Job Centre Distractions 1
by A lighter look at the cornerstone of the modern British economy.
The jobcentre is not a place filled with happiness and optimism. The jobcentre-members, the unemployed, are not filled with happiness and optimism. Why would they be? They are unemployed. They are probably going through a dark time in life. Life has been better. Debt problems mounting up. Bank balance going down. Job losses rising at speed. ‘Benefits’ are claimed in record numbers. Job seekers allowance, employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit, income support, housing benefit, council-tax allowance and even free prescriptions. What is the world coming to!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the jobcentre. It was fascinating. The decor is neutral. The job seeking machines are high-tec. I walked down the newly carpeted three stairs. There is no waiting area, perhaps by design; you do not want job seekers waiting when they could be seeking. You do not want to pay thousands for hi-tech machines if the seekers are waiting and not seeking. However, the seekers have cheated the system and are sat down on window sills, leaning against walls, chatting on the mobiles, or just stood up, waiting for personal employment advisers.
The initial introduction caught me by surprise the first time. There is a wooden pulpit in the middle of the room. Behind it stood two men. One man was well over six foot, both ways. The other could have stood directly behind the pulpit and been completely invisible. The twins. I had named them in my head before I had the pleasure of hearing the security speech.
“You got an appointment?” blasted the security ‘guard’ (I have no idea what the security guards are protecting, the jobs? Maybe?)
“No…I….” I spluttered, taken aback by the fact everyone in the building also heard my introduction.
“Well, What you here for?”
“I was told to come by the benefit people on the phone.” A simple explanation, easily understandable, I thought.
“Have you got any identification?”
“Excuse me?” I was unaware I had tried to buy alcohol or indeed claim any money or, not yet, applied for any job.
“Just need to see some ID.”
“Fine.” I prove that I am not trying to apply for jobs under a false name. Heaven forbid.
“Fine.” (He gestured towards the ever decreasing gaps in the mythological waiting room.)
“Fine.” I waited.
And waited…
http://www.socyberty.com/Work/Jobcentre-Distractions-2.672849 (part 2)
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Post CommentGill
On April 19, 2009 at 3:29 am
my partner knows just how you feel, we are going through the same thing at the non existent job centre, and being spoken to like you are a jobless scumbag!!
Daniel
On April 19, 2009 at 6:09 am
There are more parts to this, the phone conversations are far worse than the interaction in the jobcentre. Constant passing on from one operator to the other, not really answering questions just agreeing with me to placate me. Then the next one says what I was told was wrong, and Im accused of being a liar. You couldnt make it up, and thats why Im writing about it. Hope you both have some luck with the searching :@)