Post by D on Mar 2, 2015 22:35:13 GMT 7
Hi guys,
It's been over a week and a half since the incident I'm about to elaborate on shortly actually occurred.
But firstly, here's a bit of backstory:
I'd been assigned to attend fortnightly appointments with the employment agency "Jobs Statewide"
(Beginning at the latter half of the 2014)
During this period of time with them, I was fortunate enough to have been selected for two job interviews, both of which were with the same company.
Despite having been called back to attend a second interview, I was ultimately unsuccessful.
I was understandably disheartened as a result of the outcome, especially given the many pre-existing issues I already faced in regards to attempting to gain employment (namely, the depression and other mental illnesses I suffer with).
I raised concerns with the state of my mental health shortly afterward with one of the more, dare I say, "compassionate" consultants that worked at the agency. This included, but was not limited to, the thoughts of suicide idealation that I was experiencing. I was advised to seek treatment/advice from a health professional (GP).
The agency in question had a tendency to "over-book" (as I would call it) the number of appointments I was to attend, which I indeed found rather frustrating. I was forced to attend appointments once or twice a week, instead of the fortnightly appt. I was bound by my employment pathway plan to attend.
In addition to that, I was often coerced/forced into doing a number of activites against my will, despite knowing I had no real obligation to do so.
But the straw the finally broke the camel's back, was the incident that occurred last week. An arrangement had been made for me to drop off a resume at a specific time at a particular fast-food outlet, located in the food court of a major shopping centre.
I proceeded to do so, handing over my resume to an employee that worked there (not management).
Relieved that I had FINALLY fulfilled all my obligations for the fortnight, I attempted to vacate the premises.
But no, not before being intercepted by the regular consultant from my job agency, at the food court, who I had made no prior arrangement to meet up with.
She sits me down at a table, and starts talking to me. Upon having witnessed the encounter I had with the fast-food outlet employee, She almost immediately criticises me for not handing my resume directly over to management, and for not having taken note of the girl's name that I handed it to.
I proceed to tell her that I REALLY didn't appreciate this, and that I believed the interaction we were having was highly inappropriate, given the circumstances. I told her I believed she was "staking me out". She's pretends otherwise, and claimed she was only there to meet up with "another client." Coincidently, she also had some REALLY important news to tell me, and was unable to contact me via. the telephone to do (understandable, given I only have a landline - not a mobile phone). The news was that she had arrangement a job trial for me the next day, without consulting me beforehand whatsoever. I inform her that I am, in fact, unable to attend the trial in question due to pre-existing family obligations. This excuse was insufficient, apparently. I'm told that if I do not go to this trial, then I would be reported to centrelink. However, she wouldn't comment on whether or not I'd have my payments suspended as a result (concerning, given I was originally due to be paid following day).
I inform her that the arrangements made were non-negotiable, and that I simply could not attend at the scheduled time.
Upon leaving the food court, I am absolutely distraught. Fearful that I would not be receiving my scheduled pay the next day.
Unable to think clearly/overly well, I decide the best course of action to pursue is to walk into my local centrelink office, located only a few minutes away, and to talk to a social worker.
I arrived at the Centrelink office/DHS, initially very wound up, and somewhat enraged by the turn of events. I briefly explain at the walk-in cue that I was hoping to speak to a social worker. I'm then told to take a seat.
But by the time I was actually seen to, by a customer service officer (as the social worker apparently didn't see people for matters such as mine) and directed to the phones to talk with a consultant regarding "my complaint", I was virtually incoherent, utterly exhausted from what I just had to endure, and could barely articulate myself well enough to speak on the telephone.
Thankfully, I'm somehow able to explain to the lady on complaint department's line what actually transpired, and what my thoughts and feelings on the matter were. She seemed very understanding, and thought the fact she intercepted me in public like that was quite "interesting".
Everything was then resolved. I lodged a formal complaint, and was immediately transferred to another DES provider.
The money was due to be in my account the next day, and I left the premises feeling a lot better then when I first walked in
(I also thanked a certain staff member who had been very helpful to me, on my way out.)
Although I found the whole ordeal very distressing, and borderline traumatic, I was satisfied with the final outcome. I believed justice had been served and was relatively confident she would be dealt with justly for her inappropriate conduct.
Haven't had the time to proofread all this, hopefully it's not riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
Goodnight everyone, and thank you to those who took the time to read this.
Kind regards,
Dillon.
It's been over a week and a half since the incident I'm about to elaborate on shortly actually occurred.
But firstly, here's a bit of backstory:
I'd been assigned to attend fortnightly appointments with the employment agency "Jobs Statewide"
(Beginning at the latter half of the 2014)
During this period of time with them, I was fortunate enough to have been selected for two job interviews, both of which were with the same company.
Despite having been called back to attend a second interview, I was ultimately unsuccessful.
I was understandably disheartened as a result of the outcome, especially given the many pre-existing issues I already faced in regards to attempting to gain employment (namely, the depression and other mental illnesses I suffer with).
I raised concerns with the state of my mental health shortly afterward with one of the more, dare I say, "compassionate" consultants that worked at the agency. This included, but was not limited to, the thoughts of suicide idealation that I was experiencing. I was advised to seek treatment/advice from a health professional (GP).
The agency in question had a tendency to "over-book" (as I would call it) the number of appointments I was to attend, which I indeed found rather frustrating. I was forced to attend appointments once or twice a week, instead of the fortnightly appt. I was bound by my employment pathway plan to attend.
In addition to that, I was often coerced/forced into doing a number of activites against my will, despite knowing I had no real obligation to do so.
But the straw the finally broke the camel's back, was the incident that occurred last week. An arrangement had been made for me to drop off a resume at a specific time at a particular fast-food outlet, located in the food court of a major shopping centre.
I proceeded to do so, handing over my resume to an employee that worked there (not management).
Relieved that I had FINALLY fulfilled all my obligations for the fortnight, I attempted to vacate the premises.
But no, not before being intercepted by the regular consultant from my job agency, at the food court, who I had made no prior arrangement to meet up with.
She sits me down at a table, and starts talking to me. Upon having witnessed the encounter I had with the fast-food outlet employee, She almost immediately criticises me for not handing my resume directly over to management, and for not having taken note of the girl's name that I handed it to.
I proceed to tell her that I REALLY didn't appreciate this, and that I believed the interaction we were having was highly inappropriate, given the circumstances. I told her I believed she was "staking me out". She's pretends otherwise, and claimed she was only there to meet up with "another client." Coincidently, she also had some REALLY important news to tell me, and was unable to contact me via. the telephone to do (understandable, given I only have a landline - not a mobile phone). The news was that she had arrangement a job trial for me the next day, without consulting me beforehand whatsoever. I inform her that I am, in fact, unable to attend the trial in question due to pre-existing family obligations. This excuse was insufficient, apparently. I'm told that if I do not go to this trial, then I would be reported to centrelink. However, she wouldn't comment on whether or not I'd have my payments suspended as a result (concerning, given I was originally due to be paid following day).
I inform her that the arrangements made were non-negotiable, and that I simply could not attend at the scheduled time.
Upon leaving the food court, I am absolutely distraught. Fearful that I would not be receiving my scheduled pay the next day.
Unable to think clearly/overly well, I decide the best course of action to pursue is to walk into my local centrelink office, located only a few minutes away, and to talk to a social worker.
I arrived at the Centrelink office/DHS, initially very wound up, and somewhat enraged by the turn of events. I briefly explain at the walk-in cue that I was hoping to speak to a social worker. I'm then told to take a seat.
But by the time I was actually seen to, by a customer service officer (as the social worker apparently didn't see people for matters such as mine) and directed to the phones to talk with a consultant regarding "my complaint", I was virtually incoherent, utterly exhausted from what I just had to endure, and could barely articulate myself well enough to speak on the telephone.
Thankfully, I'm somehow able to explain to the lady on complaint department's line what actually transpired, and what my thoughts and feelings on the matter were. She seemed very understanding, and thought the fact she intercepted me in public like that was quite "interesting".
Everything was then resolved. I lodged a formal complaint, and was immediately transferred to another DES provider.
The money was due to be in my account the next day, and I left the premises feeling a lot better then when I first walked in
(I also thanked a certain staff member who had been very helpful to me, on my way out.)
Although I found the whole ordeal very distressing, and borderline traumatic, I was satisfied with the final outcome. I believed justice had been served and was relatively confident she would be dealt with justly for her inappropriate conduct.
Haven't had the time to proofread all this, hopefully it's not riddled with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
Goodnight everyone, and thank you to those who took the time to read this.
Kind regards,
Dillon.
