Wednesday 13 April 2016

TO SET YOUR MINDS AT EASE

Oh yeah, nice one. I should have done this more often!
I know that many of you have been losing sleep over this so Munguin asked me to let you know that Mr Duncan Smith will be alright.

We were flooded with letters and emails when IDS resigned his cabinet ministerial role as "demon in charge" with the Department of Work and Pensions. How would he cope, you demanded, without his salary? Would he be required to attend one of his own job centres and maybe even be sent for work experience at B&M Slave Labour Stores?

Well, when I say flooded I mean there were some letters and emails.

OK, when I say some, I mean there were none that actually addressed this issue or even mentioned him, but I know that you were all worried sick, because  you are that kind of people.

So I'm here to set your mind at ease.

Ordinarily, when ordinary people leave their ordinary jobs as a result of ordinary redundancy... that is to say, through no fault of their own and involuntarily... they are entitled to compensation in the form of "redundancy payment". Clearly this is to help them, left without gainful employment to manage until they can find some other way of earning a living. Of course if they leave of their own accord they get diddly squat and are refused any benefits.
Oh yes, Betsy and I can have a right good holiday on this, just not in Europe!
For government ministers, who already have another, rather well paid job, you would expect that to be different. And rightly so. After all, most people in the country would find living on £74,962 to be fairly easy, not to say luxurious.

But here's the rub. The difference isn't marked in quite the way you would expect.

No, you see, if a minister leaves his post, whether this is because he has been sacked for incompetence, or because he has annoyed his boss, the prime minister, say by being a little over ambitious, or indeed if he's been caught visiting places he shouldn't, possibly with his trousers round his knees, and brought the party into disrepute (if that is even possible any more), or even if he leaves voluntarily, as in IDS's case, because the poor soul cannot bear to hurt the sick and unemployed any more (even if this is a sudden aversion to sadism), he still gets compensation. Great terms and conditions, eh? I wonder who thought them up. Ah, oh yes....

So anyway, to return to my original theme, Mr Duncan Smith's welfare, I know that you will be relieved to be informed that he is in line to receive a *princely sum somewhere in the region of £34,000 for his opportunistic resignation, while he continues to be paid £75,000 pa for his work as a constituency MP.

Oh, la belle vie...

* When I use the term "princely sum", I exclude from that princes of the UK royal family, to whom this is a "niggardly sum" that wouldn't cover a down payment on a helicopter, and is not to be picked up, should it to fall on the floor. Just making that clear.

22 comments:

  1. As ever, one law for them; and another law for us. Westminster truly is the whore of all parliaments, an absolute cesspit.

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  2. The oil collapse finally caught up with me this week. Laid off without any pay after 30 years with the same company. I wouldn't mind some of his benefits.
    I'm looking forward to my first visit to a Jobcentre tomorrow. :-(

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    1. Sad to hear this, Juteman. Good luck with the job centre, from what I hear; you're gonna need it.

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    2. I don't even know if i'll get any benefits. My company has laid me off, they haven't made me redundant, so technically i'm still employed even though they aren't paying me. The sound of direct debits bouncing is a wonderful noise.
      Beans on toast is going to get a bit boring.

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    3. Jteman,

      If you can visit a CAB before going to the Job Centre so that you are aware of your options and don't get fobbed off by obstacles put in your way by the Job Centre. My memory of employment law is a bit rusty but you can apply for redundancy if you are laid off without pay for 4 weeks in as row or for 6 weeks in a 13 week period. If you do apply your employer must accept your claim or make you a written counter-notice. If they fail to do so your claim for redundancy is deemed to be accepted. Irrespective of that you are legally entitled to guarantee pay but if I recall correctly it is not very much and you should take professional advice regarding all your options.

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    4. Cheers John. I've got the union on the case, and also a CAB meeting.

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    5. I can appreciate where you are, we lived on stovies and soup for months, when the building trade fell on it's knees.

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    6. Jutie: I'm so very sorry. It's a body blow and I can;t imagine how terrible it feels. I've tended to go from short term contract to short term contract, but 30 years... I simply can;t imagine how awful it feels.

      I've read down so I know that I'm not alone in wishing you the best.

      Some good advice there too. I was certain the government had to cover the minimum redundancy pay.

      Try this:

      https://www.gov.uk/redundant-your-rights/redundancy-pay

      https://www.myworldofwork.co.uk/my-career-options/redundancy-help-scotland

      https://www.gov.uk/your-rights-if-your-employer-is-insolvent/overview

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    7. Could this be temporary?

      Anyway, I'm glad the union is on it and the CAB.

      Keep us informed though and if we can help.... There's a fair few with bits of knowledge on here. John clearly knows a good bit about this subject from previous working experience with unions.

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  3. IDS or IBS? Can anyone spot the difference?

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    1. Yes. IBS is much preferable.

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  4. Jimminy

    One law for them another us one law for the rich another for the poor.
    Blan blah blah chip on e shoulde hard dun by me boo hoo!!!!!!!


    Juteman

    Although we agree on err nothing I hope things turn around for you asap
    After 30 years it can be a shock any ways best of luck .

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    1. Cheers niko.
      You're still a unionist tosser though. ;-)

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    2. And here I was under the impression that you, Niko, were a socialist; must have been mistaken.

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    3. Niko: Are you denying that there is one law for the likes of IDS and one law for Juteman? Or is it that you are content with that situation?

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  5. Replies
    1. Just. Are you thinking of pensions? My small pension pot should just cover the mortgage and various debts.

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    2. I was. I took voluntary redundancy at the New Year because my mortgage was paid off and I could access my pensions. Probably wouldn't have if that hadn't been the case.
      Good luck tomorrow.

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  6. It isn't redundancy though, Tris. My employer has laid me off, not made me redundant. He is trying to avoid paying me anything, I think.
    Life is like a box of chocolates.

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    1. Yeah I see Jutie.

      Well, you are doing all the right stuff.

      As Conan says all the best for tomorrow. Try to stay cool with JC+ staff. You get a lot more out of them that way, even though it is frustrating as hell. All the pathetic little rules and regulations...roll with it. They are much more likely to help you that way.

      Let us know how it goes.


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  7. That's a relief. I thought at first you were trying to organise a crowdfunder for the wee soul.

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    Replies
    1. I thought Munguin said something about a whip round. Then I realised that he hadn't actually said "round".

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