Population not fleeing UK, shock.
Sep 10th 2010, 4:46 pm
#196
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,378
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
In this particular business the wages for the "shop floor" staff are very low not much above minimum wage. They don't seem to have a problem with recruitment though. If the minimum wage was raised significantly or if there was a union to drive up wages then that part of the business would be shut down immediately no question.
In my example above, it was widely known that contracts at this particular place were shit, the bottom of the barrel. No one actually wanted to work there, the conditions were dire and the staff were treated like lab animals. Staff turnover was incredible. The place was a sprawl of work stations so many staff drank from flasks and whatnot hidden under the desk. On numerous occasions, the police came to the building and carted people off for a selection of crimes including assault and drug offences. The ring leader in the on-going union fiasco was a recent release from prison for a catalogue of violent, paramilitary related crimes. (Actually, he was a very pleasant man, but best to keep on his good side).
I went there as it was the only full time position at the time that had an immediate start. I remember revelling in the thought of earning a whole 5 GBP per hour (Incidentally, this while I was still a student, you know, paying all that student related stuff
)
The point of all this was that the place was hellish to work in. Yet, people cannot always pick and choose and say "oh no, poor employment practices, I'll not work there". The same goes for immigrants, beggars cannot be choosers. Take it, keep your mouth shut and move on at the first opportunity.
I went there as it was the only full time position at the time that had an immediate start. I remember revelling in the thought of earning a whole 5 GBP per hour (Incidentally, this while I was still a student, you know, paying all that student related stuff
) The point of all this was that the place was hellish to work in. Yet, people cannot always pick and choose and say "oh no, poor employment practices, I'll not work there". The same goes for immigrants, beggars cannot be choosers. Take it, keep your mouth shut and move on at the first opportunity.
Having said that, I can think of very few industries where the employer is the only one that one can work for, particularly if the workers are low skilled.
As others have said, bad employers are bad employers. I am always amazed that they are able to find employees.
Sep 10th 2010, 4:55 pm
#197
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,340
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
I appreciate all that you say. I also appreciate that, in a tough economic climate, one frequently has to bend over and take it.
Having said that, I can think of very few industries where the employer is the only one that one can work for, particularly if the workers are low skilled.
As others have said, bad employers are bad employers. I am always amazed that they are able to find employees.
Having said that, I can think of very few industries where the employer is the only one that one can work for, particularly if the workers are low skilled.
As others have said, bad employers are bad employers. I am always amazed that they are able to find employees.
Sep 10th 2010, 5:43 pm
#199
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Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Calgary
Posts: 3,340
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
It's one thing for an individual to use the rules to their best advantage but the fact that this type of thing is going on does suggest there are big problems.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11261161
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11261161
Sep 10th 2010, 5:46 pm
#200
Assimilated Pauper
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,022
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
It's one thing for an individual to use the rules to their best advantage but the fact that this type of thing is going on does suggest there are big problems.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11261161
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11261161
Sep 10th 2010, 10:50 pm
#201
Oscar nominated
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 51,190
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
All benefits are only cancelled if the wage is sufficiently high enough to leave the person "not needing" them.
Housing Benefit can still be claimed even if the net wage is more than the value of the total benefits and, regardless of net pay, Housing Benefit can also remain in payment for a month...effectively meaning JSA can be exchanged for a wage, leaving someone significantly better off, with the added advantage that this work may lead to something better.
A lot depends on rents and local benefit levels. You could suggest to these people that they seek an "in work income calculation" from their job centre based on the potenial wage. Then they'll know what their situation would really be.
Sep 11th 2010, 4:13 am
#202
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Location: Calgary
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Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cape-jail.html
Sep 11th 2010, 10:12 am
#203
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 251
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
They should get 10 years apiece.
Sep 11th 2010, 9:16 pm
#206
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
Another incident. Would a robust and effective system allow this to go on for 5 years?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cape-jail.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cape-jail.html
There's become an atmosphere, at least where I'm from, that this is perfectly acceptable and there's many a nudge, nudge, wink, wink down at the local, where people compare notes on how to play the system.
I've made myself unpopular at times when I have expressed my views on what they are doing. Their response, "well everyone's doing it"
Last edited by dboy; Sep 11th 2010 at 9:18 pm.
Sep 11th 2010, 11:55 pm
#207
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
Even if you add up all the benefit fraud in the UK for the last 20 years it won't be make much of a dent on what was spent keeping the banks afloat and paying their bonuses. The government spunked well over a trillion (yes, you read that right, a trillion - link) on banking bailouts - what's benefit fraud supposed to be? less than 1 billion probably.
Yet the media wants to vilify a couple who took an extra 20k a year for five years. Unbelievable really - we are being taken for mugs.
Yet the media wants to vilify a couple who took an extra 20k a year for five years. Unbelievable really - we are being taken for mugs.
Sep 12th 2010, 12:00 am
#208
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Location: Here
Posts: 8,311
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
Even if you add up all the benefit fraud in the UK for the last 20 years it won't be make much of a dent on what was spent keeping the banks afloat and paying their bonuses. The government spunked well over a trillion (yes, you read that right, a trillion - link) on banking bailouts - what's benefit fraud supposed to be? less than 1 billion probably.
Yet the media wants to vilify a couple who took an extra 20k a year for five years. Unbelievable really - we are being taken for mugs.
Yet the media wants to vilify a couple who took an extra 20k a year for five years. Unbelievable really - we are being taken for mugs.
Sep 12th 2010, 2:36 am
#209
Assimilated Pauper
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,022
Re: Population not fleeing UK, shock.
Another incident. Would a robust and effective system allow this to go on for 5 years?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cape-jail.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...cape-jail.html
Bleeding hell, you wouldn't think the system would let that go unnoticed
Sep 12th 2010, 3:11 am
#210
Born again atheist
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259