I made a claim for JSA today and visited the job centre. I got two rejection letters yesterday from a local college so my mood was low.
The job centre has a large open plan office space covering three floors, one side open with large floor to ceiling windows. I was sat waiting for my name to be called out, feeling pretty positive considering my location. I noticed the window cleaner, working away and cleaning the insides of the windows. The natural light flooded into the building. Glorious yellows and natural greens coloured the grey desks and carpets. Light danced around the room as single parents with children smiled and laughed to each other.
I looked up to the ceiling and wondered why the lights were on; this was surely a waste of electricity. Since electricity prices have just gone up 18% we shouldn't be using them unnecessarily. Then I realised why the lights were on. I turned to see a couple of staff members callout an objection to a senior staff member as she drew the blinds shut. This is why the lights were switched on - the blinds are usually closed. With the blinds now drawn, the colours muted, the faces drained of joy I felt despondent once again, why bother looking for a job? Maybe I could eke out a living on the dole!
I wondered why? Why shut the blinds? They should be saving resources, we’re in a recession? I wondered how many other government offices have the lights on in the daytime? Claim sorted I returned home, ready to write this blog, but first I would ring the council and ask them.
The council representative told me the job centre is a government building not a local council building and I'd need to speak to someone at the Job Centre directly. He also said he too had wondered why the lights were always on as he'd previously worked in those offices. I told him that I could understand it if the Job Centre didn't want people outside seeing confidential information on the computer screens (although this could be easily resolved by coating the windows in cheap reflective cellophane!) So what is the reason?
I rang the Job Centre and spoke to a very helpful lady who told me that I should put my comment in writing and post it. She offered to take note of my comments as well. The reason I was told for the use of lights is one of natural light causing a glare on computer screens!
Now I know it's an obvious thing to say but natural light in a classroom is far better than artificial light. The students are more energetic, more alive, more interested. Surely these are qualities you want in a job centre? Not dull, drabness and never ending layers of boredom or am I reading too much into this!
The job centre has a large open plan office space covering three floors, one side open with large floor to ceiling windows. I was sat waiting for my name to be called out, feeling pretty positive considering my location. I noticed the window cleaner, working away and cleaning the insides of the windows. The natural light flooded into the building. Glorious yellows and natural greens coloured the grey desks and carpets. Light danced around the room as single parents with children smiled and laughed to each other.
I looked up to the ceiling and wondered why the lights were on; this was surely a waste of electricity. Since electricity prices have just gone up 18% we shouldn't be using them unnecessarily. Then I realised why the lights were on. I turned to see a couple of staff members callout an objection to a senior staff member as she drew the blinds shut. This is why the lights were switched on - the blinds are usually closed. With the blinds now drawn, the colours muted, the faces drained of joy I felt despondent once again, why bother looking for a job? Maybe I could eke out a living on the dole!
I wondered why? Why shut the blinds? They should be saving resources, we’re in a recession? I wondered how many other government offices have the lights on in the daytime? Claim sorted I returned home, ready to write this blog, but first I would ring the council and ask them.
The council representative told me the job centre is a government building not a local council building and I'd need to speak to someone at the Job Centre directly. He also said he too had wondered why the lights were always on as he'd previously worked in those offices. I told him that I could understand it if the Job Centre didn't want people outside seeing confidential information on the computer screens (although this could be easily resolved by coating the windows in cheap reflective cellophane!) So what is the reason?
I rang the Job Centre and spoke to a very helpful lady who told me that I should put my comment in writing and post it. She offered to take note of my comments as well. The reason I was told for the use of lights is one of natural light causing a glare on computer screens!
Now I know it's an obvious thing to say but natural light in a classroom is far better than artificial light. The students are more energetic, more alive, more interested. Surely these are qualities you want in a job centre? Not dull, drabness and never ending layers of boredom or am I reading too much into this!
Sigh. They are such disheartening places aren't they. The only nice thing I can say about the soul less one here in Cork City is that it is by the river, and that I walk across a stone bridge that is a few hundred years old, to reach the place. Good luck in your job search Baz.
ReplyDelete