So is community service on your time, or there time?
@crysontherocks77 (1273)
United States
August 18, 2009 8:52pm CST
So, I know a lot of people do community service and volunteer. And that's not really what I'm talking about here. The reason I stated that question is because i have to go to Goodwill to do community service if i don't have a job after 4 weeks of job search. I have to do this in order to keep child care and the 140 a month I get in cash for doing family's first. After 4 weeks of job search you have to do community service to fulfill your hours. It's just the way they have it set up. I went in today and one of the people that actually work there made the comment that I was working too slow. I was hanging clothes on a rack and then tagging them when I got done they had told me that it shouldn't be taking me that long to do a rack of clothes. we have to hang atleast 100 pieces on a rack and then tag them and then take them out to be hung out in the retail part of the store. i had done one rack in 3 hours. My back was hurting and I was doing good just to get there to complete my hours. I wanted to just slap her. Just because the other girl that was there doing community service had two and half racks done by the time I had two racks done I was moving to slow.( by the way the other girl had been there almost 30 minutes longer than I had) I think in my opinion that I'm there to help them not to do there work for them. I put out 4 buggies and done 2 racks this past friday when I was there and all they were doing was maybe one rack and going out to smoke every 2 hours. They are only open from 9am to 5:30. So you tell me, when you do community service like this that I am doing, are you on your time, or there time. This company is not paying you anything to come there and do the work that there employees get paid to do every day. So are you on there time, or your time?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
19 Aug 09
Well it seems your only going to get the set amount of $140.00 regardless of how fast or slow you work. I think you should pace yourself for what you feel is comfortable for your body cause over doing it isn't going to help matters. Those people are just complainers. I bet they weren't that fast working when thy are doing it. I wouldn't let it bother you any. Only thing they can do is complain to the caseworker and maybe you end up with a different community service. Your not there to show them how fast you can work. Pace yourself and do what you can and how you can.
@crysontherocks77 (1273)
• United States
20 Aug 09
i feel the same way. After all I wouldn't be down if I hadn't applied to get the child care help and other benefits. i just wish they would do the same for the other people that come in and ask for money from the government. It would certainly cut down alot of hassle on how something is supposed to be. i mean we have to put in 26-30 hours a week for 500 in day care and 140 a month in cash. Its still less than 6.00 an hour when you add it up. So yeah I think I'm on my time and not theres. I think you get my point mtdewgurl It's hard enough for me to go down there anyways. I found out this after noon that I have an UTI (kidney infection) and that's why i have been feeling like I have. I was still working and still trying to get my hours in but I was very fatigued and hurting in my back. I was telling the doctor all of this and so now he's kept me out for 2 days because they gave me a strong dose of antibiotics and he didn't want me going back in until monday. I was trying to get all of my hours. So it looks like it wont happen this week. thanks for the comment. It bothered but it didn't bother me. It only bothered me because I was hurting and in pain and still being able to do what I was doing was surprising me.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Aug 09
My sister in law used to have to work for hers till she realized that she got more money on her own and just applied for a health card for them and some stamps to help out. But jeez they pay out more in childcare having you work then what they pay out to you..that doesn't seem fair. It would cost them less money to just be able to give you the $140.00 without working. Or help you get a job and help pay so much of the childcare.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Aug 09
Oops! I also hope that you feel better with the UTI, I know how that are..
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
21 Aug 09
You're on the time of DHS/Familys First.. whatever the agency is for your state, because you are there to work to pay for the child care, food/cash assistance that you get. If you don't go, you get dumped from the program. Do I think that they should talk to you like that? Personally, no... However, the way most of these programs are set up, business and organizations literally have to make an extra spot to have people through these types of programs come to work. These programs are not allowed to take an actual already open job spot.
Good luck.
@zoey7879 (3092)
• Quincy, Illinois
21 Aug 09
Re: Getting sick... Unless all the donations that come in are washed/sanitized upon being received, they're crawling with germs. So are many people who go out shopping, and do so ill when its unnecessary and don't wash or sanitize... In Michigan, their program like this isn't so bad. The place I live at in Illinois, it's bad. They would send me to a class daily that was over 60 miles away and tell me it was up to me how to get there.. I didn't even have a car to own or even borrow! :/
@crysontherocks77 (1273)
• United States
21 Aug 09
It just earks me sometimes because they look down on you because you're having to do community service. And its only the families first, its not the food stamps. they wouldn't have enough room for people on food stamps because they are so many. I ended up getting sick twice in the two weeks i worked there. i had sinus and ended up with a UTI as well. i don't know what it is about that place but I get sick every time I go. Thanks for your response zoey. that makes sense
@jedijo (33)
• United States
26 Aug 09
I am totally unfamiliar with this kind of set-up and I truly thought Community Service was for people who are paying back society for a wrong they had done. This is an interesting concept.
If you are really looking for a job, don't forget that the people you are working for and with can serve as great references. Just as they can discourage employment on a job you really want.
Good luck with all you decide to do.
@crysontherocks77 (1273)
• United States
26 Aug 09
i don't see it as being worth it because the money we get from the government is supposed to be a grant to do this anyways. But it is a requirement. They figure that in order to keep from being well fare that they need to do it this way. Those who have food stamps do not have to do it.
