Options
CONFIRMED: Workfare IS used in order to avoid paying a wage as Homebase poster shows
Diaz
Posts: 220 Forum Member
✭
Homebase poster here: http://www.boycottworkfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/homebase-workfare.jpg
This poster, leaked yesterday from Haringey Homebase, shows exactly how employers view workfare: an easy way to cut the wages bill. Homebase claim “We ensure they work alongside, not replace, paid colleagues”, but a staff member has told us that since tens of workfare placements were brought in, overtime has been cut for everyone. Some people’s hours have been cut from 48 down to 8 – far below the threshold for Working Tax Credits – because that is all they are contracted for.
It turns out 750 hours with no payroll costs – the figure for just one week in just one of Homebase’s 342 stores – does have a massive impact on the paid work available. Apparently it’s an effect that is popular with the regional manager, who we’ve heard has been trying to get all Homebase stores in her region to use workfare, and has been suspending or moving managers who don’t.
Full article here:
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=2404
Guardian article also:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/apr/06/homebase-criticised-work-experience-claims
Contact Homebase:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/homebase
On Twitter: Tweet to @homebase_uk
By email: order.enquiries@homebase.co.uk or info@homebase.co.uk or enquiries@homebase.co.uk
By phone: 0845 077 8888 or 0845 601 6911
Or contact the company they are owned by: http://www.homeretailgroup.com/contact-us/
This poster, leaked yesterday from Haringey Homebase, shows exactly how employers view workfare: an easy way to cut the wages bill. Homebase claim “We ensure they work alongside, not replace, paid colleagues”, but a staff member has told us that since tens of workfare placements were brought in, overtime has been cut for everyone. Some people’s hours have been cut from 48 down to 8 – far below the threshold for Working Tax Credits – because that is all they are contracted for.
It turns out 750 hours with no payroll costs – the figure for just one week in just one of Homebase’s 342 stores – does have a massive impact on the paid work available. Apparently it’s an effect that is popular with the regional manager, who we’ve heard has been trying to get all Homebase stores in her region to use workfare, and has been suspending or moving managers who don’t.
Full article here:
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=2404
Guardian article also:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/apr/06/homebase-criticised-work-experience-claims
Contact Homebase:
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/homebase
On Twitter: Tweet to @homebase_uk
By email: order.enquiries@homebase.co.uk or info@homebase.co.uk or enquiries@homebase.co.uk
By phone: 0845 077 8888 or 0845 601 6911
Or contact the company they are owned by: http://www.homeretailgroup.com/contact-us/
0
Comments
I hope they pass those cost savings onto the customers!
Yeah I'm sure they'll do that
Then I'm literally trembling with anger as I write this :mad::mad::mad::mad:
They dont deserve customers.
Even with the Government promise to cull "red tape", cut the minimum wage, cut welfare for working people and other ways to cut the costs of employing people (at the expense of employees pay and rights), workfare will still trump the lot of them.
http://www.boycottworkfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/homebase-workfare.jpg
A bit harsh, but I agree. These folk have been on benefits long enough, this is a good way to make them do something for all the benefits already paid, while getting valuable work experience for their CV with one of the country's leading paint retailers.
Good on homebase for accommodating so many of these folk in each store
If companies want to employ people, they should be paying them a wage appropriate to their hours.
Urghhh....
Could I hazard a guess here, that you work for Homebase, and are on an 8hr contract and now receive no overtime? Of course you'll deny it, but you seem passionate and very knowledgable about the local regional activities of the company.
Anyone working 48 hours while on an 8hr contract is a mug. Does the working time directive not limit you to 47.5? And if you consistently worked those hours, they should be asking for a contract extension so they don't miss out with crappy holiday pay.
Anyway, it's all not worth debating, homebase is ready for the retail scrap heap. If this cheap labour can keep folk in work a bit longer, then I'm all for it.
How long were you banned for?
It's the ones who try and defend it who deserve the most contempt.
My irony detector just exploded. :cool:
If people are working, they should be paid a wage.
Why should existing workers have to suffer too, they are on the breadline as it is.
Done!
If they did enough hours so they worked at the equivalent of minimum wage rate then that'd be fine. So it'd work out to an average of 10 hours a week for JSA - no problem with that.
How is that relevant or constructive?