Longest time you've been off work?

[cyberfairy]

I'm climbing the walls here! Worked since age of 14 and all through college, uni, etc and apart from brief time on dole when 18, never been out of work until now due to moving across country. Got job interview next week and waiting to hear back from one but on my fourth workfree week now-tis enjoyable in a way but scared getting too comfy and also bored, lonely and heading towards skintness and terrified of starting another job too-also suspect the longer I don't work, the harder it will be.

Was thinking tis sad in a way to feel guilty about not working despite not having signed on or anything( assumed would get job in a week ) and wondered how many of you lot have been working/not working for and how you dealt with it?

 

[marty21]

had about 6 weeks between jobs in 1989, and then another 6 weeks in 2006, lazy fucker me

in 89 i signed on, last year i couldn't be arsed signing on, last year i had some savings and lived off them

 

[Orang Utan]

About 5 days

 

[Roadkill]

Technically three months, when I was on the dole over summer 2005. In fact, I was doing a 60-hour week finishing my PhD thesis and attending a couple of conferences, but of course I didn't tell the dole office that...

I don't think I've had a period of doing literally nothing since school holidays. I've either been studying or working (or both) constantly since then.

 

[Dubversion]

apart from time at college and that, was last on the dole about 9 years ago, for 2 months. before that, probably about 18 years ago, for 6 months or so. Even then, i was working and signing on. Probably longest actually doing nothing is about 2 months ever.

 

[cyberfairy]

had about 6 weeks between jobs in 1989, and then another 6 weeks in 2006, lazy fucker me

in 89 i signed on, last year i couldn't be arsed signing on, last year i had some savings and lived off them

Same here-just could not bear thought of all forms and things and getting pressured into taking any job when qualified childcare worker. If I had known it would be this long though..I used to yearn for a duvet day at home so much at my last job but feel world going on without me, prob due also to fact I know no-one here yet. Thought could live off savings for a while but bored so keep shopping-spent another fifty quid today and spent more in last month than in last three

 

[Appassionata]

I'm currently off sick, and have been for the past two months. I've only worked about one day since the first week in January.

How do I cope with it? Just look at that post count.

 

[Orang Utan]

I signed on for a few days but forgot to claim the dole - oops

 

[Yossarian]

I spent about a year travelling around living off savings and little bits of casual work here and there - never felt guilty for a second.

 

[marty21]

Same here-just could not bear thought of all forms and things and getting pressured into taking any job when qualified childcare worker. If I had known it would be this long though..I used to yearn for a duvet day at home so much at my last job but feel world going on without me, prob due also to fact I know no-one here yet. Thought could live off savings for a while but bored so keep shopping-spent another fifty quid today and spent more in last month than in last three

i thought i'd be out of work for a couple of months and i was already with an agency, i did get offered a job, but i didn't want to travel to the old kent road every day, i held out for one in hackney and got one

 

[cyberfairy]

I'm currently off sick, and have been for the past two months. I've only worked about one day since the first week in January.

How do I cope with it? Just look at that post count.

I was going to use my spare time applying to every journalismjob under the sun but only got around to doing it the other day for half an hour-result though-free tickets to quite a few big festies this year for reviewing work and a possible freelance job for music mag

 

[Cheesypoof]

i have been working since the age of 14 - i am 28 now and worked full time (36 hours a week) throughout university too (three years).

nine months off for the post grad over 14 years.

 

[cyberfairy]

i have been working since the age of 14 - i am 28 now and worked full time (36 hours a week) throughout university too (three years).

nine months off for the post grad over 14 years.

Full time through uni is damn impressive-I worked part time rushing covered in baby puke and playdoh to uni to be surrounded by glamorous types looking at me weird

 

[Orang Utan]

I worked pretty much full-time through uni - not impressive though - I had 6 hours lecture/seminars a week and didn't bother with the lectures cos they didn't teach me anything new

 

[cyberfairy]

I worked pretty much full-time through uni - not impressive though - I had 6 hours lecture/seminars a week and didn't bother with the lectures cos they didn't teach me anything new

Uni time seems to be set up for people who don't need to work. I had about two hours a day at uni, often in lectures which meant a day of work/uni/work or missing lectures and earning more money. I know it must be hard to work it all out but I would have given anything for two solid uni days and then be able to work the rest of the time.
Mind you, went to open day at Cambridge uni and was told was not allowed to work

 

[dylanredefined]

2 years and counting as a house husband though some may say the ta is a sort of job .Hardly think blundering around hills with very heavy packs and then shooting machine guns counts as a job .

 

[cyberfairy]

I spent about a year travelling around living off savings and little bits of casual work here and there - never felt guilty for a second.

My partner paying rent and bills though atm and works his ass off. If I was independent, would not feel so bad.

 

[Roadkill]

Uni time seems to be set up for people who don't need to work. I had about two hours a day at uni, often in lectures which meant a day of work/uni/work or missing lectures and earning more money. I know it must be hard to work it all out but I would have given anything for two solid uni days and then be able to work the rest of the time.

Traditionally it's been assumed that undergrads don't generally do paid work, with the possible exception of a bar job a couple of evenings a week. That will change, I think, given that many undergrads now are much more cash-strapped than the average student has been in the past, because of background (more kids from less affluent backgrounds going to uni), the abolition of the grant and the need to fork out up front for tuition and so on.

 

[cyberfairy]

Traditionally it's been assumed that undergrads don't generally do paid work, with the possible exception of a bar job a couple of evenings a week. That will change, I think, given that many undergrads now are much more cash-strapped than the average student has been in the past, because of background (more kids from less affluent backgrounds going to uni), the abolition of the grant and the need to fork out up front for tuition and so on.

One thing I learnt which I have been trying to drum into little bro about to start uni is to try and work as much as poss in first year. I hardly worked in first year as so excited about being at uni and determined to do well. I did-got nearly all firsts as put so much time and effort in. Then come second year, hugely in debt, had to get job and grades started falling to then find out first year marks don't count towards final grade The thing to do is work as much as poss whilst getting enough grades to not be chucked out of uni and save save save then apply yourself properly in last two years. Not that it does bugger all. I had the same job before and after uni at same pay

 

[girasol]

18 months (mid-pregnancy until my son was 14 months old). I was too busy to think about it, but also made me realise I wasn't housewife material, as I got bored at home.

Apart from that I've been either in full time education or full time work from the age of 18 (and sometimes both - I worked part-time while at uni).

 

[Throbbing Angel]

6months in 1998 (I think) depression/mentalism generally feeling crap which might have been the onset of the M.E I have now

5 months in 2005 with some sort of joint/fatigue madness/replase thing going on

yay

 

[rocketman]

Longest time off work? I guess probably the 1980's. Yeah, that's it.
CyberF - don't fret, this takes time, there's a rosy future so just enjoy the present, mate

 

[cyberfairy]

Longest time off work? I guess probably the 1980's. Yeah, that's it.
CyberF - don't fret, this takes time, there's a rosy future so just enjoy the present, mate

Cheers-enjoying the present seems to involve buying lots of skirts though Hope to see you soon

 

[rocketman]

That's comfort-shopping you, then again you have always been PARTICULARLY good at finding the unique, you and the mr are always welcome here in the smokity-smoke, one day we'll escape it. Main thing though don't be impatient with yourself, do what you can and search for good things and opportunity, good news by the way I hear for your good self on the festival front - and your copy is funny as feck, so pursue, pursue that chance.
We're always around for you two, so fret not - sure, but has only been a few weeks.
YOu happy otherwise?

 

[moomoo]

I've not worked since October 1999

I think I'll wait till after the summer and then find someone who will employ me!

Bit scared tbh - don't really know what I could do now

 

[cyberfairy]

I've not worked since October 1999

I think I'll wait till after the summer and then find someone who will employ me!

Bit scared tbh - don't really know what I could do now

What do you enjoy doing?

 

[AnnO'Neemus]

Around four years.

And I've worked all my life too, save for the odd few weeks here and there between jobs.

I was waiting for corrective surgery. Had had an accident, wasn't treated properly due to medical negligence, ended up waiting for two more operations, which I had last year.

I've spent the past few years with my life being made hell by the benefits system -- benefits stopped and started at whim, benefits not paid, I've almost been evicted, got bailiff letters for council tax bills for council tax that should've been paid by council tax benefit but wasn't -- being made to feel bad by tabloid news about benefits scroungers and people who should be working.

Tbh, it makes me f'ing mad, because if the government wants to get people off benefits and back into work, they should sort out the NHS so you don't have to spend months fighting bureaucracy to get referrals to doctors who know what they're doing and you don't have to spend ages on waiting lists.

Anyway, I've recently been offered a job, they're applying for my work visa right now and I'll be going back to work in the next few weeks! Hurrah!

I've really missed working. I miss having the routine and reason to get out of bed, I miss the camaraderie of colleagues, I miss doing what I do. And I've missed having spending money. I've spent four years not really being able to travel, go where I want, do what I want. And although I've discovered Primark and it's great for cheap and cheerful fashion, I really missed being able to buy nice clothes. Yes, call me shallow.

 

[baldrick]

Mind you, went to open day at Cambridge uni and was told was not allowed to work

Generally because of the work-load i think. my ex went there and the amount of work he did put my uni experience to shame though there are a lot of bursaries available to compensate.

to reply to the OP - 3 years at uni and then a 4th year in which i was supposed to do re-sits but then spent in a depressed haze living off my savings other than that pretty much worked throughout.

 

[cyberfairy]

Around four years.

And I've worked all my life too, save for the odd few weeks here and there between jobs.

I was waiting for corrective surgery. Had had an accident, wasn't treated properly due to medical negligence, ended up waiting for two more operations, which I had last year.

I've spent the past few years with my life being made hell by the benefits system -- benefits stopped and started at whim, benefits not paid, I've almost been evicted, got bailiff letters for council tax bills for council tax that should've been paid by council tax benefit but wasn't -- being made to feel bad by tabloid news about benefits scroungers and people who should be working.

Tbh, it makes me f'ing mad, because if the government wants to get people off benefits and back into work, they should sort out the NHS so you don't have to spend months fighting bureaucracy to get referrals to doctors who know what they're doing and you don't have to spend ages on waiting lists.

Anyway, I've recently been offered a job, they're applying for my work visa right now and I'll be going back to work in the next few weeks! Hurrah!

I've really missed working. I miss having the routine and reason to get out of bed, I miss the camaraderie of colleagues, I miss doing what I do. And I've missed having spending money. I've spent four years not really being able to travel, go where I want, do what I want. And although I've discovered Primark and it's great for cheap and cheerful fashion, I really missed being able to buy nice clothes. Yes, call me shallow.

Oh good luck!The benefits system is a shambles whichmade me terrified to go back on it evenwhen skint-think that the purpose. I dislike the whole 'you must work' ethic but in my last job was happy being at work as got on so well with everybody there. We spent all day taking the piss out of each other-my boss was brilliant and they were more my mates than people outside work. They indeed text and email more than outside work mates. I can't expect the same thing again but like you said, I weirdly miss the routine and being excited come Friday. And Primark is fab

 

[pinched_nerve]

Since I came back from Oz in December I've been unemployedski, hopefully I'll get one of the 6 jobs I'm in for at the moment though, I'm getting bored to death and I feel the tiny amount of knowledge I have melting away.