What is a fair benefits system?

[jon1965]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

If I want to be as bad as you would like me to be then i will be banned.

[PlanB]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

Now PlanB get on your bike and find a job

I neither claim benefits nor know how to ride a bike :rolleyes2:

[jon1965]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

I must stop taking the P ....people don't get it
I would never ask a lady how old she is ...but from the chart I saw 46% of welfare spending went on the state pension with a further 5% on pension credit.

The way we are all going you had better learn to ride a bike

[FlamingParrot]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

I was reading down and in paris and london , by george orwell . He makes the point that the treats in the form of fAGSAND FISHAND CHIPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR MORALE . SO PERHAPS a limited amount should be allowed

What constitutes a 'treat' depends on the individual, I wouldn't want either fags or fish'n'chips if they were given to me free of charge! In fact, I can't stand the smell of either! :sick: No one can decide on behalf of others what constitutes a treat, I'd rather have sushi and creme brûlée… :grin:

first we need jobs so there is no need for large numbers claiming unemployment benefits if theres a job for someone unemp;oyed that they can do they must take it
tax credits replaced by higher wages paid by the employers who are being subsidised by hem so they at the moment pay miniumum wages and the state tops it up
Means test for all benefits pensions etc and a fair system of assesing disabled claiments with doctors a specialist deciding someones disability
In order to have a fair benefit system the whole structure of pay and rewards across the public sector beeds reform how can we have some needing food banks and some on banks owned by the people getting million pound bonises

This is the key to the whole thing: if there aren't enough jobs, some will have to be on benefits even if they are able to work, and it's not just about experience and skills either, employers are getting more and more demanding with things such as credit checks even when you're not going to be doing anything that should warrant such checks, in the financial $ector, even temps on support roles and jobs such as IT, marketing, design, event organising, etc. are credit checked! :rant:

If a default can stop you from getting a job - and I know of some one who was offered a job and had the offer rescinded due to a couple of defaults - what can be expected when someone has a criminal record! No wonder so many re-offend!

The problem with the benefits system - and I am on benefits because I am unable to work through disability - is that it has slowly become an illegal subsidy for employers who are not paying a living wage. Income Support and Tax Credits are not there to enable employers to unfairly undercut the competition. The UK should do what some other countries do and that is make low-paying employers reimburse the taxpayer, as well as fine them. The other thing that enrages me is that self-employed persons - and I was once self-employed - pay 40% tax on the profits if it reaches a certain level. On top of that, they are also liable to a further 16% tax if the profits are over a certain figure, making a total of 56% tax. Compare that to the likes of Tescos paying only 21% tax and it really does take the biscuit. The likes of Tesco should pay more, at least 30%, 40% if their pre-tax profits hit the £1 billion mark.

This is a very good point! Many of the jobs available are suitable only for young people, students or those looking to supplement their income rather than people who have a family to be responsible for, you can't work in any of them low paying jobs and support a family without resorting to benefits of some sort.

On the subject of a living wage, Boris Johnson is trying to get businesses in the London area to sign up to paying their employees a living wage. He may come across as a buffoon and total plonker at times, but Boris is right that employers should pay a living wage.

One of the problems is that the minimum wage is set on a national level and the co$$$t of living in London is much higher than in the rest of the country, there should be a London minimum wage, but that won't be the case when employers can find so much cheap labour in London with so many new immigrants (both legal and illegal), students, working holiday makers, etc., who live in shared accommodation and don't have the financial commitments of a family with a mortgage, etc.

[CleverClogs]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

One of the problems is that the minimum wage is set on a national level and the co$$$t of living in London is much higher than in the rest of the country, there should be a London minimum wage, but that won't be the case when employers can find so much cheap labour in London with so many new immigrants (both legal and illegal), students, working holiday makers, etc., who live in shared accommodation and don't have the financial commitments of a family with a mortgage, etc.

If the employers pay less than the specified National Minimum Wage, what happens to them?

So why should someone paying less than a specified London Minimum Wage get away with it?

[Sapphire]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

Speaking as an employer we have two people working for us, one is on £10 an hour and the other is on £8 an hour, both are over the minimum wage.

The trouble with advertising for staff nowadays is
a) when you get the c.v. its usually full of crap like, 'I want to work in an office until I win X factor' or 'I will work for you until I can afford a beauty course'
and b) when you ask for a hand written covering letter, the writing is so bad my one year old great grandson could do better
oh and c) if and when you get them in for an interview their speaking voice is so bad that there is no way you'd want them to represent you on the phone

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but its true.

Oh and then if and when you find someone you then have to try to stop them sitting on the computer on facebook, texting on their phones and/or standing outside smoking like its their right to do as they please.

Rant over

[jon1965]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

It's not so much the rate of pay but the hours offered.
I do not know what your business is but it seems you are attracting the wrong type of applicants

[Sapphire]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

It's not so much the rate of pay but the hours offered.
I do not know what your business is but it seems you are attracting the wrong type of applicants

The first lady I worked with years ago doing telesales, we kept in touch and when she was made redundant we took her on and she's been with us ever since, at the moment she does 9.30 - 2.30 as she has an 8 year old, but when the younster goes to 'big' school then her hours will increase, unless our business is sold before.
The other lady came by recommendation and its worked out fine, she's a uni student and will increase her hours after May when her course ends, obviously she could get a position in her chosen career but we'd have to get over that.
We did try to advertise on the Jobcentre site for someone else but we got over 300 applications, when we whittled them down we had 10 possibilities, in the end we gave up and decided to stay as we are for the minute. We did consider using agencies but they cost an absolute fortune.
We're considering advertising for a salesman, lord help us.

[Inca]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

have to try to stop them sitting on the computer on facebook,

Good job you're the Boss then innit Sapph...You have to be on Facebook otherwise I would get all lonely msl:

[Sapphire]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

lol thank god I'm in an office on my own then

[FlamingParrot]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

Oh and then if and when you find someone you then have to try to stop them sitting on the computer on facebook, texting on their phones and/or standing outside smoking like its their right to do as they please.

Rant over

Or posting on LB… :tape:

[jon1965]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

Lead by example.....

But yes good quality staff are hard to get and the people who give you careers advice don't seem to have a clue

[CleverClogs]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

But yes good quality staff are hard to get

I blame the war.

[jon1965]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

Don't mention the war!

[CleverClogs]

Re: What is a fair benefits system?

Not grinding any axes here - a genuine question. Tonight I have been reading that the British are more tolerant than European neighbours with regard to supporting the poorer sections of society (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...france-germany)

Isn't it a pity, then, that it should really have been published in the Daily Wail?

The truth is rather different - the UK is less generous with unemployment benefits than even Albania, according to this blog which uses data compiled from this IMF Working Paper.