

Oh come on, we all know that JCP/Ingeus course are a waste of time. and NO one gains employment from them!

[JoeyJoeC]

Oh come on, we all know that JCP/Ingeus course are a waste of time. and NO one gains employment from them!

 

They seem to be constructed to make it as inconvenient for the job seekers as possible, hopefully to help them get sanctioned.

[antone]

Didn't mean to cause offence - The majority of JCP/DWP staff are trying to do a difficult job under increasingly greater pressure. The rhetoric and policy from central office and the ministers in charge do little to help the situation.

 

There are some front line staff that try to be chummy and use first names or address a customer as "mate", or even worse, "chap" . The last one seems to be growing in popularity amongst the young kids on till duty in the local supermarket - They either get a quick verbal slap-down, or I have a go at the duty manager

 

No offence taken. The question of how to address people is always a tricky one - people often have strong feelings about how they wish to be addressed but everyone is different and there's no easy way to guess the right answer. Certainly "mate" and so on are unacceptable, and if I was the manager of any staff who were using that mode of address I'd tell them to knock it off.

 

In many ways I'm glad to be out of there. While I was good at my job, it's wearing. The claimants hate you, management thinks you're a serial slacker, the government thinks there are three of you, and all you have to do is keep everyone happy. Fun times.

[frozenelsa]

I challenged it and lost.

 

I still intend to challenge it because they are not getting away with blatantly lying to my face. I have a few avenues to go down and I will visit them all.

[Lilly_Monroe]

No offence taken. The question of how to address people is always a tricky one - people often have strong feelings about how they wish to be addressed but everyone is different and there's no easy way to guess the right answer. Certainly "mate" and so on are unacceptable, and if I was the manager of any staff who were using that mode of address I'd tell them to knock it off.

 

In many ways I'm glad to be out of there. While I was good at my job, it's wearing. The claimants hate you, management thinks you're a serial slacker, the government thinks there are three of you, and all you have to do is keep everyone happy. Fun times.

 

I have no problem with people using my Christian name, I like the less formal approach - I do not see what the 'hang up' is, so long as people are polite then I am OK with it.

It is the name I was given at birth, and I like how society has become less formal and broken down the 'them and us barriers'.

I think I might be some what peeved if somewhat suggested I refer to them as Sir, Mr, Mrs or whatever -seems to suggest they see themselves on a higher plain than me, and seems somewhat unnecessary.

What I do not like is being referred to as ' she or her' that is rude!

 

As said, we are all different.

[jasta11]

Complain loud enough and you will get one of their "security guards" escorting you out the door.

 

Very true. What I meant by 'complain loud' was complain to everyone you can think of; District Manager, Regional Manager, PCS Union, your MP and the media. Don't just complain to the guy/girl on the reception desk - they'll be totally uninterested (plus it's their mates you're complaining about).

 

Could also in the first instance complain to the adviser's supervisor, but in my JC they stand around laughing and joking with their supervisors so obviously they're all friends together. Probably would just be ignored. I always avoid them and the JC manager and go straight to the District Manager.

[antone]

I have no problem with people using my Christian name, I like the less formal approach - I do not see what the 'hang up' is, so long as people are polite then I am OK with it.

It is the name I was given at birth, and I like how society has become less formal and broken down the 'them and us barriers'.

I think I might be some what peeved if somewhat suggested I refer to them as Sir, Mr, Mrs or whatever -seems to suggest they see themselves on a higher plain than me, and seems somewhat unnecessary.

What I do not like is being referred to as ' she or her' that is rude!

 

As said, we are all different.

 

Yes, mode of address is a minefield. As I said, if someone really, really insisted that I call him "sir" then I'd do it rather than go to war over the topic, but it does seem unnecessary. When it comes to first names, some claimants would tell me it was OK to do so and in such cases I would, but I wouldn't presume it was OK unless invited. "Mr or Ms" seems to strike the right balance between respect and gratuitous subservience.

 

Saying that, even to this day (I'm 42, today, in fact) whenever someone calls me "Mr Antone" I look around thinking "Is my Dad standing behind me?"

[jasta11]

 

Saying that, even to this day (I'm 42, today, in fact) whenever someone calls me "Mr Antone" I look around thinking "Is my Dad standing behind me?"

 

Well Happy Birthday, Mr Antone I'm sure everyone here wishes you the same.

 

er...why are you on here now instead of going out on the lash for your birthday????

[frozenelsa]

Yes, mode of address is a minefield. As I said, if someone really, really insisted that I call him "sir" then I'd do it rather than go to war over the topic, but it does seem unnecessary. When it comes to first names, some claimants would tell me it was OK to do so and in such cases I would, but I wouldn't presume it was OK unless invited. "Mr or Ms" seems to strike the right balance between respect and gratuitous subservience.

 

Saying that, even to this day (I'm 42, today, in fact) whenever someone calls me "Mr Antone" I look around thinking "Is my Dad standing behind me?"

 

Happy birthday

[wobbly]

I used to call one of my Gaffers Sir,and as I was known as a trade unionist his reply to me was always how do you spell that John "cur" he obviously had a sense of humour.

[antone]

Well Happy Birthday, Mr Antone I'm sure everyone here wishes you the same.

 

er...why are you on here now instead of going out on the lash for your birthday????

 

Oh, duty calls and all that

 

My "partying" will consist of a couple of cans of beer and some reviewing of Game of Thrones - you can't beat a bit of gratuitous violence, soft porn and foul language on your birthday.

[antone]

Happy birthday

 

Thank you M'Lady

[essexmat]

Happy Birthday, antone

[Lilly_Monroe]

Yes, mode of address is a minefield. As I said, if someone really, really insisted that I call him "sir" then I'd do it rather than go to war over the topic, but it does seem unnecessary. When it comes to first names, some claimants would tell me it was OK to do so and in such cases I would, but I wouldn't presume it was OK unless invited. "Mr or Ms" seems to strike the right balance between respect and gratuitous subservience.

 

Saying that, even to this day (I'm 42, today, in fact) whenever someone calls me "Mr Antone" I look around thinking "Is my Dad standing behind me?"

 

 

Well Happy Birthday Mr Antone:)

[Mr.P]

you can't beat a bit of gratuitous violence, soft porn and foul language on your birthday.

 

Just watched another episode of 'Xena, Warrior Princess' - I dedicate tonight's episode to you.

[estellyn]

Oh, duty calls and all that

 

My "partying" will consist of a couple of cans of beer and some reviewing of Game of Thrones - you can't beat a bit of gratuitous violence, soft porn and foul language on your birthday.

 

 

Just saw GoT - plenty of soft porn for you this week, less bad language and violence though. Maybe some In The Flesh to get your 'hit'. Best wishes, and happy returns and all that......slightly belated.

[antone]

Just saw GoT - plenty of soft porn for you this week, less bad language and violence though. Maybe some In The Flesh to get your 'hit'. Best wishes, and happy returns and all that......slightly belated.

 

Favourite moment from this week "I'm sorry Theon (or should I call you "Reek"). I know we just stormed a heavily guarded castle and slaughtered many men in cold blood, then let Ramsey monologue to his heart's content while standing three feet away from him and holding an axe, but dammit, that dog was big."

 

Anyhow, thanks all, and sorry to frozenelsa for the hijack of this thread.

[essexmat]

Never watched GoT - I have however just finished all 4 seasons of Battlestar Galactica (geek!)