threatened for wearing a t-shirt

[Shaun_6873]

Sparks,

 

 

Why should I wear a Jacket? everyone else can wear all sorts of t-shirts but not me, I think they picking on me because it has the word gay on my t-shirt.

[GrumpyToSayTheLeast]

I'm not even going to start. Just cover up and move along. Its easier and stops wasting tax payers money.

[Nystagmite]

Renegadeimp,

 

 

Why an earth would I be doing it deliberately? I also contacted a few solicitors last week but they can't help me as they not involved with benefit things but they did state that I should be able to wear what I want at my appointments and some said it sounds like discrimination and you should go to your local papers.

 

It does sound very much like you are doing this on purpose.

[Shaun_6873]

Antone,

 

 

It states on the letter the following: You were told that you must dress appropriately when attending Job Centre appointments, You should tell us why you did not do this, if you don't have a good reason for doing this then your universal credit payments will be cut or sanctioned.

[honeybee13]

Would you mind answering the question in post #25, please Shaun?

 

HB

[Shaun_6873]

Nystagmite,

 

 

I gave up trying to prove to you that I am not doing it on purpose.

[Shaun_6873]

Honeybee,

 

I have done in page 29.

[id6052]

Antone,

 

 

It states on the letter the following: You were told that you must dress appropriately when attending Job Centre appointments, You should tell us why you did not do this, if you don't have a good reason for doing this then your universal credit payments will be cut or sanctioned.

 

is this letter the response to your complaint? or was this the threat of the sanction?

 

it is hard to follow without knowing the full content of the complaint and response

[honeybee13]

Honeybee,

 

I have done in page 29.

 

Apologies, crossed posts.

 

HB

[id6052]

have you asked them to provide a clear definitive list of what is considered appropriate clothing and inappropriate clothing for signing on?

[Sparks_]

Sparks,

 

 

Why should I wear a Jacket? everyone else can wear all sorts of t-shirts but not me, I think they picking on me because it has the word gay on my t-shirt.

 

I think you have developed a bee in the bonnet outlook! You really think they are out to just get you? They are out to get everyone they can, give them an inch and they will take a mile! Dont try to antagonise them as they will sanction you for the least little thing they can, all you have to do is play their game for 10 mins a fortnight then go on with what you want to do!

[Shaun_6873]

id6052

 

Sorry, meant to say it's a threat of a sanction, not my response to my complaint.

[antone]

Antone,

 

 

It states on the letter the following: You were told that you must dress appropriately when attending Job Centre appointments, You should tell us why you did not do this, if you don't have a good reason for doing this then your universal credit payments will be cut or sanctioned.

 

OK. Well, as I see it, you have a couple of options:

 

1) Challenge any sanction that is imposed and also seek legal advice if you genuinely feel that the treatment you are receiving is discriminatory. Note that the mere fact that your tshirt mentions your sexuality is not in itself sufficient evidence to prove any kind of discrimination. For example, it may well be that the same adviser would deem a tshirt that read "I like boobies" to be equally inappropriate. If you choose to make an issue out of this you could find yourself without money for a long period of time while it all gets resolved, with no guarantee of success.

 

2) Wear a different tshirt.

 

Note this: I am not trying to justify discrimination if that is what is happening. But you need to think very carefully about what hills you choose to die on, because proving discrimination is not a trivial task.

[id6052]

i do not really understand why such a t-shirt is inappropriate for the purposes of signing on, unless: -

1. there is a possibility that an employer will be interviewing in the jobcentre on that day
   
2. there is a possibility that you could get a job interview arranged that day
   

 

if either of the above apply, i can understand the issue, but then the same issue would therefore apply to people arriving in scruffy unwashed clothes, etc

 

i would be really tempted to ask for list of appropriate and inappropriate clothing

 

one other thought, was there any mention of appropriate clothing in your Jobseeker Ageement or whatever the equivalent is under UC (claimant conditionality?)

[Shaun_6873]

Id6052,

 

I 100% agree with you on your post, if an interview is taking place that day when some claimants are signing on and he/she is wearing dirty clothes, trackies, trainers, t-shirts with cartoons on, football, Batmat etc then them are not suitable for a Job Interview so why just me getting picked on with my t-shirt while anyone else can wear all sorts of different t-shirts.

 

This is the bit I am confused!

[id6052]

my only other thought is that, if you have been wearing what is substantively the same t-shirt (all be it in a rainbow of colours) for 3 years, maybe the adviser has concerns that your limited sartorial elegance may in some way be creating a barrier to you finding sustainable employment?

[GrumpyToSayTheLeast]

Why not try to dress smart in the hope of finding a job and not just to "sign on".

[Shaun_6873]

No, that's not true, I worked for Boohoo on 25 November 2014 - 13 January 2015 and I got that job by myself, so my t-shirt has got nothing to do with barriers.

[id6052]

was there any mention of appropriate clothing in your Jobseeker Ageement or whatever the equivalent is under UC (claimant conditionality?)

[id6052]

well done on getting a job with Boohoo (not quite sure what that is) - pity it did not last longer, so you would not be dealing with JC+ again

 

out of interest, did you wear your t-shirt(s) to work each day at Boohoo?

[Shaun_6873]

No, no mention of clothing it just states what I need to do to look for work like websites, hand CVs out, also it states if get sanction then it shows how many days etc.

[Shaun_6873]

Id6052,

 

Thanks, no I didn't wear my t-shirt while I was working at Boohoo, we had uniform provided, Boohoo is a big warehouse involves Picking garments, packing, house keeping.

 

I was scanning items with a scanner.

[id6052]

not wanting to be too nosey, if i am just say so, but can i ask why you wear the same sloganned t-shirt so often?

is it a gay pride thing?

is it a way to pick up men?

 

maybe, you should try others like

i'm not gay but my boyfriend is

does this t-shirt make me look gay

i'm so gay i can't even think straight

a good man is hard to find, a hard man is good to find

 

http://rlv.zcache.co.uk/rainbow_flag_and_keep_calm_and_carry_on_tshirt-r9dfaf61e5e034702a6a934cad33dbac3_va6lr_324.jpg

 

i think last one would do well for signing on

[antone]

Why not try to dress smart in the hope of finding a job and not just to "sign on".

 

That's ridiculous. Who ever heard of someone getting a job at the Jobcentre? The unemployed are sent there as penance for their sins, not to help them find work.

 

If it sounds like I'm being sarcastic here, I assure you I am not.

[Shaun_6873]

id6052,

 

Nah, it's fine, I wear the same slogan because if I don't wear it then no one will know, you can't tell if I am gay because I am 100% straight acting (sorry, if that's saying annoys you) but it's true.

 

I also wear it because I am proud of my sexuality, I got nothing to be ashamed about.