Stuck in an endless loop!

[jimbojet]

Hi All,

For the last 2 months we have been actively looking for work for the Little Lady. She applied to several local care homes only one botherd to reply and with much excitement offerd her an interview.

After a weekend of interview practice, when she arrived she was told there had been a mistake and she could not possably be offerd a job there as she had no UK work history and they would only except references from UK employers. We had used the person who signed citizenship and passport applications and explained why in the covering letter. Also she would need a criminal disclousure that she would have to pay for herself. Also she seemed to think that the fact that her 3 kids are still in Thailand was a major problem ( note to self: don`t tell the truth on the next application form!)
The covering letter and application form clearly stated that she had not worked in the UK before, the less than helpful person recomended she go to the job centre.

This we did the following day, we could not get pass the security guard at the desk, he sent out a pimple in a suit who said there was nothing he could offer in the way of help as she was not claiming benefits. There were no free courses she could do as she was not claiming.....can you see the loop forming! He gave us a card with the job centre web site on it and ushered us out of the door! It appears that the job centre is just a benefit office with a few people trying to get the many off of hand outs. I am sure the young girl sitting on the steps outside in a dirty tracksuit smoking a fag and drinking a can of cider was looking for work but thats another rant!!

We have been looking at various agencies on the net but there seems to be little or no local jobs there, that would be appropriate for someone with her to be fair, not great skills and experience. We even looked at Mcdonalds who do an unpaid work experience scheme but not at the one in our area.

All the local supermarkets are not recruiting, so we are fast running out of options. I have been trying to put a CV together for her, but its a bit difficult as the jobs she had in Thailand were mostly casual labouring and a few factories that she can`t remember the names and address of so I think not relevant to enclose. Even If we did proving it would be impossable. So CV`s and application forms all look a bit on the vague side to say the least.

So in a nut shell any idea`s or shared experiences from the huge knowledge base on here would be greatly received before the apathy sets in!! Oh and before anyone states the obvious I would rather stick needles in my own eye than start her on the benifit route!!

Any help would be greatly received, thanks All

[RichardSt]

Hi Jimbojet,

I can relate to your post as it very much mirrors our own position.

We have resorted to my wife doing 2 voluntary shifts per week at a Cancer UK shop. My wife only needed two character refereces to be accepted (2 of your friends could provide this). The plan being that this at least gives some UK work history for as and when another job opportunity arises.

Working in a charity shop will also give retail experience which means your wife could hopefully progress into a paid position in a clothes shop (for example) before moving on to bigger and better things when possible.

It's not an ideal situation but with the state of jobs in the UK at the minute it will be a bit of a waiting game. Any experience that can be gained whilst waiting could prove to help more than you realise.

Good luck

[Gary & Nok]

I have no doubt that this is not what your wife(?) wants to do long term but have you considered a cleaning agency. It may not be ideal but it would get her in to work and normally these companies are crying out for workers as this type of job appears to be beneath most Brits "looking" for work.

I know of ISS and Rentokill as two cleaning companies that cover offices (normally evenings) and shops (normally mornings). Might be worth a shot!

[RichardSt]

Cleaning could be a good way to get started; I would just raise 1 word of caution gained from personal experience 2 weeks ago. The rate offered by a hotel was £120 a week for 30 hours work - so £4 an hour.

I have also heard rumours that some cleaning agencies that offer workers to hotels etc end up with agreements with their employees that they are paid by the room not by the hour and so come out much less well off.

I don't doubt however that there are reputable companies out there that will honour the minimum wage

[Gary & Nok]

The rate offered by a hotel was £120 a week for 30 hours work - so £4 an hour.

This is below the minimum wage and is illegal. They should report the Hotel.

[RichardSt]

I would generally agree but the role was proposed to my wife through a Thai friend who is happy to do those hours for that payment - illegal or not. I wouldn't want to put her position at risk. I have made them very much aware of the minimum wage regulations

[Tobias]

Richard, you wife should accept the position and when she received her payment if it works out at less than £5.80 per hour (£5.93 from October) then you (on behalf of your wife) should contact the HMRC and report the employer. She will then be able to recover the amount she is legally entitled to and if she is sacked she can make a claim to an Employment Tribunal.

No one is permitted to employ anyone in the UK for less than the minimum wage and an employer cannot terminate the employment of those who enforce their employment rights.

Play them at their own game!

[RichardSt]

Thanks Tobias,

Don't I feel stupid!

If I'd have known that 2 weeks ago I would have told my wife to go for it. Instead I told her to bide her time and look for something else... Should have posted here and asked the question I guess.

I can at least explain this to her friend and advise them to take this course of action

Well then just as I raise this point - is peace-work still permitted?? I remember fruit picking years ago when you got paid for the number of punnets of strawberries you picked rather than the hours worked?? i.e. can a cleaning agency legally pay per room cleaned rather than per hour? Or does all employment now fall under the minimum wage per hour legislation?



Thanks

[Tobias]

... Well then just as I raise this point - is peace-work still permitted?? ... ... under the minimum wage per hour legislation?

Simple answer is yes, but I'll explain more when I get home - there are rules!

[louialive]

If your wife is having difficulty finding work have you thought about her going to college to gain some UK qualifications or train in something she would like to do. Or if her English is not so good enrol her onto a course. This may help her gain employment as showing she is using spare time to imrpove herself looks good on a CV

---------- Post added at 15:53 ---------- Previous post was at 15:49 ----------

I would generally agree but the role was proposed to my wife through a Thai friend who is happy to do those hours for that payment - illegal or not. I wouldn't want to put her position at risk. I have made them very much aware of the minimum wage regulations

Is the person actually paying NI etc or is it cash in hand. I guess cash in hand as the paye would show the amount earned etc and this would not tally up with the minnimum wage unless they are doctoring the hours they are working on their paperwork. The other thing to consider if cash in hand what happens if she falls down the stairs and hurts herself badly she would not be insured

[rawdonlad]

We moved back to the UK in 2008 and my wife applied for over 50 jobs in the Herefordshire area of any and every type going but mostly in the care industry or agriculture due to the location. Despite having a masters degree nothing despite several interviews. In March this year she wrote to over 20 care homes with her cv etc and got interviews at three and was offered work at two. They asked for two UK referees and one from her old employer in Thailand and wrote to all of them for a reference and also she had to have a CRB check.
She started the job in April and has just finished her 3 months probationary period and they now want her to start an NVQ course. Long hours, £6 a hour at the moment but it is work and she enjoys it. It was a case of just keep applying to all and sundry and it worked for us. Plus good experience for looking after me in a few years

[Rich & Orasa]

Hi JimboJet,

Are there any hotels nearby that belong to a chain such as Premier Inn? If so I'd make enquiries regarding vacancies on their housekeeping teams. Orasa has worked at a PI for several years now and, in this time, has intoduced several Thai ladies to her supervisor, all of whom have been taken on straight away. I'm pretty sure that no references were applied for in any of the cases. The pay isn't great (about £6 per hour depending on location) but there are, in theory at least, career prospects.

[thailand bear]

Like Jumbo, My Wife has just started looking for a job and things are very bad here in Wakey!
Good to read Rawdonlads story and advice , have told my Wife get one job whatever it is and she will get another she wants more easily.
Hope for more Good replies to cheer us up. // just read R&Os post as well now looking Prem inns,,




Dont Stop Believing

[peterinkendal]

If your wife is having difficulty finding work have you thought about her going to college to gain some UK qualifications or train in something she would like to do. Or if her English is not so good enrol her onto a course. This may help her gain employment as showing she is using spare time to imrpove herself looks good on a CV

---------- Post added at 15:53 ---------- Previous post was at 15:49 ----------



Is the person actually paying NI etc or is it cash in hand. I guess cash in hand as the paye would show the amount earned etc and this would not tally up with the minnimum wage unless they are doctoring the hours they are working on their paperwork. The other thing to consider if cash in hand what happens if she falls down the stairs and hurts herself badly she would not be insured

It is not her that is insured, it is the employer.

thus, if she came to injury at work and sued her employer, the employer would still have to pay out and on top of that would no doubt be fined.

[jimbojet]

Thanks for the replies,

For info while trawling through the internet I found a helpful website they may be of interest to others looking for work, certainly much more help than the job centre one. http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk

We have decided to look at the Volunteer sector as it will give her a start and useful networking. We found some useful info at the library yesterday on that subject, so she is going to visit a couple of places on Monday.

Her main problem is transport. She has a bicycle but buses are non existent around here and unfortunately we can't afford for her to take driving lessons and run a car until she finds a job. She wants a motorbike but I would worry myself into an early grave every time she went out!!

The only hotel near us is a Hilton and we keep looking, but nothing in the way of vacancies there yet.

She really wants to work in the care field and the cheeky mare had it as one of the things she was going to say at the interview that the experience would be useful in the future for her Husband!! I had to remind her that a 10 year age gap is not so big!

The Further education is a good idea but very expensive unless you are on benefit, we were paying 350 quid a term for 4 hours a week 2 years a go for ESOL fine until they tried to teach level 1-6 in the same class that was never going to work.

She is a bit more positive with the volunteering lets hope they think the same, we will let you all know of any progress, in the mean time its fingers crossed, fortunately the wolves are not at the door yet, but they are circling!!

[Flip]

Not sure if this will help as the jobs market has changed a bit now. When my ex came here in 2004 I took her to Harrogate and we walked around all the shops etc. that had cards in the window advertising positions vacant. The third one we called at, a cafe/shoppers restaurant, gave her an interview on the spot and she started work the next week.

[Natty]

Check with local schools, most have websites now.
Maybe the catering side or sometimes there is part time work in other areas, my daughters school recently wanted someone to sort out the ever growing mountain of lost items for a few hours a week.

[the gardener]

If you can get her foot in the door somewhere it helps.............employers are so frightened of taking people on these days...bit like marriage, employers cannot afford the divorce so maybe they need some sort of courtship.
funny how temp staff become permanent (assuming the employer likes the temp staff).

[TheFiend]

Took nearly 6 months before the wife was offered a job... working for a family friends business. Was taken on trial for 2 weeks and was offered a contract within 3 days of starting! She has been working for 7 months now, and hasn't taken a single days leave yet!!!!

[RobandLuctarn1]

When my wife came over I found the informal routes the best. Craigslist, posters in shop windows asking for cleaners / childminders. Once youve got some references then you can go for other jobs. The official channels are either blocked by better qualified candidates, or scams trying to fleece migrant workers.