Pros
Unfortunately, there are more cons than pros. Pro 1: Reading Jobcentre Staff: I’d like to thank the members of at the Reading Jobcentre especially the female PhD Student, who is also a Work Coach, the female Muslimah with a Hijab and the Black Security Guard. As they were helpful during my time there. However, the same cannot be stated for the others at that site, those at Slough, those at High Wycombe or at Didcot and Oxford as they contributed to ensuring that I was treated unreasonably due to my faith and being an ethnic minority.
Cons
Con 1: Only BAME Employee: Unfortunately, I was the only BAME candidate who was shortlisted for the role in Oxford whilst the others were from a non-BAME background. Therefore, raising concerns of not recruiting a reasonable number of candidates relating to Equality and Diversity’ policy. Con 2: Bias: However, based on my experience there is prejudice towards the BAME community, especially those who are from a faith-based background. As I was subjugated to a campaign of unreaonable treatment particularly by those who are mainly female, and from a predominant ethnicity. An example of this was a white female senior member of staff stated that she ‘likes the personality’ of the new white male who started a day prior to me, due to him having the ‘like-mindedness’ as her.’. As he would make indirect remarks such as referring to ‘the bomb procedure’ as well as tailgate each time I would perform my daily prayers and linger around next to my locker twice to check what I have in there. I saw him next to my locker twice: the first time I decided to ignore it, but when I saw him for the second time next to my locker, when I had finished my prayers on the fourth floor, it became clear that he is spying on me. Therefore, I decided to approach him very calmly and questioned him, but he could not make eye contact with me and it was for this reason he started to mumble as he was caught red handed. Prior to this, he decided to follow me to the fourth floor by planting himself next to a Work Coach on the 3rd floor, whilst giving me the impression that he is shadowing her. But he was waiting for me to leave my desk, so I can go upstairs onto the fourth floor and it was for this reason he was constantly texting on his phone as he was keeping others within the Group Chat on WhatsApp informed regarding my location and activity on the four floor. The worrying aspect of this, the fact that I had undergone the same pre-employment checks as everybody else such as the Counter Terrorism and DBS checks which came back as successful yet I was still perceived and treated like a threat. Also, the Security Guards in Oxford, Reading, and Slough subjugated me to mockery by making derogatory statements regarding my theological identity and made use of their earpiece to keep the clique entertained. Con 3: Not paid on time: I provided my Bank statements thrice but I was still not being set up for payroll like the other members of staff. Therefore, I was paid late after taking taking action. Therefore, this reinforces the negative treatment which I received when compared with others. However, I was pursued for an alleged debt in 2025 which I challenged and negated in 2021 and 2025 numerous times. Con 4: Nosey/Busy Body Culture Based on my experience, members of staff are very nosey and very eager to obtain information. Thereafter, the contents of the of such information is relayed to clique members, in person, and over Skype to keep them entertained, who then use probing questions to get the same information from the individual concerned. Nevertheless, this is unprofessional as employees should not be conducting themselves in such a manner. However, it's no surprise that a former employee stated that '...they ask you to do things that go against policy, putting your job at risk'. Also, it's, for this reason, a middle-aged female Work Coach came up to me to ask 'where did you work before this current role?' after I had responded she asked 'where did you work before that?' when I answered, she asked and what about before that?. Then she stopped, the reason for asking such questions was because she obtained information already and wanted to see if I answer her questions truthfully. Nevertheless, there was no legitimate business need for her to ask me for such questions as the pre-employment checks were already complete. Con 5: Place of Work Specified Oxford My contract specified my designated place of work as Oxford Jobcentre and on that basis, I purchased a Season Ticket costing over £500. However, on my first day, I was handed a Training Routeway sheet by a short-haired spectacled female managerial member of staff, to state that I’m required to undertake Training in 3 different locations such as Reading Jobcentre, Slough Jobcentre and High Wycombe Job Centre. Also, I’ve worked for previous employers, who’ve conducted training onsite and that includes the DWP, the training was conducted onsite and never off-site. I expressed my legitimate concern that there was no mention of this at the in the job advert or the interview stage, or when accepting the formal offer, as my place of work specified Oxford, and on that basis, I purchased a Season Ticket. However, my concerns were disregarded. Con 6: Racism: Based on my experience, I was negatively due to my race and faith, as I was denied to have my training in Oxford just like the member of staff who started a day before me and the other member of staff who started in December 2019, both of whom are from predominant ethnicity. Subsequently, this constitutes as being unfair as I was treated negatively compared to the new colleagues because of my Race and faith. Also, I was the only ethnic minority, who was shortlisted for the role whilst the aforementioned colleagues and others were from a predominant ethnicity. Therefore, I was required to undertake the training in Reading, Slough, and High Wycombe whilst the aforementioned members of staff were having their training in Oxford. A white male member of staff at every lunchtime, he would constantly make indirect remarks such as ‘there are people who are from a generation of benefit’s’. This statement was said maliciously to make indirect digs at me, due to being an ethnic minority. However, I never discussed Universal Credit customers with him for him to say much, nor did I ask as to what opinion does he hold of Universal Credit customers, therefore, such a continuous malicious comment was unwarranted. Furthermore, he is the same member of staff who stated that ‘because you’re a Muslim you’re more likely to be abused by customers’. The irony was that I was subjugated to more abuse from him than any customer. God forbid if I responded to him by stating that ‘based on my opinion it’s clear you’re an individual who is from a generation of racist’s and its for this reason ethnic minorities are forced out of employment and onto benefits.’ This would have resulted in me facing a disciplinary therefore senior members of staff are very selective what they enforce against whim and when. Con 7: Prayer Room: I informed the interview panel in person and Business Team via e-mail regarding my theological requirements for performing my daily prayers prior to taking up duty. They agreed to accommodate and advise me to put a notice up outside the First Aid room but it was nothing but lip service. As when I was in post, I was required to be ‘flexible’ which was to compromise on my prayers and I was tailgated each time I would perform my prayers. I even looked back at the white male spectacled member of staff, with 20 years of service, to let him know that I know your tailgating me which is harassment. However, he quickly turned his face and decided to pick up a magazine from the desk to give the impression that he isn’t following me but interested in the magazine when such a magazine is always available throughout the day and he never picked it up during the morning meetings or in his breaks. In addition, I was perceived and treated as if I was a terrorist when all of my pre-employment checks came back as successful. A chubby male member of staff deliberately walked into the room when I was praying when I had clearly put a notice outside. He came to spy on me to check whether I’m planting anything. Con 8 Disorganisation: Incompetence: Also, I was sent an e-mail by a member of staff from the Business Team to confirm the last minute changes from the training being changed from the Reading Jobcentre to the Slough Job Centre. Therefore, this demonstrates and reinforces his incompetence and disorganisation as a member of the Business Team with 10 years of service, as he did not thoroughly plan the training well in advance before the new employees taking up duty. It was for this reason there was no mention of the training to be carried out at three different locations, as such an incompetent employee remained preoccupied with other non-work-related matters maybe lunch breaks, rather than take his contractual duty seriously. However, the fact that he was allowed to make such changes demonstrates the incompetence of his Line Manager, for not having any checks and balances in place to ensure that the Department is operating professionally and adequately. However, the reason for such complete disregard, is due to the incompetence existing at the senior management level, as people are appointed roles based on sycophancy and inflating the above average BMI egos of management, rather than possessing the prerequisite skills and experience for the role Nevertheless, I should have been informed beforehand just like the other members of staff, whom were notified in 2019 regarding their assigned the role in 2020 to deliver the training at those different sites. However, I didn’t approve of being required to travel to three different locations, to undertake my training as I purchased a Season ticket from West Midlands to Oxford which cost me over £500. Therefore, this reinforces the disorganisation and incompetence. Con 9: Induction Timetable: Notice Also, the induction timetable, which was sent to me via e-mail by a Business Team member, clearly stated the members of staff, who were scheduled to deliver the training at the two sites, they were given sufficient notice, by having an 'invite' sent to them as early as 'November 2019' which was well before I took up duty. Therefore, it’s beyond ridiculous, that those who are going to deliver the training are informed beforehand, but those who are required to undertake the training, such as myself, were informed on my first day of work. Therefore, it demonstrates a culture of incompetence, as people are appointed roles without possessing the prerequisite skills and qualifications.