Re-opening job centres – Update

by Welfare-Champion Sat Jul 18, 2020 11:30 am

Not a full reopening

DWP have stressed to PCS that they are not planning to fully re-open job centres and job centres will not be offering the full service that was available prior to the Covid 19 pandemic. Appointments will be offered to vulnerable customers as is already happened but will also be offered to some new claimants to UC. However as the doors of the job centres will be open other customers may use that to enter the job centre with their own queries.

https://www.pcs.org.uk/department-for-work-and-pensions/news/re-opening-job-centres-%E2%80%93-update

Further info 17/7/20:
https://www.pcs.org.uk/department-for-work-and-pensions/news/improved-covid-19-jcfra-negotiated

by Absolut Mon Jul 20, 2020 5:32 am

All measures should take into account the risks both for unacceptable customer behaviour but also for Covid-19 too. PCS has been clear that in some instances covid-19 is being weaponised by the public and UCB incidents like spitting at or coughing over our members could have life impacting consequences. Many of the normal control measures to keep staff safe may work fine with one aspect of the risks but they need to work for both covid-19 risks and UCB.

I said they'd treat coughing (accidentally or otherwise) as an attack on them. study

by Welfare-Champion Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:05 am

I think because a public worker died after being spat upon, PCS has to consider all risks.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/12/uk-rail-worker-dies-coronavirus-spat-belly-mujinga

Members of the public have also used spiiting and coughing as a weapon against the police and others.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-coronavirus-coughing-spitting-a4411856.html

by Caker Mon Jul 20, 2020 8:06 am

Yes, I saw that on the news and I thought it was disgraceful that the perpetrator was not punished. So sad for the family of the worker Sad

by Absolut Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:00 pm

Welfare-Champion wrote:I think because a public worker died after being spat upon, PCS has to consider all risks.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/12/uk-rail-worker-dies-coronavirus-spat-belly-mujinga

Members of the public have also used spiiting and coughing as a weapon against the police and others.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-coronavirus-coughing-spitting-a4411856.html

I'm glad they are considering all the risks but it won't stop them from catching anything at all. It's not possible to totally protect yourself unless you wear a full hazmat suit. I was also being serious about DWP using accidentally coughing near them as an excuse to have claimants sanctioned. They make up all sorts of rubbish with no proof required. I want DWP workers to be as paranoid as possible, that way we don't have to go and sign on. Very Happy

by Welfare-Champion Tue Jul 21, 2020 12:21 pm

Absolut wrote:
Welfare-Champion wrote:I think because a public worker died after being spat upon, PCS has to consider all risks.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/12/uk-rail-worker-dies-coronavirus-spat-belly-mujinga

Members of the public have also used spiiting and coughing as a weapon against the police and others.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/police-coronavirus-coughing-spitting-a4411856.html

I'm glad they are considering all the risks but it won't stop them from catching anything at all. It's not possible to totally protect yourself unless you wear a full hazmat suit. I was also being serious about DWP using accidentally coughing near them as an excuse to have claimants sanctioned. They make up all sorts of rubbish with no proof required. I want DWP workers to be as paranoid as possible, that way we don't have to go and sign on.

I understand.

There are no Social Security regulations allowing a sanction to be applied in such circumstances.

The offence may fall under the category "violent crime":

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/coronavirus-coughs-key-workers-will-be-charged-assault-cps-warns

If, and when the JC staff resume face to face interviews things may change for the better!

by Caker Wed Jul 22, 2020 8:08 am

I am with Absolut on this one. JC workers have been known to fabricate allegations on zero pretext. I would prefer to not go into the JC ever again.

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