Thursday 11 June 2009

Its Not Good Enough!

I read this article titled "Employers back return to work" which says in a survey over a quarter (27%) of employers say they would still give people on incapacity benefit, and older people, the opportunity to return to the workplace, despite the economic recession.

Its not very impressive is it though?. In the article it makes it sound as if it is something really good but its not good enough, why should it not be 80-90%?. If claimants want to go back to work it makes it difficult if 73% will not even give you a chance in the first place.

Instead of the government attacking claimants shouldn't they be attacking the employers for not giving claimants a chance. Its a form of discrimination. All employers want though is someone who can start now and do the job so they are profitable to the business.

With the welfare reforms making life hell for genuine claimants. As a IB claimant myself I often feel like I am trapped. It feel like its either work or nothing or the being trapped in between.

brain blogger

3 comments:

Dan said...

I couldn't read the article - the site wouldn't load for me.

Of course 27% (I agree very low) of businesses would consider the opportunity.... if they could be paid to take them or get some sort of tax incentive.

This said, looking at it from another angle 73% of businesses WONT give these people the opportunity which is unlawful in addition to awful.

You can discriminate people for being unable to do a job - in this instance I don't see how those receiving IB and peoples age are factors that state they are unable to.

The DDA makes employers (unless only have a few staff where they are exempt) liable for adjusting their premises to enable those that are disabled or require extra assistance.

This is a disgusting act of discrimination.

brainblogger said...

This is the url again in case it does not load: http://www.hi-mag.com/healthinsurance/article.do?articleid=20001818774

Even though there is a recession on doesnt mean that people should discriminate. Why don't the people who did the survey ask the 73% why they would not employ those on IB?.

Peter Durward Harris said...

Actually, the figure should be 100%, not 27% or even your 80-90%, but the only thing that surprises me is that the figure is as high as 27%. I'd like to know who those 27% are because I don't know of them.

But I agree with you that employer attitudes are a serious problem, and not only when it comes to age and disability issue. Re-training is another problem.

BTW - have you been following this story?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8119778.stm