Unemployed

As crazy as it seems, people who are unemployed still have rights but sadly they are not fully aware of what rights they have.  If a provider of the Work Programme wants to alter a persons CV  and sent it to an employer then they need a signature on a document from the person involved to avoid breaching the data protection act.  They need to cover themselves in case the individual decides to take them to court for sending their CV to an employer without their consent.

It's important to keep control of your CV unless of course you don't mind some hard nosed person looking at targets and altering your CV to try and find an employer to take you on even if the job will leave you demoralised and depressed for the rest of your working life.

Most people who work for these providers will appear to be sympathetic and kindly to your face but believe me only a few really are.  I have sat waiting for an appointment and overheard two members of staff openly discussing private details of someone who had just left the office after being interviewed.  The kindly to the face approach is replaced with a cold calculating mind, a bit like the television newsreader who is all smiles saying hello but when they are unaware the camera is on them they are miserable and appearing to be a different person from the one normally seen on screen.

Always be polite and never offensive but always stand up for yourself when wronged as no one else will do it for you.  Most of us go along with whatever is put in front of us as we don't want to cause any trouble but sometimes you have to respond if the situation requires it.  I have seen people on courses who don't have the will power to stand up for themselves even if they are treated badly. 

When you have an appointment you have the right to privacy and could insist on speaking to the person in private.  Of course many people don't want to rock the boat so they go along with the embarrassment of being interviewed in ear shot of many strangers or maybe enemies who will pass on all their private details to others.  Don't be afraid to demand your rights, if you feel uncomfortable discussing things in an open plan office then say so.  They might even treat you with more respect if they see you have some backbone.  Most unemployed people want to work and the work programme providers want to make profits and that means making targets, the combination can only lead to taking advantage of the unemployed.  We are human beings so demand your rights and that in itself might make them think twice about taking advantage of the people who can't stand up for themselves.