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Redundancy is a life wasted. I am now nothing but a threat Redundancy is a life wasted. I am now nothing but a threat
(about 9 hours later)
Redundant
1. No longer needed or useful – superfluous;
2. Able to be omitted without loss of meaning or function.
 Redundant
1. No longer needed or useful – superfluous;
2. Able to be omitted without loss of meaning or function.
I have now lived through 683 days of redundancy, each one against my embattled will. Like 26 million people across the EU, I long, desperately, to fall asleep with the contentment and exhaustion of a full and productive day.I have now lived through 683 days of redundancy, each one against my embattled will. Like 26 million people across the EU, I long, desperately, to fall asleep with the contentment and exhaustion of a full and productive day.
My time is spent writing application after application, repeating the same information in different words. A wearisome and unproductive task: it is rare to receive an acknowledgment, let alone an invite to interview.My time is spent writing application after application, repeating the same information in different words. A wearisome and unproductive task: it is rare to receive an acknowledgment, let alone an invite to interview.
I lead a life without achievement. In fact my life is quite the opposite: a life waiting to begin again – a waste.I lead a life without achievement. In fact my life is quite the opposite: a life waiting to begin again – a waste.
Finding myself unemployed I am no longer immune to the aggressive and hateful propaganda that is pitched against people in my situation. Regardless of our employment histories and efforts to find work, we are labelled scroungers and treated with contempt. Many people treat me with an air of superiority while others, some friends and relatives included, doubt me.Finding myself unemployed I am no longer immune to the aggressive and hateful propaganda that is pitched against people in my situation. Regardless of our employment histories and efforts to find work, we are labelled scroungers and treated with contempt. Many people treat me with an air of superiority while others, some friends and relatives included, doubt me.
The jobcentre and my Work Programme provider (WPP) have become significant in my life. Yet I only attend the former fortnightly and the latter monthly to prove, in both cases, that I am searching for work.The jobcentre and my Work Programme provider (WPP) have become significant in my life. Yet I only attend the former fortnightly and the latter monthly to prove, in both cases, that I am searching for work.
It hangs over me daily that if I make a mistake, I stand to lose the £111.45 a week that my partner and I rely on to survive. The prospect of one week without that money is terrifying; now consider the new maximum sanction, introduced last October, of 156 weeks without help. Of course this might only be used in extreme cases, but it still exists as a very real threat – the will is there to punish, and drastically.It hangs over me daily that if I make a mistake, I stand to lose the £111.45 a week that my partner and I rely on to survive. The prospect of one week without that money is terrifying; now consider the new maximum sanction, introduced last October, of 156 weeks without help. Of course this might only be used in extreme cases, but it still exists as a very real threat – the will is there to punish, and drastically.
I have now reached a point where I wonder what the purpose of the jobcentre and WPPs is. So let's take a look at them.I have now reached a point where I wonder what the purpose of the jobcentre and WPPs is. So let's take a look at them.
Four, maybe five, large security staff line the entrance of the jobcentre. Their stances relax as I flash an appointment card in their direction. Their presence strikes a complex balance: threatening violence should I misbehave, while offering me protection and security against the other jobseekers – though I see no reason to fear anyone. I have only seen trouble once, and the security team were powerless to intervene; the man knew it. In any case, his anger was justified. The jobcentre is intentionally made to be an intimidating place.Four, maybe five, large security staff line the entrance of the jobcentre. Their stances relax as I flash an appointment card in their direction. Their presence strikes a complex balance: threatening violence should I misbehave, while offering me protection and security against the other jobseekers – though I see no reason to fear anyone. I have only seen trouble once, and the security team were powerless to intervene; the man knew it. In any case, his anger was justified. The jobcentre is intentionally made to be an intimidating place.
The pitch is that these places are here to help jobseekers. For example, my WPP call their advisers "tutors".The pitch is that these places are here to help jobseekers. For example, my WPP call their advisers "tutors".
These tutors lead mandatory group workshops, covering material such as communication, motivation and personal hygiene. We are treated as though we have never been employed or lived in the outside world. In reality we are an educated bunch and many were previously highly paid professionals – a very different picture of the unemployed to the one most often projected.These tutors lead mandatory group workshops, covering material such as communication, motivation and personal hygiene. We are treated as though we have never been employed or lived in the outside world. In reality we are an educated bunch and many were previously highly paid professionals – a very different picture of the unemployed to the one most often projected.
I have a typical workshop handout in front of me now, entitled, Where Can I Find Work? The list ranges from "the internet" to "a life-changing job hunt", each set against the "Potential Success Rate … in 2006". Of those using agencies, it says, between 5 and 28% were successful, while a life-changing job hunt saw a whopping and definite 86% success rate. My request for the source of this data was unfortunately denied.I have a typical workshop handout in front of me now, entitled, Where Can I Find Work? The list ranges from "the internet" to "a life-changing job hunt", each set against the "Potential Success Rate … in 2006". Of those using agencies, it says, between 5 and 28% were successful, while a life-changing job hunt saw a whopping and definite 86% success rate. My request for the source of this data was unfortunately denied.
After introducing himself to me, one of the "tutors" even joked, "What, are you too poor to afford clothes that fit properly?", pointing to the shirt that sagged slightly around my reduced middle. Bullying is also the norm.After introducing himself to me, one of the "tutors" even joked, "What, are you too poor to afford clothes that fit properly?", pointing to the shirt that sagged slightly around my reduced middle. Bullying is also the norm.
It strikes me that these organisations are not really here to help the unemployed. Finding employment may be their preferred solution, but in an economy that favours high unemployment, that cannot always be the case.It strikes me that these organisations are not really here to help the unemployed. Finding employment may be their preferred solution, but in an economy that favours high unemployment, that cannot always be the case.
Being "redundant" (a word that both the jobcentre and WPP avoid but imply, for example I've been told that, "unemployed you're no good to man nor fowl".) I provide no function or meaning in the world because I do not perform a role for someone else, I do not produce profit. Even voluntary work does not shake this idea – paid work is key. Those that employ us define who we are.Being "redundant" (a word that both the jobcentre and WPP avoid but imply, for example I've been told that, "unemployed you're no good to man nor fowl".) I provide no function or meaning in the world because I do not perform a role for someone else, I do not produce profit. Even voluntary work does not shake this idea – paid work is key. Those that employ us define who we are.
As a judge or magistrate hands down a sentence they will often contextualise the decision of the court by acknowledging the previous good character of the convicted, in part by their employment history. Unemployment is culpability, guilt.As a judge or magistrate hands down a sentence they will often contextualise the decision of the court by acknowledging the previous good character of the convicted, in part by their employment history. Unemployment is culpability, guilt.
The reason is that employers require us to abide by their standards of behaviour and presentation. They control how we must be in order to become or remain socially acceptable.The reason is that employers require us to abide by their standards of behaviour and presentation. They control how we must be in order to become or remain socially acceptable.
The unemployed, however, live day-to-day unchecked and separate from such a social hierarchy. I am now an unknown entity, and so I pose a threat. I may not have financial freedom, but potentially I have far more valuable freedoms: time and perspective free from the constraints and interference of an employer.The unemployed, however, live day-to-day unchecked and separate from such a social hierarchy. I am now an unknown entity, and so I pose a threat. I may not have financial freedom, but potentially I have far more valuable freedoms: time and perspective free from the constraints and interference of an employer.
This makes the plight of those on workfare clearer. More important than free labour is the need to monitor and regulate behaviour. Time is filled, groups are separated and deviation is nipped in the bud.This makes the plight of those on workfare clearer. More important than free labour is the need to monitor and regulate behaviour. Time is filled, groups are separated and deviation is nipped in the bud.
Likewise, the role of the jobcentre and WPPs is to impose a hierarchy. And they achieve this with efficiency. During short and intermittent meetings with jobseekers, they check that the person's time has been used in a particular way, they belittle and bully, backed up with threats of hunger and homelessness. The unemployed are left blind to their own potentials and the potential of the world.Likewise, the role of the jobcentre and WPPs is to impose a hierarchy. And they achieve this with efficiency. During short and intermittent meetings with jobseekers, they check that the person's time has been used in a particular way, they belittle and bully, backed up with threats of hunger and homelessness. The unemployed are left blind to their own potentials and the potential of the world.
And this surveillance and control infiltrates ever deeper as Iain Duncan Smith proposes to extend Universal Jobmatch, a new government job search website, making its use compulsory for all jobseekers.And this surveillance and control infiltrates ever deeper as Iain Duncan Smith proposes to extend Universal Jobmatch, a new government job search website, making its use compulsory for all jobseekers.
Those who become free from the system of employment are perceived to pose a threat. This is dealt with by aggressive browbeating: a system embedded in our law and culture.Those who become free from the system of employment are perceived to pose a threat. This is dealt with by aggressive browbeating: a system embedded in our law and culture.
But we must not fear the unemployed because of someone else's paranoia.But we must not fear the unemployed because of someone else's paranoia.