The welfare state

[Mully]

Threre are a few that literally wont get out of bed for a $13.00 an hour job ... and just stay on the benefit ...

Exactly - but then working is so much more than just money - it's the accomplishment, setting an example to children, etc.....

I personally can't fathom how people manage to stay at home unemployed for more than a few days straight. My brain would asplode.

You'd pretty much have to rely on being continually stoned just to stay sane.

Asked and answered, you Honour....

[rainman]

The longest period I've been unemployed for is three and a half days.

Bingo. Plenty of shit, minimum wage rubbish jobs out there if you want them.
... refuse to consider a job that they believe is "beneath"

Interesting. I'm plenty busy at the moment but about a year ago had nothing. Must have applied for thousands of jobs, at all levels - at the risk of sounding like John Banks I do appreciate the dignity of work (and the security of income) and absolutely don't think anything's beneath me - but I got nothing. Tried stuff in my industry as well as out, local retail, everything - "sorry not hiring". I literally begged recruiters to put me forward for anything however menial, but they just wouldn't. I called and mailed heaps of places and almost never even got a reply. The only reason I got the gig I did, in the end, was through being in the right place at the right time, and having a friend put in a good word with the hiring manager. Was out of work for months, though

Others I know personally, with the same keen-to-work attitude, had the same experience (although we're all employed now, even if we're all contractor/casual types). Maybe it's because we're foreign? NZ is a wee bit insular, y'know...

[FJRider]

Exactly - but then working is so much more than just money - it's the accomplishment, setting an example to children, etc.....

I thought it was "building a life" ... I guess it's pretty much the same thing though ...

The firm I work for employs casuals now and then ... one guy has four kids ... and gets MORE money on the benefit ... than I earn on a 40 hour week ...

[Mully]

Maybe it's because we're foreign? NZ is a wee bit insular, y'know...

Could be that, I suppose. 100 applicants and 5 are "Kiwis" - maybe you can afford to discriminate a bit.... Even subconsiously....

[jrandom]

one guy has four kids ... and gets MORE money on the benefit ... than I earn on a 40 hour week ...

Yes, but he has four kids.

You're way better off.

[jrandom]

Must have applied for thousands of jobs...

Really?

Did you go into WINZ and check their job listing service? It's a pretty good place to find casual / contract / low-wage work.

The job I'm in at the moment I found through the local acquaintances grapevine, but if it hadn't materialised, I would've been in another one 48 hours later that'd been listed with WINZ.

It was originally intended for a school leaver type, but trust me, you walk into WINZ and say "what jobs do you have going, I'll do anything", they all perk up amazingly, and the employers can't believe their luck to have an actual human being wanting to work for them instead of some knuckle-dragging 18 year old.

Insulation installation actually pays quite well.

[FJRider]

... but trust me, you walk into WINZ and say "what jobs do you have going, I'll do anything", they all perk up amazingly, and the employers can't believe their luck to have an actual human being wanting to work for them instead of some knuckle-dragging 18 year old.

The number of 18 year olds that want to work ... only want enough work to buy a new video game (and some more smokes) ... then wont show up for work untill they get sick of it (or run out of smokes)...

[Mully]

It was originally intended for a school leaver type, but trust me, you walk into WINZ and say "what jobs do you have going, I'll do anything", they all perk up amazingly, and the employers can't believe their luck to have an actual human being wanting to work for them instead of some knuckle-dragging 18 year old.

Heh - it amazes them that anyone that goes to see them wants a job at all.

True story: A million years ago, I basically told told I was being made redundant from my $7/hour gas station job.

That afternoon, I went into the local (Henderson) WINZ (or whatever it was called at the time) office and looked at their job boards.

The "helpful" "lady" on the desk said I had to register with one of their CSA (again, whatever they were called) which I duly did then started looking at the boards again.

Found one I wanted to apply for and had to speak to someone else. He couldn't find me in the system because he reckoned my details hadn't been entered. Asked when I'd registered and I said "About 10 minutes ago". He told me that he'd never had someone register with them and then actually start applying for jobs straight away.

Presumably, they just figured I was signing up to get the dole.

[rainman]

Really?

Did you go into WINZ and check their job listing service?

Yeah, really. WINZ told me I had a brain so I should go to Australia.

Really.

[Ender EnZed]

if there's no jobs, how come my son and EVERY one of his mates who are at uni or working full time, have jobs of at least 30hrs week? 2 of his <20yr old flatmates have full time work - 1 in IT the other at the airport, and the other 3 (at uni) good solid 30hr part time work

Who would you hire: someone similar to one of your son's mates or a single mum on the DPB?

[mashman]

My wife was recently applying for secretarial jobs and can't get one. Is it because she's Scottish? Is it because she has 3 children? Is it because she has been out of the workforce for 8 years? Is it because, as the agencies and employers noted, she was one of hundreds of applicants etc...?

There aren't enough jobs to go around, plain and simple... and those jobs that are left aren't worth doing because you can earn "almost" as much doing nothing, and with your nothing time you could always be doing something to top up what you do receive... a roof over your head, rent being paid etc... yeah, I can see the downsides to such a life .

Forcing people to work or to take contraception, waaaaa ha ha ha haaaaaaaa... it seems that the one decision you aren't allowed to make in this life is wether to work or not. It's my time, i'll do what the fuck I want with it.

As for "Seven ministers are looking at the WGG's report, which aims to get 100,000 people off welfare by 2021 by making more people work."... during those 10 years, how many others will have moved onto welfare? FOOLS!

[mashman]

You do a hell of a lot better working 40 hours a week at $13/hour than you do on the dole. About twice as much cash in the hand. In fact, assuming no debts, a single individual can live in comfort working full time on minimum wage.

I personally can't fathom how people manage to stay at home unemployed for more than a few days straight. My brain would asplode.

You'd pretty much have to rely on being continually stoned just to stay sane.

And what about after tax? You do pay tax don't you ... not every job is a cashie.

they stay at home all day ... getting stoned ... they probably play games consoles, computers, read educational porn material etc...

By your own admission you've never lived the lifestyle... I lived in amongst it in Glasgow for 6 years whilst trying to improve my lot... fascinating people with a plethora of money making schemes handed down through generations... sometimes I wish I had taken a different path

[marty]

Who would you hire: someone similar to one of your son's mates or a single mum on the DPB?

Someone who was keen to work and turned up (sober) when they were supposed to?

[MSTRS:Me]

There aren't enough jobs to go around, plain and simple...

And there you have it in a nutshell.

[SMOKEU]

Finding a job isn't that easy. I've been on the dole since last December and I've applied for well over 100 jobs. I've had 1 interview and the only reason I didn't get the job is because I'm not qualified to do it.

I used to go into Winz every week and apply for at least 5 jobs every time I went in, I've been around to quite a few shops and handed my CV in, I've been on Trademe and Seek to apply for jobs and still haven't managed to score some work.

The thing is that finding work just isn't that easy unless you're qualified for that particular job. I can't even get a job scrubbing toilets in a cheap motel because I don't have any previous cleaning jobs on my CV.