UK - Job coaches at GP surgeries to push unemployed over-50s back to work

[John Mac]

Patients could get employment advice and help with CVs at practices in bid to plug record gaps in labour force and boost the economy

Job coaches are set to be stationed at GP surgeries under plans being drawn up by the Government to get unemployed over-50s back to work.

Ministers are understood to be considering the proposal as they strive to plug record gaps in Britain’s labour force and boost the economy.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, has pledged to slash the tally of nine million people who are neither in work nor looking for a job.

The UK is the only major developed country to have suffered a sustained rise in economic inactivity since the start of the pandemic.

Experts have warned the trend, driven by a surge in early retirement and long-term sickness, is undermining efforts to rebuild the economy.

A government source said ministers were “actively looking” at the policy.

Under the plan, work coaches would hold sessions in local GP surgeries where they could more easily reach the over-50s.

Doctors would be able to refer patients who want to return to work for advice and practical help, like updating their CVs.

Ministers hope the move will reach older Britons, many of whom are not on benefits and are reluctant to attend job centres.


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politic...surgeries-push-unemployed-over-50s-back-work/

 

[Ebb Tide]

Over-50s at work: 'You feel your usefulness has passed' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64441775

A survey by the CMI (Chartered Management Institute) found only 42% of over 1000 managers were open "to a large extent" to hiring people aged between 50 and 64.

The phone in below was on this, and there was some suggestion that it was the culture in workplaces that needed to change for older workers who were seeking employment.

BBC R4 Call You and Yours - What's the world of work like for the over 50s? https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001hp35

 

[ukxmrv]

My GP surgery has lots of space now for things like this as they all work from home - one apart from a Locum GP who is there each day for face-to-face appointments.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

This is presumably because a number of very very rich people who have to work until ten o clock at night moving money around for very very very rich people are peed off because some very poor people are getting a little bit of cash to pay their bills while they go to food banks.

How come that in the 1960s over nine million women were neither in work nor looking and everything went swimmingly.

Maybe they should consider that some of these people cannot work because there are 7 million people waiting for operations and other treatments?

 

[Suffolkres]

This is presumably because a number of very very rich people who have to work until ten o clock at night moving money around for very very very rich people are peed off because some very poor people are getting a little bit of cash to pay their bills while they go to food banks.

How come that in the 1960s over nine million women were neither in work nor looking and everything went swimmingly.

Maybe they should consider that some of these people cannot work because there are 7 million people waiting for operations and other treatments?

 

[Suffolkres]

I remember the 1960's in London where I got my first proper job! A cartographer trainee in 1966 in the Ministry of Defence! Unemployment must have passed me by! I had no idea of this stats!

 

[hellytheelephant]

The idea that are retiring early in order to 'retire' is ridiculous. Many people in their 50' s are providing unpaid care for family members...and of course so many of us are long term sick/disabled.

Call me cynical but this sounds like part one of a scheme where there can be justification for whittling away people's benefits.

 

[Kitty]

Patients could get employment advice and help with CVs at practices in bid to plug record gaps in labour force and boost the economy

But but but where are most of these gaps in the labour force? Health care, social care, delivery drivers, hospitality, warehouse workers, and in the growing season, agriculture. All involve demanding physical work, in environments where employees tend to be pushed hard for every moment of their shift. It's not exactly ideal for people in their 50s and 60s.

 

[John Mac]

Next they will be placing Job Centre staff in care homes or in the recovery room after surgery!
If people choose to leave the workplace because they can afford to or simply because they are unable to work and don't qualify for any disability payments what business is that of the government.
What happened to freedom of choice?

 

[Sean]

Call me cynical but this sounds like part one of a scheme where there can be justification for whittling away people's benefits.

That is exactly what it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[CRG]

For a further example of the phrase "A government source said" from the same source pushing the same agenda: https://www.s4me.info/threads/uk-do...-to-issue-fewer-sick-notes.31941/#post-460817

 

[Shadrach Loom]

The phrase should not be a red flag on its own. Civil servants cannot say anything attributable outside of very specific contexts, but spads can’t be expected to do all the Telegraph-smarming on their own, and press officers often have a legitimate role as an unattributed “source”. “Spokesperson” has some formal connotations that may be inappropriate when feeding agreed departmental policy to a journo.

Sources are horses for courses.