It said the programme was designed to “help provide a taste of the world of work” largely for 18- to 24-year-olds with placements lasting between two and eight weeks and for between 25 to 30 hours a week. Guardian , the Poundland discount store, has been accused of employing unpaid jobseekers for up to two months under the government’s Jobcentre Plus initiative. The scheme was designed to provide work experience, but participants told The Poundland that they spent up to 30 hours a week stacking shelves. All participants interviewed by the paper claimed they had been told they needed to complete work experience by a jobcentre “work coach”. In 2013 , graduate Tanya de Grunwald won a case against the government arguing that it was unlawful to force her to work without pay at Poundland in order to claim jobseeker’s allowance.
Guardian , the Poundland discount store, has been accused of employing unpaid jobseekers for up to two months under the government’s Jobcentre Plus initiative. The scheme was designed to provide work experience, but participants told The Poundland that they spent up to 30 hours a week stacking shelves. All participants interviewed by the paper claimed they had been told they needed to complete work experience by a jobcentre “work coach”. In 2013 , graduate Tanya de Grunwald won a case against the government arguing that it was unlawful to force her to work without pay at Poundland in order to claim jobseeker’s allowance.