Med 3, ill health , employment and what it means to be off sick

I have become unwell with stress and  the demands at work, and changes there have had a detrimental impact on my health. I am off work and feel worse than ever.

The struggle and endless worry has added to the already fragile situation.

Rent, council tax, gas, electricity, food, phone etc.

I was unable to pay my rent due to the reduction in pay. Sick Pay is £92.05 per week.
This left me facing eviction.

If only there was a way to get things in motion when someone becomes ill.

This is a blog about unemployment and jobseeking, and the difficulties surrounding it.

Employment is not always the answer out of poverty, as it brings more responsibility and greater pressures

I thought I’d add a little to this blog about employment and sickness too.

I can’t stretch the sick pay far enough. I can’t deal with going to the council and endless forms, can’t tell service provider  why I can’t pay this month, other than because I have no money.

So I close my eyes instead and hope it goes away. My Gp has at least been good.
Constant letters from my employer, demanding meetings with a few days notice, always adding I face disciplinary action if I don’t attend. Demands about bills, knocks at the door.

I have an illness what affects my mental health at the minute, and that makes it more difficult to explain to anyone.

Guilt is another pressure, my absence has caused people I work with issues-I have been told.
My reasons for being off are questioned by my employer,  despite my Doctor providing a certificate.

I hadn’t ever imagined that becoming ill would create such a huge impact on my life, yet it has.
I don’t know where to turn.

What makes it worse, is that my job involves helping people in similar situations, yet there is no advice service I can access myself.

There is little or no help out there for people.
I feel alone and vulnerable.
In work there is some sort of stability, yet sickness when least able to cope is when people need help.
Justine

Still Employed

Hi, well I have not updated my blog for some time. I am happy to say that I have just found out I have my job for another year, yes still working.

Its very sad to see many companies and factories where I live continue to lay staff off, close or make staff redundant.

I understand people still struggle daily-living hand to mouth and continue to search tirelessly in their search for employment.

The Job Centre continues to be less like a place to find work, and more of a hindrance for people facing dread upon entering the place, and staff there are under pressure to meet targets with sanctions etc for those on Job Seekers Allowance.

That's all for now.

Justine x

........YAY I Have a JOB........

Well I thought I had better just update my blog.

My first post I was actually 36 years old and I have just had my 39th birthday..

I had realised that my job searching and experiences on here had  become the same for anyone reading them as for me.. Not fruitful or differentiating very often..

Well I know that people do read this blog as I can see from the statistics..And I thank you for your comments and support along the way.

I am in employment, doing what I love the most.. Helping and advising people.  I have a contract for two years and as long as I be a good girl... ( I will ) and can get there on time :) then yes, two years. And who knows after that. There is a chance it may continue but the organisation I am working for relies on funding, so.... Yeah all is good at the minute.

Anyway. I have been employed there just over a month and it is going well. I get paid this week and it does feel good.
Don't get me wrong I am not under no illusion that the job market has improved , as it has not..And more and more I talk to people who are losing their jobs and sometimes for the first time having to seek help from the Government.. They are realising how hard this is-as not only they can not believe the lack of help but the stigma attached to it too. The judging and the shame people make you feel for this.

So yeah, I had a call today from a radio station about a letter I wrote to the chancellor asking him what he expected people to cut back on when he was saying things about we all need to make cuts. They have asked will I give my opinion tomorrow... Errr yes of course I will.

I had asked the chancellor did he think we should cut back on heating electricity food etc. As that is all some people pay for.. I never got a reply although there was some media coverage..

Anyway I am off to bed..

Justine x

Happy New Year

Well we on well into January and it's blumming cold brrrrrrrrr

I was reminded today that there are people out there who look and also follow my Blog.

People who are out there just trying to get on in this world. Consumed with demands and sometimes ridiculous requests from people.

Well I got an email recently saying this company would be pleased to have me on their books. The job required you have Internet access, phone and pc skills. Oooo I thought that the ECDL extra advanced pc course had come in useful. After reading on, it seemed they they wanted me to confirm my name, address, and training etc. UM I thought.......

A few emails later it seemed they wanted my bank account details and access to it on a read only basis. So I could have money transferred into and moved on.

I did a bit of my own research and found the address given was to let and the man's name was well known shall we say on the Internet.

So anyway not much to say.

Justine x

Me on the NO-WORK Programme,

I have been on this so called work programme for just over a month.
I went in on Friday at 4pm and I saw the advisor who in fact is ok.

I asked him if he knew of any vacancies he could point me to, he had one, it was for an  Aldi in Mansfield, about 15 miles. They had a total of 50 vacancies in various areas.

So he told me each advisor are to refer 3 people.
That sounds not too bad yet, but then they are to meet up on Wednesday morning and they are going to take the job seekers there, still not too bad. But then oh-so what are the hours then ???
Well it is between 6am and 9pm flexible.
So then I said to him how will people from here get there before 6am if they do not drive? He then said well that is the problem.  There is no transport from Chesterfield to Mansfield until 06.30, we checked.  And he said he has only put one person through for it who has transport as he did not think it right taking them along on Wednesday knowing that they could never get there themselves.  Also he does have his own target to reach but sometimes facts and people do come before targets.

The advisor is someone I actually know and as I have said before he knows about the job searching and courses and other stuff I am involved with and was happy with the information I gave him from the past month. He asks if there is anything I can think of which would be of use to me. He also asks if I have applied at the company he works for??? I have and got to stage 3, which was an hours telephone interview.  I obviously did not get the job as that's why I am sat in front of him.

I said that this job seeking stuff gets ridiculous and you can lose who you are, it drains you. It becomes your main focus.
Well I told him I am wanting to learn how to play the guitar, I keep trying  and he went away came back and brought me some papers from his first ever lesson, he spent about 10 mins talking to me about this and gave me a copy.

Although I did not come away  with any decent job vacancies, I came away feeling like me.
Justine x

Job re-posted

Well I was just searching for the latest vacancies in this area and came across a job I recently went for.

It wasn't that great, a customer service role but it was a job none the less.  Well I had got myself an interview, researched the company and prepared well, and it seemed to go quite well so was hopeful. I fit the spec quite well.

I found out I had not got it and although I asked for feedback, got none.

So today when I was looking on line I saw the very same job in the same place put back on in the last day or so.  It must not have worked out for whoever got it then. This made me think - as this is a mystery to me - as to why on earth people go for jobs, get them, and then it does not work out.

So here I am still looking, and filling out endless forms etc. It is all very time consuming.  I do not just apply for anything now though. I am a bit more selective and take a bit more time and care with the application process.

Still forever hopeful.

Justine x

The so called Work Programme.

I went yesterday at 5 pm. It is a good way from me, I had a really busy day too.  Here, there, everywhere and back again.

Well I was lucky as my adviser is the exact same person who was my adviser at the other place I went to.
I know him personally and he gives me some inside info sometimes, such as targets and case loads etc. He understood when I said I was not signing the release paper, the one which allows them to contact others and receive payment for me being on their programme. They get enough anyway. Without inventing things.

He assured me it will not have a negative impact on me. As the release form is proving quite a useful piece of paper.   It could be confusing I guess if you are not aware of all this, as they do bombard you with info and papers, about data protection and stuff, but then on the other hand by giving permission to them, it all goes out of the window.

He knows about the campaigning and volunteer role I do, and is really good to have a chat to him.

Anyway it was short and sweet. No looking at screens, and that nonsense.

So, It may change next time I go, but until then all's well.

No news on the job front, I have asked for feedback from the last one, but heard nothing.

The work programme ( people on it are not classed as unemployed )

 I have come across this today. It says that people on the work programme are not counted as being unemployed. See link

http://uk-unemployed-betrayed.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/britains-unemployment-count-deception.html

It's official, I am on the work programme. I am to expect a call within 48 hours from the company who is       " Going to help me overcome barriers and aim to find me sustainable work"

I also found out today that for the last 6 month I was supposed to have had intense support from the job centre with two people. They said sorry but for some reason I was over looked.  I have had a call from a local news paper today about all of this job seeking and stuff and I told her that although these things need highlighting I am fed up with people making on the back of this crap. ie her for her story, these agencies who are getting paid to so call help me, etc. This is my life, this is real and this is happening all over the place.

Oh also, I found out today that these companies who have got big Government contracts (work programme) have access to available jobs that never get released to the bloody JOB CENTRE, so is that another reason people are struggling to find any then???

It is f-----g ridiculous.

The letter I was talking about the other day, the one from an independent research company, with DWP on top, getting feedback about help I have received whilst looking for work. Well it said I would get a call.  I am still waiting, so I rang them as I have loads of feedback.
I was told it has not started yet, and I would be contacted in due course. As I was telling her I would like that, she apologised and said she had another call coming through, so put the phone down. Can you believe it.

I am reallly gutted.

Well I was hoping that this would have been the time I could post on here with some good news that I have at long last got the job.

I found out this morning that I had not.

Now although you somehow get used to this, this one seemed to go really well, and then the second interview, I even had my hair done. HA.

Well I guess it  was  just not meant to be.  I have to think like that other wise I will just get so down with the whole thing.  This is not an option.  As I have to keep searching and improving my skills and knowledge and hope that it will happen.  It is not through not looking hard enough or putting the effort in to each application, so then I think well what then??? That leaves me.  But deep down I know I will give my soul to get paid work as that is my goal, I know I have loads of skills and am really good with people. I go out of my way to solve problems but can not sort this for now.  Who knows I may start my own "looking for jobs company" ha. My Daughter said to me today "Mum it seems to be your job to look for jobs"  she is not wrong. 

Everyone around me has been really aware of my efforts to find work, and each time it gets to a stage of reply, interview or what ever, they see what affect this has.  I am not mardy or unrealistic but did think that I would be in work by now.

So I am at the job centre on Thursday to be put on the work programme. That will be nice, not.
 Oh I found this today for looking at unemployment.
http://chieelliott.wordpress.com/2011/11/07/there-is-more-to-life-than-unemployment-misery-says-a-letter-from-the-thatcher-era/#comment-390

Justine x

Letter from DWP

I have had a strange letter. It is from an independent company on behalf of the DWP saying someone will contact me soon to ask me some questions on the HELP I HAVE RECEIVED whilst looking for a job.
What???  It says it is confidential and that other than themselves and the DWP research team, will have access to it. It also says it is up to me if I tell them anything.

Well I will tell them that all these things they dream up just do not work.
Including people who send out such letters, unless they can make a difference, so will ask them what will the outcome be after hearing peoples experiences.
The money should be put into trying to create jobs, not pay people to tell me to look at a screen for hours and send me to large private companies for them to get free labour.

If you experience work then experience payment for it. As these companies have jobs that need doing and they are being done for no payment, as the very people doing them are sent here there and everywhere.

Oh I had another interview last Thursday. It went really well. They rang me back on Monday and asked me to go back for a second interview. I went yesterday.  So we will see.  It is a job I would like to do, and I would working with people who are facing redundancy or been made redundant. Helping them to access services and help.

Justine x

I am gutted

Well I had managed to secure two interviews on Tuesday, one was an advisor role and the other was customer service in a bookies.

I felt I had prepared myself well for any questions or possible scenarios.

The first one was for about an hour and a half in total.  It was really intense and I did not have a good feeling. There were two people interviewing me and that was a range of real life situations questions and scenarios.

The next was ok. In fact it felt to go well, and they said they would let me know either way by the following day,  I had a good feeling  (Nothing.)

The first was going to take a week or so. I am not holding my breath.

On a more possitive note I had a call about another one I had applied for via  a 3rd party, so did not know who the employers were,  (this is common you get vetted before they pass your details over)

So I am to go next weeek.  I am going to prepare well for it and I always think of what they may ask considering the role and how I will reply.

It is good that I am being asked for interviews based on my skills and experience,  I would not apply if I did not think I could do the job so what can I do to make sure I get it?

I am thinking about possibly saying give me a trial. pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease, but do not want to sound to pushy.

Any advice would be gladly received.

Oh there is a by election around here soon, I have never had so many visitors in one week   HA

Interviews are like buses.

Well I had a phone interview tonight ( customer service in a bookies ) and it felt to be going well, and afterwards I was invited to a face to face next week.

So now it seems I have two interviews, both on Tuesday, the other is the adviser role.

One is 15 miles north of my house and the other is 8 miles south.

So as I said they are like buses, there is none and then two come at the same time.

I am going to do some research in to both this weekend, as interviews can be really difficult, you never know what they are going to ask you, so have always taken any opportunity to ask others about any advice they can give me on how to best be prepared.

WISH ME LUCK  X

I have got an interview ! :)

Well I have been applying for a lot of jobs recently, and mostly it's a case of no reply or just "no"

But I applied for an advisor role ( just my thing ) and they have actually invited me to an interview. I am quite optimistic, I fit all of the spec and so-fingers and toes crossed.

Also I have applied for a job in a betting shop, and they are going to ring me tomorrow for a telephone interview. This one is a customer service role. That too would be fine. Both are full time. Although it would take a bit of getting used to full time hours, I need it and want it too. The first one would involve some travelling but I am prepared to do just about anything now.

Well I am due at the job centre tomorrow and am not at all looking forward to it.
I am going to challenge the 26 things a week, to look for work. It is unrealistic, as every job for example you apply for takes some doing. It is what counts as a step to find work that is unclear, as I asked if I spent 6 hours looking at job sites on lots of sites and applied for jobs does that only count as one thing?? Yes it does.

So I need to be clear. As 52 things in two weeks is not realistic. Not from 6 anyway.

The courses I completed some two or 3 months ago- the PC and Maths etc, I was supposed to get certificates for. They were recognised equivalent to GCSE A-C and the PC was advanced.
Well I was keen to add these to my CV and do not feel right in doing so without them. So when I saw someone who I was on these courses with, and he said-he too had not received his certificates, I decided to try and find out. I contacted learn direct as that is who sends them out when they have checked everything, they was no help, so I emailed the learning provider by email, they contacted me and said "oh we have them here"  well when was they gonna tell me??

They do not care as they would have been paid for me attending, that is another story.  Anyway I will fetch the certificates tomorrow and I worked really hard for them.

I am going to update my jobseeking sheet with the things I have done today to look for work and see what they say at the job centre tomorrow. x

I ought to sanction them for not sticking to their agreement.

I am in shock, I went to the Job Centre yesterday to sign on as well as see my adviser about the Debenhams work experience and talk about my Job Search.

WELL where shall I start? The Debenhams thing has changed, the goal post have moved. I was told yesterday that I now have to apply online directly to Debenhams, then if that goes ok, I may be selected out of 20 people on Job Seekers, (Chosen by staff at the Job Centre) to possibly have a telephone interview, if that goes ok then a face to face interview and if that goes ok then 2 week work experience,  The adviser was informed at first, that he and his colleagues was to refer 30 people to Debenhams for 2 weeks work experience and they would be given an interview for any jobs. I was originaly  told if I did 2 week work experience I would guaranteed an interview. What a lot of old rubbish.  I ought to sanction them for not sticking to the agreement.

I was told yesterday that I am now to start the work programme in July. This is for two years with a private company, either A4E or Ingeus, to be selected at random. It's like the Lottery.

My biggest shock yesterday, was last time I saw that adviser I was given a new Job seeking agreement, you know the thing where on it-it says you will do this many things to look for work such as contacting so many employers, look at this site or another, be willing to travel these many hours to and from work each day, and be available between these hours.

Well the adviser told me It has changed from where you take at least 3 positive steps each week to find and gain employment, it is down on my agreement that I have to take 26 steps each week. Yes 26. This is not too hard to do if you consider looking on web sites and things but I am to challenge this as I feel they have just plucked a figure from thin air.  I have looked in depth about any change in the law and can not yet find anything.. I will let you know.  For someone like me who has access to the Internet and gets about quite a bit, talking to people and putting myself in a position to ask people about jobs and stuff its not too bad, but this is now ridiculous.. What counts towards the 26??

I have been told to go to my local volunteer centre and get myself another volunteer job, in retail or the like.  That as well as my already volunteer role, as well as all these steps to find work, as well as work experience and courses. Bloody hell.

Jubilee, misery for the unemployed

Well amongst all of the celebrations in the city, there was the story of unemployed people being taken to London to do unpaid work.

This is nothing new, it goes on a lot, but people are only just being made aware of it.

I found an article in the Guardian, these people went unpaid, without even the privacy to get changed or shelter at night, all on the promise that this unpaid work, MAY lead to some paid work.  What makes me angry is that this is allowed to go on.  Private companies get paid alot of money to organise these events, such as security and crowd control and the like, and then they get the unemployed who will do anything in the hope it may lead to some paid work.

Most of the time it does not lead to anything, as these companies just say things like they were not suitable and then take on a load more people with the same hopes. All of the time getting free
labour and treating people badly some of the time.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jun/06/unpaid-jubilee-jobseekers-downing-street?intcmp=239

and a follow up

.http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/jun/06/unpaid-jubilee-stewards-downing-street

I am due at the Job centre tomorrow to find out when I am due to do my work experience.. in the new Debenhams. I am to be flexible from any time between 9am and 7pm for two weeks.

I do not need experience, I need a job.  I am hoping this may lead to something as I am told I will get an interview.  But I feel it may be that I can work my butt off for them for free - and then they will just get someone else to take my place.  I will update you.

Sorry you have been unsuccessful.

I went to the job centre today to sign, and it was very quick.
It seems sometimes they wish to just get rid of you.

When I got home I had received a letter from a job I had applied for. It was a call handler job for a new non emergency telephone service 111, I had really liked the sound of it.
Well I did not get the job, which was a shame as there was approx 20 vacancies. It is a new service to take pressure off 999 calls and you then have to direct the people or refer them else where, at least they let me know.

I also requested  some feedback from another job recently. It had taken me along time to fill in the application form, it was as a support worker for an housing association.  When I did not receive confirmation they had my application I contacted them to find out if I had been considered, as I felt I met all of the person specifications and I took my time to give examples of how I did. Anyway, I did not hear back so contacted the HR department and it was someone from there who found out for me and could not really give me much feedback, but did say that there were some more roles coming up and would I like to apply???

If I was unsuccessful and they could not be bothered to tell me they had my application, then it makes me feel do they even look at them all??  Well I will apply again as you just never know.  One of these days I will be told YES. 

Work experience

Well I went to the Job Centre on Friday, and my Job seeking agreement was changed.
I am to be available between the hours of 9am and 8pm Monday till Saturday, and 9am till 6pm on Sunday. I am to look at sites they prefer you to use ie, direct.gov and the adviser was actually OK.  In fact it was he I saw when I became an official job seeker 3 years ago.  I have been sent from one agency to another, on this course and that, and now I am back with him.

I was told that the DWP are teaming up with Monster jobs, (a job seeking site) and the job site are to send you jobs and if you do not apply then they will inform the DWP.

I mean that is all good and well but they will not be doing it for free.  What about good realistic help from the DWP, not-oh we will try this now.

I have been put forward for work experience for two week with a new Debenhams. It is any hours between 9am and 8pm 40 hours for two week unpaid, and they " guarantee you an interview. " I mean do not get me wrong it may lead to a job and that will be really good, so I will update you with any info.

I have no news on the job front  except a call about an office job, but other than that it is the usual, automated response or none. I do not know if it is me or not, but there does seem to be a few more jobs coming up in the area.
Justine x

Climbing out of Poverty.

Well I have not posted for a while and the whole Blog pages have changed.

I notice I have a few new followers so thank you.   :)

The job hunting is not going well at all. It is not an option for me to think oh well I give up, as then what??
I went to the JC yesterday and was told I am to have yet another adviser to help me find work.

I am doing everything to look for work and improve my skills, by doing courses to improve my chances so I can apply for a wide range of vacancies. It is very draining mentally as you become somewhat desperate and can lose hope. It is a vicious circle, as you need to be strong, positive and hopeful when looking for work, but after so long of doing so you start to feel less hopeful and disheartened and then this may come across to potential employers, which is not good.

The unemployed workers centre where I volunteer have produced a game about climbing out of poverty. It is based on the old childhood board game Snakes and Ladders. It highlights the difficulties faced in trying to gain long term employment with fair wages. It shows just how hard it can be with barriers along the way. I will post a link for when it was first used in Derbyshire, with local MP's playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atntCJ3h3S4&feature=youtu.be

Training

I am on yet another course.

I found this one in the JC+ and it said I was to ask an adviser about it.

When I was enrolled I got a letter. It said Failing to attend may result in loss of benefit.  What ???
It also said that the job centre refered me.  A tick for them then.

I wanted to do this. Anyway It was for two weeks 9-4 and I still have to do the job seeking while on it..

It was maths I did, and a PC one. The maths  test  I passed.  It is a recognised qualification which is good. I am still on the PC one.

Although I use a PC every day almost, a lot of jobs require proof of things.

I had 3 missed calls today, and then when I looked at my emails it said someone had been trying to contact me about a job I have applied for. So I emailed back and told them to try again.

Anyway, will update with any news.  x

Workfare demo.

I went to a demo in my town today. I was with some others made up of a mix of people.
We was giving out leaflets and just informing people of the Governments scheme to allow people to work for 8 hours a day on so called work experience for no money or proper training..

Now do not get me wrong, some work experience is good. I did work experience when at school for two weeks. I worked in a shoe shop and got experience of being in a work place, working on the till, restocking shelves, and customer service. I was not allowed to get money due to restrictions on my age etc, but did get to choose two pairs of shoes.  I was happy with that as I felt I had been rewarded for my hard work and enthusiasm,  but if a company has a job that needs doing, you should experience the wage at the end of the week for your hard work.  The Government allows companies to take on people for not one penny, and in some instances pays job seekers allowance at a really low amount.  Companies should pay people to do their work.

Jobs which exist are not safe now, as people lose hours and days, and are released so that a person can do the work for free. At Christmas and times like that, the staff who would normally be paid were not in work, and the free labour was in there.

Of course the company will do this, after all they have money to make. They would not pay someone when they do not have to.

They are the only ones who get anything from this, the people on work experience do not learn, nor earn anything.