Comments for Graduate Fog

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by Eowyn Rohan

Eowyn Rohan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:06:46 +0000

As to whether someone assigned to an “Intern” or “Work Programme Placement”, the following link provides some advice

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/legal-overview-internships

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by Eowyn Rohan

Eowyn Rohan — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:02:53 +0000

If, as suggested, “whilst on Job-seekers, I was not allowed to volunteer and keep my CV fresh, but sit at home like a lemon”, the candidate was on Job Seekers Allowance but did not provide evidence which addressed the “Job Seekers Agreement”, they would not have been awarded Job Seekers Allowance in the first place and more than likely would have been subject to a sanction. In any event, Job Centre Plus has always supported the option for any candidate to volunteer whilst on JSA.

Contrary to any myth which may be alluded to, a “Work Programme Placement” for the unemployed or “Internship” does not constitute “volonteering” – if someone is compelled to do something, this does not constitute volunteering.

Of course, if Job Centre Plus does compel a candidate to attend a “Placement” as part of the work programme, and if the employer attempts to direct the candidate towards delivering skills within the employers place of business to achieve any objective(s), then there may be a case to answer for….the employer may be contravening National Minimum Wage Legislation, and it is entirely down to the candidate whether they take the candidate to an Industrial Tribunal for Back Pay and the payment of damages.

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by Pippy

Pippy — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:57:09 +0000

” The real benefactors of this scheme are the companies who receive millions of pounds worth of labour absolutely free of charge.”

I… don’t think that’s what they meant to say. Benefactors? If anyone’s a benefactor in this it’s the unpaid employees. ‘Beneficiary’, maybe?

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by PAl

PAl — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:50:23 +0000

@ A Graduate

Forgive me for saying but if it looks like volunteering, it doesn’t necessarily follow that is legally is volunteering. The transgressions in that sector are the same as internships – calling it ‘volunteering’ when it is likely to be work – essentially its the same problem, different wording.

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by A Graduate

A Graduate — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:43:20 +0000

If people are made to work for benefits, why can’t it be doing something worth while for them and the community, not for a rich multi-national? Volunteering within the local community would boost their stagnating CV and help others. I’m not talking about litter picking here. There are loads of interesting and valuable volunteering jobs out there.

It angered me greatly that whilst on Job-seekers, I was not allowed to volunteer and keep my CV fresh, but sit at home like a lemon. My only option was to sacrifice both job-seekers and a salary, doing unpaid internships until I (luckily) got a job in a relevant field as a result of one of them, for which I am grateful.

Comment on ‘How to get a graduate job in a recession’ – new Graduate Fog book out March 2012 by Victoria

Victoria — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:34:55 +0000

@Sarah, with all due respect, the fact that you’re not willing to invest in a book that could help you improve your job prospects, speaks volumes about you and not Tanya. Tanya has clearly created a blog and book that offers graduates a lot of value and she should be applauded for her hard work and commitment. In order for graduates to excel, they need to invest in their careers just as much as their education which means at the very least buy a book (just one or even two) that may give you the guidance to improve your opportunities. I Wish Tanya the best with the new book.

Comment on Did youth unemployment cause the England riots? by Julia

Julia — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:33:54 +0000

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Comment on ‘Average’ graduate salary to hit £26,000 – but how many are really earning that much? by anonymous

anonymous — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:13:00 +0000

Hi,

I am a computing undergraduate student. I was looking at your figures for salaries. I think the salary also depends on factors such as location, company and work.

I have been offered to placement, as part of my degree, by a IB in Canary wharf with a salary of 36k. I believe that last year the same role was paid 26K. I guess one reason for the increase is the London Olympics, which will raise costs of living in the area.

I applied to over 60 companies, doing over 25 interviews so it was a long journey to get into the placement scheme.

I’m studying at the University of Surrey, you don’t have to be at Oxbridge or Imperial to get a decent pay

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by Pippy

Pippy — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:00:30 +0000

I’m not sure how subtle this is as a philosophical issue. It depends whether you consider it a given that people should be paid even if they’re not working. Obviously in a civilized society we want people to be able to live at a reasonable standard regardless of whether or not they are employed/are able to work. That’s not being disputed, and I’m not in support of it being suggested that people ought to work for free to keep their benefits. I just don’t think it’s in any way comparable to slavery unless you consider it a human right to be given a certain amount of money to live on even if you’re not working. I think it’s good that people are, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t know if it’s really a right. She could have chosen not to work in Poundland and not to receive JSA. Slavery is being forced to work against your will, she’s not being forced to work, she’s being told that if she doesn’t do a job for two weeks she won’t keep some money that she gets given. It’s not fair, and I’m against the suggestion that she should work for free, but comparing this to slavery in any way seriously damages the credibility of an otherwise perfectly sound objection. People should be paid to work, but she has the choice not to work. There is some argument to be made that the option of losing her JSA is so bad that she essentially doesn’t have a choice, but really I think that’s taking the argument too far unless she really is going to starve to death without that money. Who knows, maybe she would, but I doubt it.

Comment on It’s WAR! ‘Our unpaid intern schemes are NOT forced labour’, claims government by CareersPartnershipUK

CareersPartnershipUK — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:10:35 +0000

“Where a person is required to perform a task and, if he or she does not do so, loses benefit, that is not forcing a person to work.” It raises an interesting philosophical question about the nature of enslavement doesn’t it?

Are you only enslaved if there’s someone cracking a whip behind you, saying “stack that shelf or else”? Or is it enslavement when you are “merely” threatened with losing the money you must have if you’re to eat for the next few days and avoid homelessness?