It used to be that if you were out of work you would automatically be looking for another job as soon as possible. In the meantime you are entitled to register with the local labour exchange - the dole office - for the want of a better word - but not a better place by today's standards. In this society we are still condemned for standing up for our basic rights – for example when your employer makes you wait for your P45. This scenario happens a lot in Ireland. If you want to get paid by your social welfare office - the dole office - you need your P45.  Without this document you will not get social welfare but if you take it to the appeals office this will take a further five to six weeks. In case you still don’t get paid, you will have to find ways to fund yourself until you get what you are entitled to. In the meantime you have to pay your rent, eat and god knows keep on top of the bills. Think of it - you go out into the world to get educated, you get screwed by your employer and still you have to fund yourself with your own initiative while you challenge the system for your basic entitlements.

You’re the person that gets harassed and without pay because your employer is withholding your valuable document.

It would be good to have free legal aid and an office within the labour exchange to help vulnerable people and those who do have problems with their former employers.

Another tapestry of events that takes place in this so-called land of the free is that when I was researching this material I found a high number of people being bullied on a continuous basis. Saying that we have entitlements is just something we say with grace but the people put in place can’t lift a finger to help. Do you know why?  These systems are out-dated and have been for years. Not good enough I say. I could go on about the countless unhelpful strategies that are in place within our legal system still in Ireland. We have really not progressed from the "boys club" stereotype:  it’s not what you know but who you know in our industries. Have you ever been bullied so that you had to leave your workplace without making a stand to fight your corner? Were you ever told not to use your initiative at work because you would undermine the rest of your colleagues?

My research has shown me a huge amount of people are still suffering at the hands of employers who do not value a person’s individuality or understand that change is a good thing in many respects. How can we as people feel part of society if we are not listened to by the very people who are supposed to help us in our hour of need. We do not have enough support for people in trouble. The people that work are the builders of our economy and when they are struck by hard times then the least the government and society of all levels, solicitors, Citizens Information Services and the Social Welfare System should do, is to be there for us all. You never know when someone will fall on hard times and then they need people to work with them and to celebrate that standing up for yourself should not deserve a punishment of any kind. Unfortunately this can still happen in our society.
Next month the topic is Recruitment Agencies.....