wake_up_bomb wrote:
And not only that, but the employees of the Jobcentre have targets regarding the number of people they get off benefit each month, by hook or by crook.
Obviously, you know this to be true from experience, but I can confirm this from the pov of someone on the other side of the desk also.
During one visit, this chap went to great lengths to wind me up about what I was writing and in which boxes etc. He said stuff like "we need to know what the company name and address is and we need a contact telephone number" (all in a box the size of a stamp) to which I reply, "the company name is clearly written there, they are quite a large brand. I have also written that I applied for a position in the High Street in the same box. In the other box I have given you the email address that I sent the CV to. I have also quoted the Job Centre website reference number"
To which, he says "right...erm, you need to write that in this box and we still need the full address". I respond "don't you have the details of the company that placed the ad on your website? And what does it matter which box I put this information in? It is all clearly written there for you to see..."
Etc. This went on for the length of my interview. I was just below 'shouting' level when he started to giggle at me. Throughout though, he was shifting in his chair and you could see he wasn't completely comfortable doing what he was doing. He had obviously been put under pressure to meet targets that day and was doubtless doing the same thing to everyone he saw. He kept threatening me with sanctions if I didn't acquiesce to which I responded "go-fer-it, mate. I've done everything you've asked me to do and have in no way breached the terms of my Jobseekers agreement. If you think you can prove otherwise, I'm all ears". He backed off at that point.
I know we all have to earn a crust but I just don't get these people.
