Leaving Jobbridge

flyovertom

I'm on a Jobbridge at the moment but I want to leave.

I have a new (paying) job starting next Tues but I haven't given notice to my current Jobbridge employer yet.

When I told them I had an interview they told me they would fire me if I went (I need the experience with this company).

So I called in sick an went for the interview anyway, the result was a nasty text from my boss, he retracted it the next day as I had a sick cert, I know I lied but paid work was always my priority.

I'm in doing a job for this guy and I work on my own mostly, I have an amount of work to get through and there is no way I can finish it by tomo evening.

I had to do a few things for the day today so I didn't go in (this was the second sick day I've pulled, and I came in late twice), but I have to go back tomo and I know it will be a very hostile environment. I seen emails that were sent around this evening and I have a feeling they have dumped me off the project.

I just can't wait to start my new job but I know I won't be able to get a reference off this crowd.

I have two past references so I'm not too worried.

I just want to quit tomo morning,

Only one manager knows I'm on the Jobbridge, he said not to tell anyone because there's a "stigma" attached to people on the dole and the jobbridge.

Is there anywhere I can publicly hang this company out to dry?

ABajaninCork

Get on to Welfare. You'll need to do this anyway if only to sign off from the scam scheme. Tell them exactly what happened to you. Do you still have the text sent? I'd be showing that to Welfare too...

If you can't finish the work tomorrow? Don't worry about it. That's their problem, not yours. Do a full handover plan. Be as professional as possible,

Then I'd be getting on to Scambridge! Grass them right up!

And congrats on the new role. Good luck!

jaffa20

Do not worry about it. They are not at a loss because they are not paying you a thing with their free labour! You are meant to give a weeks notice (ha) but just inform social welfare of your start date and move on. Good luck in your new job!

worded

Slaves are not fired, they are sold.

Well done op. if they are not paying you, you are not an employee IMO.

ABajaninCork

Oh - BTW. Your employer is supposed to allow you time off for interviews. They cannot refuse. I'd be telling Welfare that too. Not that they'll do anything about it mind. That involves effort. And trying to fool people this scam works...

sligoface

It is in the contract that they have to let you go for interviews. I personally would just stop going in, and go into welfare on monday to say you got paid work starting tomorrow and also inform them that you were threatened with being 'fired' for going to an interview which is a breach of the internship contract. They're way out of line and you have nothing to gain by staying, why be professional if they aren't doing the same and aren't going to give you a job or reference?

Interesting to note how your new employer views applicants from Jobbridge, this is one of the many flaws of the scheme, people willing to work for basically nothing are rarely going to be looked at as a highly valued candidate and can expect to be low balled on wage offers even if they are succesful in being hired.

I was also left on my own frequently during my internship. While my 'mentor' was off doing courses I was to handle her phone and email duties, and was also given hassle over wanting time off for interviews. I quit because of those issues.

What's really laughable is that even though they abused the internship agreement and you didn't get a job with your host company, the fact that you got a job while doing it will lead to them marking you down as a success story for this scam of a scheme.

flyovertom

I have actually gone for a few interviews, this was the only one that really clashed with work, I work (8-5)

In most of the interviews I mentioned the Jobbridge and they glossed over it and had no interest in what I was doing, only the experience I had from paid positions.

I work in a technical environment and I am highly skilled with good experience, I feel the Jobbridge status has left me down in interviews.

For this interview I rang the recruitment agency and told them I couldn't go, the guy on the other end wanted to know why and was shocked to hear what was going on. I told him I neglected to mention I was on the Jobbridge because I needed the experience and couldn't risk losing my current position,

After speaking with him I changed my mind and called in sick, He told me not to mention I was on the Jobbridge as it was irrelevant and that once I had the experience they were happy.

The company were shocked today at me leaving but I still think I'll get a reference off one guy, I challenged the manager about him threatening to let me go if I went for the interview and he said it was only because If I stayed with the company I'd be given a full time job and the Jobbridge was merely a means by which they train people.

I don;t see any other past Jobbridge people working there.

Thanks god for that guy in the recruitment agency, its a weight off my shoulders to be out of the "scam"

road_high

OP don't be so silly! You were 100% to go the interview and get A REAL PAYING JOB not one of the scambridge jokes.
Experience or not, you owe nothing to them. I'd be out of there at the text stage to be honest. Guy has a serious fcuking (excuse my language but I feel strongly here) nerve to try stop you while he scams the taxpayer with free labour. Truly shocking.

Very best of luck in your new PAID job OP, good for you

road_high

Did something similar myself a few years back and left one Friday eve and never went back. Didn't care as I knew i never wanted to work there and had a real job lined up. They didn't respect me enough to offer me a real salary so these chancers reap what they sow in my book.
PS I totally bigged up the internship aspect i.e. I had such initiative and drive to work for free etc. Looks good to most employers really, it's just your self confidence has been beaten by working for free. Onwards and upwards now though

intellectual dosser

What is it that your current 'employer' is going to do? Don't even log out, just stand up and walk out. We had a guy in our office on JB and he did just that, no one batted an eyelid. Worst case scenario they complain about you to welfare but you already have plenty of ammo on them if such a situation arises.

flyovertom

Its a bit more complicated than that

He owns a company that contracts people of my profession to do work so the company I am working for do not actually know I'm on JB,

It is very likely he is getting paid in some form for me being there, I brought this up with the JB before and they said I can't make statements like that without being able to back them up.

CatFromHue

Fair play FlyOverTom I'm really happy for you and really happy with what you did.

Follow through with The Jobbridge organisers and let them know of your experiences.

Sala

Well done OP, good luck in the new job! Report them to jobbridge and make a big deal of it so they aren't allowed participate any more. They are supposed to help you get experience, not enslave you forever to work for free for them! Contact scambridge.org as well, they may name and shame for you I wouldn't lose any sleep over them, you did what you needed to do and it has paid off, look after number 1.