Monday, 1 November 2010
From A4e to stardom
Who is A4e's most famous former employee? Yes, it's Hayley Taylor. Plucked from deserved obscurity by the Benefit Busters programme, where her reward was to be invited to tea with Emma Harrison, she went on to star in "The Fairy Jobmother" in Britain. Those three programmes were greeted with much cynicism here, but they are obviously more open to her message and style in America. The press coverage of the start of her series there is rarely critical. She's described as an "international career specialist" amongst other things, and I've seen only one review, on Media Life, which sees through the hype. But Hayley has everything going for her, and now has her own Facebook fan page. Nowhere in all this publicity is A4e mentioned. I can't help wondering what Emma makes of all this.
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OMG... This woman has identified that I waste up to 260 hours a year (via her "Time Sucks" app). This time could be used to:
ReplyDelete* Take a few digital filmmaking courses and get a job as a producer or editor.
* Take a jewelry making course and sell your designs at your first trunk show.
* Complete your first year at nursery school.
* Learn how to fly and get your pilot's license.
* Take an online writing course and publish a novel.
'nuff said.!
V unfair comments about Hayley,she does not read any reviews such as these but would be upset if she knew such awful things were being said. She resigned from A4e because she did not like the way they operated,and that was months ago, she didn't want to be associated with them at all yet people keep raking it up. The american channel made the page about time spent, not Hayley so it,s unfair to suggest they are her opinions.Why are people in your industry so set againest her? all she does is help people to gain employment is that so bad?
ReplyDeleteThe point you (Anon 2) have to realise is that A4e has left a bad taste in a LOT of peoples mouths. Ms Taylor was a public face of A4e for a period of time esp when she was the focus of ep 1 of Benefit Busters last year.
ReplyDeleteIt's like a famous Hollywood actress trying to dissaciciate herself from a cheesy commercial she did as a teenager. Of course people are going to bring these things up now and again. Remember, the name of this site is 'Watching A4e' after all.
Helping people into sustainable employment is not bad at all. Regular contributors to this site such as myself applaud such action. What we question are many of the methods used and the results thay supposedly achieve.
Perhaps you could elighten us. Why did ms Taylor not like the way A4e operated? It would be genuinely fascinating to know why!
If Hayley Taylor had not worked for A4e and had not been privileged to appear in the Benefit Busters programme, she would not be 'over the pond' now giving advice that, let's face it all advisors working in the welfare to work sector give on a daily basis. She comes across as forceful and pushy much like Supernanny.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked for 2 Providers now, they are all much of a muchness, these companies have to make a profit in order to keep their employees in a job. It would very ironic if these Companies folded and added to the numbers at the Jobcentre!!
Maybe Ms Taylor should tell us why she didnt like the way A4e operated, but maybe she would be then 'biting the hand that originally fed her'.
Learn how to fly and get your pilot's license.?! - a commercial pilots licence costs ~£40,000 to obtain! And even then it doesn't guarantee employment!
ReplyDeleteA question if I may?
ReplyDeleteDo the providers get an outcome if they sanction you for 6 months? Or if you sign off without a job to go to? Not that the latter is a viable option.
If not, why the appalling treatment? Surely it is in their interest to actually help you, or try to. Not treat you like a criminal, or schoolchildren. They act like they own you. Do as they say or else!
Most unprofessional.
In answer to your question,she did not like Emma Harrison, and the way she operated, she did not like being called the face of A4e, which is why she resigned.She was asked to appear in Benefit Busters and was persuded by A4e to do so, to the point where she could not start a new provision ( connect to work) because A4e wanted her to stay behind to film the programme.Let me also add that Benefit Busters was very heavily edited to show her in a certain light,and she took it all on the chin because of her passion for working with the unemployed.Having worked with her I can honestly say she is a very educated and proffesional person, who is excellent at what she does, and her commitment to her work goes far beyond what the viewers saw. I have seen her go to court,womens refuges,solicitors etc in her own time to help those she worked with.It makes me so angry to see these comments, as she is nothing like what you assume, she has helped me learn so much for which I would never be where I am if it wasn't for her. Give her a break.
ReplyDeleteWe've been here before. If the above comment is correct (and I have no way of knowing whether it is and so don't endorse it) remember that all anyone has to go on is what is seen on screen. It is a hazard of signing up to programmes like these that the image becomes the reality.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I'm aware, if you just "disappear" off the register for 13 the Provider will get paid. That is why they actively encourage you to "just not come back in" - the we've washed our hands of you attitude. When you are with these providers it is imperative that you make sure you receive your next appointment BEFORE you leave the office - I can't stress that enough.
ReplyDeleteIf you "disappear off the register" the provider will notify the Jobcentre of this, and you will be taken off benefits. The provider ceases to get paid for your attendance. If you get a job within 13 weeks they can still claim a job outcome if they can get verification.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the responses.
ReplyDeleteI don't intend "disappearing off the register". I want a job! But if we entertain the notion that at least a few people in receipt of benefit are genuine, then signing off isn't really an option.
What is to be gained therefore, by some very questionable actions that may make some people sign off or risk sanctions? If they do not get paid in full? The jobless figures might lower a little, but apart from that it makes little sense in my opinion.
I have recently "disappeared off the register". Informed the Jobcentre that it was for personal reasons (but somehow forgot to tell A4e). Despite having signed off, I still picked up a couple of sanctions after declining to sign a "My Journey Plan" on the grounds that there was no mandatory requirement to do so....
ReplyDeleteHistorian: You were right, they did embellish the paperwork with a few lies - Just as well the conversations were recorded :)
What do you mean by "a couple of sanctions"? I don't see how they can stop benefits unless you were absent without signing off.
ReplyDeleteThey stop benifits for the most trivial reasons.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a job while being with a "provider" take the job and dont tell the provider.
ReplyDelete"They stop benifits for the most trivial reasons."
ReplyDeleteIt depends how you define "trivial". The reasoning is that you have to demonstrate that you are available for work and attend any provision that the government decides is good for you. If you don't turn up there's a fair bit of leeway over unauthorised absence, but if you go over that and don't sign in you are deemed not to be available for work and your benefit is stopped. The only other reason would be gross misconduct. In every case you can appeal. I don't say the system's fair, just that it imposes certain obligations on the claimant.
Appeal! yeah alot of good that will do you! and "to attend any provision the goverment decides is good for you"!, yep stuck in a room for 13 weeks via of a4e doing sod all, did me the world of good!
ReplyDeleteAvailable for what work???
ReplyDeleteWhy must a person "sign on"? whats the point? so why not sign one declaration that says... no 1.Throughout the time i am claiming jobseekers allowance i will not do any work paid or unpaid, if i do and i am caught doing this, i understand that my jobseekers allowance will stop forthwith. no 2. I understand i can be called in at random with a days notice to show what i have been doing to look for work within the last months period. this would cut down the number of useless people in the jobcenters used to "sign people on".
ReplyDeleteIn Eire (Southern Ireland) you don't have to "sign-on" - you just tell them when you want to stop claiming.
ReplyDeleteA4E THE FAIRY JOBMOTHER USA PART 1 http://bit.ly/cwnvD7
ReplyDeleteYou only need to look at the good ol' US of A to see what is heading for these shores: Mass displacement, homelessness and starvation. There is some seriously bad stuff about to come down hard. Time to wake up!
ReplyDeleteRegarding "sanctions for the most trivial of reasons". What defines something as trivial will differ for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThey may be using the 'threat' of a sanction doubt being created as a measure to gain compliance. Even if it appears that the reason for the doubt being raised is at best speculative on the part of the provider and cannot tangibly be shown to be a valid reason by legislation or the provider.
A DM might agree and decide in your favour, they might not.
As far as I can tell 'not signing an action plan' is reasonably well defined. It could be regarded as not available for work or failing to avail of an opportunity, possibly. The opportunity being the provision.
But fixed sanctions and not variable like turning down a job offer, for example.
There could be more trivial reasons to get threatened with a sanction. Even if it doesn't result in one.
You have to do the FND, it's as simple as that. Even if you disagree with the legislation. Or find it unlawful or similar.
However distasteful it might be. They might even find you a decent job. Or not.
Hmmm? ;-)
If flexible new deal, placements, etc find people jobs why so many unemployed?
ReplyDelete