The nightmare of “Hard Times” workhouse – a christmas tale

A chill wind blew through the cracks in the already disintegrating new workhouse building. Mister Bumble paced the corridor muttering at the shoddy and shabby peeling paint and silently wishing they hadn’t used unpaid labour to build this workhouse. But it was estimated that thousands would be saved if qualified and skilled labour was junked in favour of unpaid labour. “Oh well”, thought Mister Bumble, “at least my office is warm”. As he walked quickly towards his office shivering as gusts of wind rattled through the windows more cost cutting as insulation and draft excluders are not worth the expense for these people. Mister Bumble shook his head vehemently while pursing his lips thinking about “these people”.

When Mister Bumble attended the job interview for jail keeper (well, in the advertisement said it said, “facility manager”..) he was asked a number of questions by the board of private trustees who run the “facility”. Three of them, one was the Personnel Manager, Mrs. Corney, a middle-aged woman with a pinched face peering intently at Mister Bumble. Mister Limbkins, a rotund man red in face staring at the plate of Hob-Nobs in the centre of the table and Mister Heep, a polar opposite to Mister Limbkins, sitting straight tapping his bony fingers on the table.

“Good morning, Mister Bumble, I am humbled that you could attend at the last moment”, said Mister Heep

“Now, Mister Bumble, the job entails overseeing of this new exciting and efficiently run facility, which, as you know, was only opened recently by Iain Duncan-Smith”, cooed Mrs Corney

“Do you think you have the capabilities for this job, Mister Bumble”? asked Mister Limbkins

“You must also have some knowledge of the type of people being admitted here”, sniffed Mrs Corney

“Yes”, interjected Mister Heep, “these people, they just don’t try. There are jobs, unpaid jobs. But will they take them”?

Mister Limbkins tutted and shook his enormous head, “Indeed Mister Heep, they won’t do what they are told. They demand pay and conditions. PAY AND CONDITIONS”! shrieked Mister Limbkins spluttering bits of biscuits.

“Workshy, that’s what they are. Scroungers too. They want their benefits but won’t do anything, just lounge about at home, watching Jeremy Kyle and going out shopping in Oxford Street. SHOPPING IN OXFORD STREET”… Mister Limbkins coughed violently and looked like a coronary was on the cards.

“Well, the ConDems soon put an end to that nonsense. If these lazy workshy scroungers couldn’t get a job then NO BENEFITS, and the workhouse”, grinned Mrs Corney

“An absolute money saver, no shelling out benefits or housing benefits or tax credits or disability benefits. Just warehouse the lazy blighters in this state of the art detention centre”, said Mister Heep

“Ha! Erm…no Mister Heep, I think you mean state of the art facility”, interrupted Mister Limbkins.

“Oh yes, humble apologies”, stated a startled and embarrassed Mister Heep

“Well, Mister Bumble, do you think you keep these lazy miscreants in order”? asked Mrs Corney

Mister Bumble sat there, he too was staring at the ever diminishing plate of HobNobs, eventually breaking out of the spell of the desire for biscuits and chocolate and nodded his head.

“Of course I can, it is important to instill order and discipline and I can keep my beady eye on these scroungers. Making sure they work their fingers to the bone for their keep”, maintained Mister Bumble….

That all seemed like an eternity as Mister Bumble sat in his luxury well heated office. Unfortunately, his room couldn’t keep out the cheap and nasty stench of the food given to the inmates. Fortunately, for Mister Mumble his food was tasty and aromatic. He was pleased with himself, he had passed his probation period, discipline and order was top priority and this workhouse has been awarded most productive (though there had been rebellions which thankfully with the help of the TSG, water canons and plastic bullets was quelled quickly).

“Oh yes,” thought Mister Bumble as he sat back on his chair, “another year is ending and another is approaching. The workhouse, ah yes, the way forward for the 21st century, totally breaks the human spirit”… He checked his drawer just to be on the safe-side that it was well stocked with plastic bullets and tasers… just in case, you know some aren’t broken enough.

Merry Christmas to you all…..And a happy New Year

Disclosure and mental distress

It’s a funny old world, isn’t it, statistically speaking..? Around one in four people experience mental distress yet the stigma, demonisation and unfair treatment that surrounds this is unbelievable especially when it comes to employment.

The issue of mental ill health is still being swept under the carpet in most workplaces, with just four in ten employees saying they would feel confident to disclose a mental health problem to their employer.

That’s according to the latest research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), published today to coincide with the launch of a new guide to help more employers to manage and support mental health at work, which has been developed by CIPD and leading mental health charity Mind.

The survey of 2,000 people in employment in the UK reveals that despite more than a quarter (26%) of employees having experienced a mental health problem while in employment, too few employers are taking positive steps to manage this increasingly business critical issue. 

Just 25% of respondents say their organisation encourages staff to talk openly about mental health problems and only 37% say their employer supports employees with mental health problems well.

Anyone surprised? Me neither.

Furthermore

Just over a third of respondents say their employer supports employees with mental health problems well. In contrast 21% of workers say their employer does not support mental health at work well, while 31% do not know what support is available, suggesting poor communication is part of the problem.

Having experienced a roller-coaster ride of employment in every aspect of a job from start, middle to finish I have had varied experiences. Some positive some downright offensive. It never ceases to amaze me the number of times I hear the phrase “duty of care” as the reality is ever so different. It’s a great stock phrase to chirp when many managers aint got the tiniest clue what it means. And sometimes it translates with employers seemingly understanding (nodding head symapthetically) while at the same time trying to find cunning ways of getting rid of you through legal or not so legal methods, it happens and to many people. No matter with all the legal requirements and policies in place people with mental health problems are still unfairly treated.

In the present unenlightened attitudes and ignorance exists and the fear has increased correlated with the attacks on the benefits systems and constant demonisation of disabled people. More fear. More stress. More silence.

In May this year, research found:

One in five workers who had disclosed a mental health issue at work said they had been fired or forced to quit.

One in five people are scared of losing their job if they admit they are suffering from stress.

Though Paul Farmer – CEO of MIND (as this research was conducted by MIND) states,
There are reasons to be positive though, as research suggests a large amount of employers say they are happy to discuss mental health issues with a job applicant.

Well, that may be true but it depends on each workplace. Some do, some don’t. Managers and Personnel get training (though how adequate that training is I don’t know) but rarely have I seem training for workers overall. One workplace I was in did have a day on mental health training but it was headed by professionals not a user in sight. It is vital to have training given by users as they know what it’s like plus it gives a voice to say what our experiences have been so far, to discuss good practices and the bad practices.

Listen to the people who have been through the system and the barriers they face when it comes to employment. You know, it would be great if for once you’re allowed to get on with your life without the constant worry that your mental history will be used as a tool of oppression against you.

Have a look at Managing and Supporting Mental Health at Work: disclosure tools for managers which has been developed by MIND & CIPD Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Any good?