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Burger King Pulls Out Of Government Work Experience Scheme

Burger King

PA/Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 25/02/2012 08:47 Updated: 25/02/2012 16:56

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Burger King has pulled out of the government's controversial work experience scheme.

The fast food giant said it had decided to cease its involvement in the Get Britain Working programme because of recent concerns expressed by the public.

Criticisms were levelled at the scheme after a Tesco 'job' advert appeared online, listing the wages for a night shift as "JSA plus benefits."

Sunny Hundal, Guardian reporter and writer of Liberal Conspiracy blog wrote: "This is nothing less than modern slavery. Tesco should be ashamed of itself for exploiting workers like this."

A Twitter storm erupted over the job advert, which Tesco later claimed was an 'IT' mistake. However right-to-work protesters forced a Tesco store to close last Saturday, after a small demonstration, which was later broken up by police.

Burger King said it had intended to take on youngsters on work experience at its Slough headquarters but had not recruited anyone for the scheme.

It said in a statement: "Burger King United Kingdom Ltd registered for the voluntary Get Britain Working work experience programme six weeks ago, with the intention of providing work experience at our HQ in Slough.

"Since then we have not recruited anyone for this scheme. Given the recent concerns expressed by the public we have decided to no longer have any involvement in the programme."

Supermarket giant Tesco this week offered to pay people on the scheme and asked ministers to remove the threat of benefit sanctions against those not completing their work experience.

Retail giant Poundland has reportedly withdrawn from the scheme after voicing similar concerns about its mandatory element.

Cait Reilly, hit the headlines in November, after being "forced" to work at Poundland stacking shelves, and being threatened with losing her benefits if she refused to comply.

Reilly claimed she was "being used as free labour, especially in the run-up to Christmas," and told the Guardian that the "experience" was unhelpful in her job search "No one really knew what we were supposed to be doing. We were just put on the shop floor and told to tidy shelves."

The Birmingham University graduate launched legal action against the government in December, her lawyer claiming that the "forced labour" is against the European Convention on Human Rights.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling defended the scheme yesterday, saying that half of those who joined it after the launch 11 weeks ago had now found a job, often with companies which offered them work experience.

He added that offering youngsters work experience, with the chance of a job at the end, was better than "simply leaving them" on benefits.

The politician claimed that firms reportedly pulling out of the programme, including supermarket giant Sainsbury's, had never formally been involved in the government initiative because they ran their own scheme.

He said a lot of large companies were coming under pressure from right-to-work activists to withdraw from the scheme.

Ken McMeikan, chief executive of bakery chain Greggs has voiced concern over the scheme, saying he was not comfortable with young people potentially losing their benefits if they leave the initiative.

Take a look at how people reacted on social media below:

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Carla Buzasi

Carla Buzasi: The Week That Was: Work Experience on Trial

It was a week of small victories for the Right to Work campaign, starting last weekend with the temporary closure of a small Tesco store in Westminster that had been encircled by its protestors, continuing with the supermarket chain's subsequent decision to pay people on the government's controversial (as it must now seemingly always be prefixed) Get Britain Working programme, and ending with Burger King deciding to pull out of the scheme altogether.

 
 
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katertaif
My wife thinks I have one fault. Everything I do!
529 Fans
12:12 PM on 02/26/2012
This new wheeze seems to very like the old YTS scheme, which also did not live up to expectations, in that it generated very few 'hard' jobs. As with that schem it will in effect falsify the figures and make it look as if there are less unemployed people especially young people than there actually are. No wonder companies are pulling out.
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esso man
66 Fans
01:21 PM on 02/26/2012
I remember the YTS scheme, when my children were put onto it, "NON obtained full time employment" from it,& as they all said they were just treated as goffers & cheap labour,as you say all these schemes are only a means to adjust unemployment figures whilst giving out cheap labour,its about time they brought back PROPER apprenticeships,& more to the point be "HONEST" about the TRUE unemployment figures!! I also understand why these companies are now pulling out from these schemes as it makes them LOOK like they employ "slave labour" & with the way the DWP now either reduce or even stop benefits for these people,there is becoming a great suspicion of these schemes by the people that are being made to participate in them.
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katertaif
My wife thinks I have one fault. Everything I do!
529 Fans
02:38 PM on 02/26/2012
I could not agree with you more. Only when we know the true and full scale of unemployment can we begin to address the problem. For too many years now, they have been hiding it, and basically hoping it will go away,or blaming it on the other party. Also apprenticeships.Nothing like them for preparing you for work. I was an instructor (electrical) iduring the YTS scheme, and I am pleased to say that I did get sme of my lads into full employment. Not as many as I would have liked. Some centres were more interested in their own existence. I agree some companies just treated them like slave labour, and sent them back to the centre just before their 18th birthday (the age they had to take them on properly) Those companies I refused to send lads to once I identified what they were up to. That system failed,and I cannot see any reason why this new wheeze - and that is what it is,a wheeze, will work.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
lillian12130
36 Fans
11:58 AM on 02/26/2012
The law in this country is that worker has to be paid the minimum wage. those on JSA should only be required to work the hours to the JSA amount after that then the employers should at least pay the same rate as other contracted employees and you can work up to 16 paid hours a week if you claim JSA after that and if you still have to work you will be liable to loose your JSA , It is a good idea to get people out of bed and off their backsides to get them back or to understand they have to get up and go to work but not if the working hours extends passed the JSA otherwise it becomes voluntary work and you cannot force any one to do voluntary work .
with the Olympics being held in this country there are plenty of opportunities for people to work for a few weeks with paid jobs whilst the Olympics are on there is no excuse for people to say whatever age they cannot find work , this may be temporary but could lead to further employment to better jobs and not just cleaning but security jobs so long as you can pass the rigorous screening , if you are accredited by the home office and pass the CRB then you should be able to get a job at the Olympics, and the venues are not just in London.
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magicedars
9 Fans
11:46 AM on 02/26/2012
I currently study to be a speech and language therapist.. So, if can't find a job after I graduate, I should ...go to tesco to ' gain some experience' yeah? ......
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thereiver
49 Fans
12:58 PM on 02/26/2012
as opposed to staying in bed all day paid for by those that work?
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lolm
1 Fans
11:24 AM on 02/26/2012
and lets not forget its just another way to falsify the disasterous unemployment figures as the people enslaved on these schemes will be recorded as in work or training
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BMC1955
27 Fans
09:37 AM on 02/26/2012
I think this scheme may have some merit let me finish before you start typing comments. I would like to see a system where yes young people can get work experience but I would be insist that a large percentage would then be offered work for the company at the end of work experience. If these companies were only ever using work experience one lot after another I would fine them for being slave owners.
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mattydragon
10 Fans
10:23 AM on 02/26/2012
BMC1955. It doesnt work like that.I employed 7 youngsters on the original (not the conservative screwed with system) TFW scheme and they were bloody good workers, But under this scheme as soon as the training weeks ended we were expected to take more on so as to show that more and more were getting back into work to show that Conservative ideas are working. 7 was 3 to many for me in the first place and most ended up sitting round drinking coffee because we didnt have the work around.So I switched them around every day so they all got some experience. Under this scheme we have been asked to repeat this but with 12 youngsters this time.We have less work now because of the Goverment induced depression.So this will not work at all 12 youngsters would get in depth training in drinking coffee.But the Conservatives will be able to say LOOK WE ARE WINNING GETTING ALL THESE LAZY KIDS BACK TO WORK. role on the next election.
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BMC1955
27 Fans
10:52 AM on 02/26/2012
Sorry if I got the wrong end of the stick but from my experience with my son will reveal to you why I think the way I do. About two years ago my son was on one of these back to work schemes. He was sent to a training group. This group had lots of local contacts who were very happy to suuply work experience people. My son was sent to I think six or seven different companies who told him well you are only here while we need extra workers to get the contract out on time. Having finished one work experience placement up would pop another with the same remit (different words but same idea) these kids he was with none found employment through the help they were offered only long hours and no money. I can only speak from this side of the fence thank you for your side of the fence experience.
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broncohardman
66 Fans
03:40 PM on 02/26/2012
Any Companies can only manufacture Goods according to the Orders being placed upon their Book's, since every Workforce knows that once Orders start to dry - up, then this means that employees will either be put on Short - Time working, have their pay reduced, or made Redundant.

The issue the Government is struggling with is - how do you introduce our Young Adults into a Working environment at a time of rising Unemployment, while Orders for Exported UK Goods are FALLING, and Migration is still RISING???

All this has nothing whatsoever to do about Kids being Lazy, for if there are NO JOB'S to be found for the 8.6 Million and rising currently looking for any form of Full - Time Work, then until the UK Economy starts to return to Growth over a 2 Year period, then anything the Government might or will say and doe's will amounts to nothing more than make - believe, since even MPs' are struggling to find any Work to do at Westminster, but unlike the rest of us they inturn will NOT have their Pay reduced, or become Redundant for being Workless.
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nalaaa
0 Fans
08:42 AM on 02/26/2012
why should people expect to get money for nothing. This Cait Reilly is obviously someone who expects to get her money for nothing, if you spend too long doing nothing you end up unemployable, these companies are doing us all a favour by giving people that work experience that you need on your CV to give you a better chance for future job applications, you get nothing for nothing in this life, why shouldn't they work for their benefits, theres a lot of countries where you get no benefits, I bet they wouldn't be complaining about it then. We are back to the noisy Minority and do gooders making lots of noise about their "rights", what about our rights, the people who have to pay the money for benefits, just because it comes from the government, doen't meen it appears out of thin air, the people who are being taxed are paying.
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ledolesly
2 Fans
09:39 AM on 02/26/2012
For the same reason bosse want people to work for nothing,!!!!
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mattydragon
10 Fans
10:29 AM on 02/26/2012
Your both wrong most employers are embarresed at having to take on slave labour.I have withdrawn my company from the scheme because it is grossly unfair on the youth of this country. The fact that at this time there are millions unemployed but this goverment insist on attacking the youth and the disabled.WHY because they are easy soft targets. As far as bosses are concerned it doesnt pay us to employ these youngsters on the scheme because we have to instigate some many new procedures to work the scheme that it actualy costs the smaller business money as well. It is the likes of Tesco's who are in the goverments pocket who would employe hundreds if not thousands who benefit not the average business.
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Alleycatt
27 Fans
07:40 AM on 02/26/2012
yet another goverment failure, there still in battle with the NHS and docters. the big society idea dident even get going.. thay also managed to enrage nearly all members of society in one way or another.. do they really think there unelected goverment is doing a good job ?
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nalaaa
0 Fans
08:51 AM on 02/26/2012
Don't keep blaming the government for everything, our problem is the do-gooders who find every loophole to demand "our rights", when will they realise that you only get out of life what you put in and circumstances change so we have to change with them, these people are being given work experience, this is something you couldn't buy even if you had loads of money
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thereiver
49 Fans
01:00 PM on 02/26/2012
unlike the unelected labour party who ruined the country creating a million non jobs and bringing 5 million immigrants in to take the others.
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Mr Pedro
55 Fans
01:37 PM on 02/26/2012
Life is like a sandwhich the more bread you got the less crap you got to eat.
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Alleycatt
27 Fans
02:04 PM on 02/26/2012
lol still blaming Labour ?? this goverment dont even know how many they have let in..
so much better not to know then people cant quote figures at you dont you think ?
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victorganderson
12 Fans
10:55 PM on 02/25/2012
Who can blame the likes of Tesco`s, for their immorality, regarding their employment ethics, when a totally corrupt and immoral government openly advocates, and encourages these forms of behaviour.
It is no wonder to me , when politicians have the benefit of highly inlated salaries , and almost unlimited expenses, why you never hear or see an MP`s child, being forced into this ` slave labour` market. If the Tory policies worked in real life, the banks would be investing billions in industry and businesses, and our youth would be in proper paid employment.
Instead, we have a situation , where the taxpayer ,( those that are lucky enough to have a job), are being forced to subsidise the banks, financiers, and a few favoured private companies.
If Chris Grayling , part of Duncan Smiths cover up team , thinks it so morally right to work, for the sake of the country, with no remuneration, why does he not do it himself .?
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eloracbmulp
20 Fans
08:21 AM on 02/26/2012
No.... No MP's child forced to work,because they would have an allowance from their family,but they can get an High Court injunction, also from their family.
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BOMBAYMONEYLENDER
41 Fans
10:34 PM on 02/25/2012
Another one of Camerons big society Idea bites the dust.
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Mr Pedro
55 Fans
01:40 PM on 02/26/2012
At least he is trying to address the problem of unemployed youngsters. Large stores possibly would not take anyone on as they have no vacancies, however with the goverment paying JSA the companies find something for these youngsters to do.
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BOMBAYMONEYLENDER
41 Fans
10:09 AM on 02/27/2012
If they can find something to do,there must be a job there, or there would not be anything to do.
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davm744
58 Fans
09:39 PM on 02/25/2012
most young people want a job so you can understand if they are very very upset and even depressed if they cannot get a job ,so what does our government do asks them to work for free , if they do it they get to feel what a job is like gets them out for a month meeting people chatting have a bit of fun for one month then back to the house and even more upset and more depressed because they cannot get a job . its no wonder so many young people go of the rails . we need work for kids . stop trying to fix the world and get something done for our children.
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nalaaa
0 Fans
08:54 AM on 02/26/2012
what you are missing here, is that nearly 50% of the "slave labour" workers were offered jobs when their time was up.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
janno000
60 Fans
11:31 AM on 02/26/2012
where did you get that figure from? It is not true of Tesco.
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bigshaunsace
principles are all about circumstances......
141 Fans
08:55 PM on 02/25/2012
people shud not work for nothing, if they do then all or any loyalty will go, folk need to feel a part of somthing a team, when this is gone the only winner is a competerter.............
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RamblerBill
33 Fans
08:41 PM on 02/25/2012
Hang on - weren't Burger King the company that obliged young people (to whom they were paying minimum wage) to clock off (but wait in the shop) when there were no customers to serve and then clock on when the shop became busy again? I remember it was a bit of a scandal at the time!
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turkishdelight
34 Fans
08:47 PM on 02/25/2012
Didnt know about that. But if youve clocked off you shouldbe able to go anywhere you want and not have to stay there. There are jobs like being a fireman where when you are waiting you are still paid because you are available.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mirola
Read between the lines
39 Fans
08:17 PM on 02/25/2012
The fast food giant said it had decided to cease its involvement in the Get Britain Working programme because of recent concerns expressed by the public.

Meaning it's a PR stunt, they don't pull out because they want to. At least they admit it. Fair enough.
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moaney1958
2 Fans
07:48 PM on 02/25/2012
Don't advocate a return to National Service Broncohardman; I did mine and saw skilled workers from civvy street employed as officer's servants for their two years!
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