Quote: Sal Paradise "I personally don't agree with expecting those on the dole to work for commercial organisations for free that creates an unfair advantage to those who participate.
Playing devil's advocate how do you incentivise employers to take labour they don't really need and wouldn't employ in the normal course of business?'"
In general they should at least have to pay NMW for all of the hours worked, the employee should be kept on the unemployed register and have their JSA deducted from their wage during the period of employment, this would ensure that when the trial comes to an end they don't have to go back and reregister and wait another four weeks to get their JSA - its similar in a way to the old administration of statutory sick pay where the employer paid it out and then deducted it from their monthly HMRC income tax payment.
Thats all the encouragement that the unemployed should need, to encourage the employer you could provide tax deductions from corporation tax in the same way as governments in the past have made allowances for capital investments.
Quote: Sal Paradise "We have had this discussion many times as to what society should expect from the unemployed - many, me included, find it very frustrating watching the unemployed kick back whilst those who provide their monies have to work. I have never been unemployed and maybe I would have a very rude awakening if I had to join the queue looking for another job.'"
I've never been unemployed in 40 years but my wife has and I have seen in side a job centre from both sides of the desk as they used to be clients of mine - I would hate to be reliant on the service to provide me with guidance to get back into the workforce and indeed probably wouldn't go down that route at all, its a horrible experience, often unhelpful, often overly bureaucratic and the realisation that no-one can support a family and a lifestyle on JSA should be obvious to all but often never is.
