Month of November

[wight1984]

Diary: Social Stuff

Comments

[black_rainbow_]

I certainly do not think it is a bad idea for JSA claimants to give something back to the community for claiming money off the state. It has alot of advantages:

- Boost self worth/esteem.
- Boosts CV and helps fill that dreaded 'unemployed gap'.
- It is work experience.
- You can provide a recent job reference should you get an interview.
- If they like you, they might even offer you a permanent, paid job.

I was in a position where I was forced to leave my job earlier this year (constructive dismissal) and was unemployed for two months. I would have been more than happy to help out with a charity or at least give up some of my time to 'earn' my JSA.

Trouble with our society is that people seem to have this attitude where they are happy to take take take and not give anything back. So I think this is a great idea personally.

[wight1984]

I still think that, for the majority of people, there are lots of good reasons to doubt whether it will really help people's self-worth/esteem. I think it might for some but not for most.

When we're considering people who are used to white-collar work then I think them being potentially forced to do things like sweep the streets in order to get the money they need to live then I think we could be looking at something that may damage their self-worth.

As said, I think that's arguably classist but it's still true. Many people feel like they're 'too good' for that kind of job and forcing them to do it in order to survive will hurt their ego.

I do definitely think that it could be a good solution to the 'work gap' problem though. Depending on the type of work offered, it may not look brilliant on a CV but it can't look worse than having done absolutely nothing instead.

[black_rainbow_]

I am referring to the workshy long term unemployed here, not the ones who genuinely are looking for work before anybody starts! :p

[wight1984]

I think everyone is aware that there are people who attempt to abuse the system. I think what some people are wary of is wrecking the system for those who aren't trying to abuse it in order to address benefit fraud. Whatever we implement has to work well for people who genuinely need some help; I don't think the priority is to exclude those who don't

[wildeabandon]

If the government need people to do work, why don't they just create jobs and employ people to do it at a market rate, with a lower bound of minimum wage?

If they need it and are forcing people on benefits to do it for a lower rate than that then it's deeply immoral, and if they don't need it, then why are they wasting time that people could be spending looking for work or studying or volunteering for charity?

[black_rainbow_]

If it is say 1 day a week (8 hours), that equals approx £50 a week minimum wage. I don't think theres anything wrong with that.

Then people at the same time can still study part time/look for work.