jobbridge and employer

wistful

Hi,

I've no doubt this has been suggested many times before, but as someone who is currently on a jobbridge scheme (happily so), I can't understand how the organisers don't make the employer pick up some of the bill.

It seems to me that it's common sense for the employer to pay half the wage. Thereby, the social welfare contribution could be reduced (also negating that extra 50euro addon), and the employee could be topped up so that they now receive minimum wage.

Winners all round; the employer gets a shortterm worker for far less than they would pay normally. The government gets someone off the live register, for less than they would give if the person were claiming the dole. The employee would actually have a paid position where they would earn some money (as opposed to surviving on the dole income) , gain skills/training etc.

Likewise, those employers who abuse the system should be automatically banned from the scheme if they are found in breach of the rules/regulations. This should include advertising a skilled post, and then using the employee for menial tasks. Jobbridgers would also be contacted on a 3month basis to find out if they are happy on the scheme, if the employer is providing training etc. If not, then the employer is investigated by jobbridge.

It just seems obvious that you would cut out a lot of the scammers out there. There needs to be more regulation. Yes, that would take more time and resources, but if the government actually wanted this scheme to work, they would be more selective with employers and jobs they advertise. There needs to be strict criteria relating to job; no unskilled/shop/receptionist labour, and proof should be provided that a paid job position isn't being consumed by this internship.

I'm coming from a position of someone on a jobbridge contract. I am very lucky in that I'm happy with the outcome. But I've never had any contact from Jobbridge to enquiry if the internship is working as it should. I know my employer provides monthly updates, but surely it makes sense for me to provide feedback also.

I know for a fact that my position will be filled immediately after I leave. I was never in a position that I would get a job at the end of the contract, but I went into this with my eyes open. I just wish, for the sake of all of us unemployed out there, that they would get their finger out and regulate this scheme properly so it could in fact work to our advantage and promote new jobs.

Tar.Aldarion

Employers are already paying a lot more than 50 on you depending on what it is, it costs a lot to train in grads until they start making the company money in something like IT.
Still, it's not much more to them.

srsly78

OP you are confusing real internships with cheap labour. Training people costs money and time. Yes employers abusing the scheme should be banned, in fact they are...

The problem the depf of social welfare does not have enough people to go in and check all of these internships. Anyone being exploited should complain and get their employer investigated.

wistful

TBH, I think we all know that the word 'Internship' relating to this scheme is a misnomer. In the vast majority of cases, the 'intern' is receiving the same training as other workers. Does that mean the employer shouldn't contribute a wage? Especially when the worker is contributing the same as a paid member of staff.

Agreed, there are some professions where an investment is made in training a new graduate, but that pays dividends as they get an employee on a starter salary. They will quickly start paying their way. Regardless, this is sadly in the minority of situations.

In my case, and many many others, it's getting a foot on the ladder that is the issue. I'm no more an intern that the person next to me 10 years on the job. I work as full-member of staff. I don't get extra time for my training over and above anybody else, although we do all receive ongoing training par for the course. Really, it's the idea that this scheme works as a bridge to a job for a new graduate or a inexperienced worker that got me signed on. I need the experience on my cv to give me the edge in an over-extended market. I'm not suggesting the employer pays me a full wage; merely half of what they would pay someone on minimum wage. That works out at €4.33 an hour. Not excessive I would think.

I'm not naive enough to think every employer could be regularly monitored. What I'm suggesting is that the company provides proof at the outset they aren't replacing a current employee etc. and the job they are advertising isn't taking the p**s. Let the company sell the idea to jobbridge. After all, they are the ones benefitting. If they are more selective in who they allow to join the scheme, I'm sure it would run a lot smoother.

Jobbrige already asks for a monthly report from the employer; would it be so difficult to have the 'intern' do the same perhaps on 3monthly basis. Thereby they are actually monitoring the situation as opposed to ticking a box.

srsly78

Job Bridge do not ask for a monthly report from the employer. The employer just has to log into the jobbridge website once a month and click a button - this is to confirm that the intern attended for the specified time.

The intern is free to mail/contact the scheme administrators with feedback any time they want. They are also free to quit.

wistful

Just as a post-script; what I'm really trying to say is that overall I think the scheme is actually a great idea. All it needs are a few tweaks to make it work. However, giving blanket green cards to every employer at the moment who thinks they can take advantage is a recipe for disaster.

However, releasing fewer, but more appropriate jobs with companies with a good track record with other 'interns' could make this a something worth investing in.

wistful

srsly78, I agree with you,jobbridge is not actually monitoring whether or not the job is working as it should.

Yes, the intern is free to leave. Then the employer just gets another intern in, and nothing changes.

srsly78

Why are all these interns not making complaints if things are so bad?

I'm a 1 man company, I had an intern for 9 months. No checks were ever done (bar making sure I actually had a legit company at the start). And no I didn't make any money from the intern, because they didn't do any work

wistful

There are a lot of cases where the intern quits and doesn't report the employer, or are concerned about the perception of the social welfare office and losing their dole. From reading a lot of forums on the topic, it appears that people are disillusioned with the way things are run.

srsly78; I think there's a mixture of experiences out there. Not all these jobs are bad. In fact I'm very happy on mine, but I can see how things could be improved for everyone's sake, in my opinion. From your perspective as an employer, you obviously weren't very lucky with your intern? Or did you spend the time training them up? I guess there's give and take on both sides.

srsly78

The intern was not forced to do anything, and was allowed to work on their own software projects. I helped out and provided guidance. They did no "real work" that actually brought in money is what I meant. I never expected to make money off the intern, this was just me providing free training - a token bit of charity to assuage my fatcat guilt.

Interestingly, I emailed Mr Taoiseach in 2010 pointing out how I would not be able to give free training to people on the dole because of insurance etc etc. I got a reply saying I made a good point and they were considering taking action. The next year Job Bridge was brought in... So you can blame me I guess?

I do think this scheme should be restricted to certain sectors so that in-demand skills can be taught. This means no shelf stacking!

wistful

Agreed.

It sounds like you were doing your bit to help someone out, and fair play to you, not many these days who would put charity over profit. Nice to know there are the exceptions :-)

Tar.Aldarion

Srsly78 is very helpful on boards so it was a lucky intern, the jobs bridge thing ain't all bad

RoboRat

Fair play to you Srsly78, its great to see somebody like you offer their skills to another person.

endacolm123

well was reading through various areas of the forum looking for any helpful advice regards doing an internship.. I got offered an internship yesterday and will have to move out of the home house and relocate down the country to complete the internship. Im considering tactics see if il be able to survive at all with only getting €139 + €50 quid on top a that to keep me ticking over for the week which does sound a whole lot manageable. I cant get the higher JSA cause im not over 25 and wont get any rent supplement cause i havnt been living in a rented accommodation for over 6 months elsewhere. Just wondering is there any way else to get a few quid to keep me going or else i be thinking im goosed. cheers

CatFromHue

Enda I'd say at the moment you're goosed to be honest.

139+50 = 189.

Your rent in a houseshare will vary but 60 a week is a good guesstimate, that'll put you on 129.
Your food could be another 60 a week so you'll be on 69.
House bills (electricity, tv, etc) could another 25 a week so now you'll be on 44.
Then you'd have transport to take in and maybe health insurance too.

189 a week can be done but it'll be very tricky and you will be living week to week with near nothing to spend on social activities.

I'd check to see that if you've moved out of home that you wouldn't be able to the 189 a week. Even on that though life won't be easy.

endacolm123

yea was thinking that alrite but i have no real choice only to get through it as i was told when im finished the internship there is a very good chance i should walk into a job in the same position

im kinda weary that when im finished the internship they could just get another intern to fill the same post which id be fairly raged about.

Is there anyway pleading with the social welfare looking for a few extra bob explaining to them that its next near to impossible to survive on that wage and that when im finished there good chance i be of the dole in into a job.

Once you moved out of the home house and started renting yourself i thought your dole was increased to €188!?!

sky2424

Rent as close to the role as possible so you've no transport costs. Aim for 4 tenants in a house to cut bills. Go home for lunch and cook dinner at home- youl find that you won't actually spend that much good week days. Give health insurance a miss.

It can very easily be done if your really determined- consider it as short term pain for investment in the future. Many other jobs bridge people have had to up sticks and rent elsewhere, same position as you and had no problem surviving. Same with loads of students- I know I wasn't spending 100 quid a week on food/bills! If your determined to get on the ladder, then I'm afraid to say your best to just suck it up!

endacolm123

endacolm123 wrote: »

yea was thinking that alrite but i have no real choice only to get through it as i was told when im finished the internship there is a very good chance i should walk into a job in the same position

im kinda weary that when im finished the internship they could just get another intern to fill the same post which id be fairly raged about.

Is there anyway pleading with the social welfare looking for a few extra bob explaining to them that its next near to impossible to survive on that wage and that when im finished there good chance i be of the dole in into a job.

Once you moved out of the home house and started renting yourself i thought your dole was increased to €188!?!

If you are approaching the end of your internship you will probably qualify for this scheme,

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/240_Employer-Job-PRSI-Incentive-Scheme.aspx

That's from the JobBridge web page, so probably a good idea to mention it to your current host.

Gongoozler

I'm 6months into my internship. i wish i hadn't done it. nothing about the people there but it's just no use to me. I'm working on a website but getting no help or mentoring at all. In fact i know more than everyone else there about websites which isn't a lot. they're just regular office staff. I've come up against a couple of issues with features I've tried to do, but because i can't find a solution that's that. no help. i was brought in because i know how to do this basic stuff. not so i could be taught. I'm now searching and applying for jobs but getting nowhere. I'm at my wits end. and all this has done is put off my chances of getting a paid job.

Brian Shanahan

wistful wrote: »

Hi,

I've no doubt this has been suggested many times before, but as someone who is currently on a jobbridge scheme (happily so), I can't understand how the organisers don't make the employer pick up some of the bill.

It seems to me that it's common sense for the employer to pay half the wage. Thereby, the social welfare contribution could be reduced (also negating that extra 50euro addon), and the employee could be topped up so that they now receive minimum wage.

Winners all round; the employer gets a shortterm worker for far less than they would pay normally. The government gets someone off the live register, for less than they would give if the person were claiming the dole. The employee would actually have a paid position where they would earn some money (as opposed to surviving on the dole income) , gain skills/training etc.

Likewise, those employers who abuse the system should be automatically banned from the scheme if they are found in breach of the rules/regulations. This should include advertising a skilled post, and then using the employee for menial tasks. Jobbridgers would also be contacted on a 3month basis to find out if they are happy on the scheme, if the employer is providing training etc. If not, then the employer is investigated by jobbridge.

It just seems obvious that you would cut out a lot of the scammers out there. There needs to be more regulation. Yes, that would take more time and resources, but if the government actually wanted this scheme to work, they would be more selective with employers and jobs they advertise. There needs to be strict criteria relating to job; no unskilled/shop/receptionist labour, and proof should be provided that a paid job position isn't being consumed by this internship.

I'm coming from a position of someone on a jobbridge contract. I am very lucky in that I'm happy with the outcome. But I've never had any contact from Jobbridge to enquiry if the internship is working as it should. I know my employer provides monthly updates, but surely it makes sense for me to provide feedback also.

I know for a fact that my position will be filled immediately after I leave. I was never in a position that I would get a job at the end of the contract, but I went into this with my eyes open. I just wish, for the sake of all of us unemployed out there, that they would get their finger out and regulate this scheme properly so it could in fact work to our advantage and promote new jobs.

You're confusing the Jobbridge programme with an actual proper internship scheme. Jobbridge is there to massage the unemployment figures and for no other reason. The government feel it is a good deal for them to pay €50 per "employee" just to be able to round down the unemployment numbers and to be able to claim that there are being jobs created, without going to the bother of investing in the economy or any of the infrastructural needs to enable the economy to grow and develop sustainably.

If you look at the positions being advertised as Jobbridge "internships" 95% of them are entry level jobs that have no stronger requirements than "didn't fail Junior Cert". I've seen some laughable dressing up of what were essentially sales assistant jobs in single outlet shops, being called "marketing execuitve", "social media executive", and many other weird and wonderful names, but when the meat of the job-description is gotten to, it amounts to little more than stacking shelves, rearranging clothes and taking money for purchases.

The moniker ScamBridge is completely and totally appropriate.

eml

I am trying to get a spot with JobBridge but there are a lot of people going for the same positions and I found out later that the guys in the office were then getting people who have plenty of experience in for cheap labour. Some companies are taking advantage of it, some, but very few are actually giving training.
I have been scouring for weeks and applied to many but never heard anything back. They are taking the people with all the experience on before they take someone who is looking for the experience!