On 2 Dec, 01:52, "Niteawk"  wrote:
> "Robbie"  wrote in message
>
> news:5rduvlF1444i8U1@mid.individual.net...
>
>
>
>
>
> > melanie.fullw...@hotmail.co.uk wrote:
> >> On 30 Nov, 22:56, "mart2...@hotmail.com"  wrote:
> >>> On 30 Nov, 21:19, "Niteawk"  wrote:
>
> > I don't know about Job Centres, but speaking as someone who has worked for
> > the DWP in its various incarnations (though no longer working there) I
> > found that most staff were pleasant enough though there was the odd one or
> > two who were rude and unhelpful. However, the way that staff get spoken to
> > by some customers wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else. In the office I
> > worked at we had staff seriously assaulted, followed when going home,
> > threatened, screens smashed, claimants smashing down doors to get into the
> > staff areas, claimants fighting amongst each other, once with baseball
> > bats, several bomb threats, someone walking in with an incendiary device,
> > staff cars being smashed up and more and that wasn't untypical of the
> > offices in the area. In fact some offices had it worse - Brixton office a
> > few miles away had a car driven through the front window with claimants
> > nearly killed. All because a giro didn't turn up. On top of that, being
> > called a cunt and worse for the umpteenth time in a day gets to the point
> > where it's difficult to always smile when the next person you see sits
> > down in front of you. It does test the patience after a while and you are
> > on your guard before the person in front of you speaks, In my office three
> > colleagues had nervous breakdowns - and these occurred in the office in
> > front of several staff - in the first year I worked there. I can tell you
> > it's not a pleasant thing to witness.
>
> > And as for excuses people come out with why they can't do something
> > (mainly finding a job, though we didn't see as many as the equivalent of
> > the old job centre dealt with that side of things), you hear it all within
> > the first few months and the worst of it all is seeing the same few faces
> > causing much of the disruption in reception and those same few people
> > moaning that life dealt them a shit hand. Then attempting to cause as much
> > disruption as possible in the office.
>
> I have seen the problems you speak of, they are only ever caused by people
> complaining that their giro has not arrived. I was in Victoria, London a few
> years back and mob attacked the DSS office and wrecked it, why? no giros
> again. I think it was the second or third week of no payments that caused it
> to kick off.
>
> Given the amount of and type people youdealwith, it surprises me that
> staff have never learned to read the danger signs or how to moderate
> themselves when dealing with such people. There are some people you just do
> not argue with called nutcases - they start off by screaming and shouting
> "wheres my fucking giro" this is a big clue - by now it should be fairly
> obvious to any lame ass JC/ND/DSS that this must be why they are out of work
> and cant get a job, as soon as something is not right they will try to kill
> you, they are dysfunctional plain and simple - the solution in this scenario
> is just give them their giro or say its being processed and to collect it a
> 3.00pm. Easy enough isnt it. Your average raving lunatic will be happy with
> that and calm is restored immediately. No need for nervous breakdowns if you
> know how todealwith people.
>
> But then I think some of your JC/ND/DSS like to take advantage of people
> like this and deliberately wind them up, ah its ok, I am perfectly safe
> behind my bandit screen, the security guards have been called, he cant get
> me.........dont bank on it. ;)
>
>
>
> > Customer care should be a priority but on top of all the chaos coming from
> > the public side of things you also have management changing priorities on
> > a whim and targets being set that are just impossible to reach. Now there
> > are massive staff cutbacks which has made the situation worse.
>
> There does not seem to be any shortage of staff where I am, they call me in
> so often I have asked them if they would like me to move in permanently, the
> ND staff have the easiest job of all. They only have 7 or 8 appointments a
> day, one customer per hour leaving them plenty of room to take it easy, very
> often my appointments last for a matter of minutes, yet I know they booked
> an hour slot for me. The whole thing is pointless because the ask the same
> questions as the JC staff. They could save time by saying hello and good
> bye. It would make no difference, thats how useful they are. Doing a job
> that has already been done.
>
>
>
> > That said, if someone isn't of a nervous disposition I would recommend
> > working in a benefits office for six months - you soon learn about human
> > nature though ultimately it can make you a more cynical person.
>
> If only they did learn about human nature, the problems you speak of would
> easily be avoided.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I agree with you that sometimes it seems as though the staff are
winding you up for the fun of it. Maybe to make their dull lives
exciting perhaps? I do sympathise about the abuse that some of them
have to take; and it shouldn't be. I'm sure they give as good as they
get though. As for nervous breakdowns; the way I've been treated by
'the system' and (mentioning no names) so called New Deal
'Advisors' (advice on what? How to be rude perhaps?) it's a wonder I'm
not the one who's had the nervous breakdown.