Tag: CAS

Worried this winter? Let’s chat

A new campaign, Worried this winter? Let’s chat, has launched today to raise awareness of the support available to anyone concerned about their energy bills. 

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) worked with five CABs across Scotland to run local focus groups and get to the heart of the issues being experienced across Scottish communities this winter.

From feelings of embarrassment and anxiety to dread and misery, the picture was clear: more needs to be done to support communities worried about the cost of energy this winter.

That’s why CAS is launching this campaign to raise awareness of the free and confidential support CABs can offer anyone concerned about keeping the heating on.

To launch the campaign, CAS worked with Scottish poet Kevin McLean to create a poem based on the experiences of households with energy debt. With a focus on the emotions and feelings experienced, the poem will be used to encourage more people to get advice whether they are currently in debt or struggling to keep up with payments.

This campaign will run from today until the end of February 2025.

Derek Mitchell, CEO of Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “As energy costs continue to soar, thousands of people across Scotland are worried about how they can afford to keep their lights on and heat their homes this winter.

“Seeking support on energy debt is one of the most common reasons people walk through their local CAB doors. But taking that step can be daunting. Many are worried and anxious about what can be done and are being forced to self-ration heat, live in cold and dark homes, and skip meals just so they can feed their children. This simply isn’t good enough.

“This campaign is just a small step towards breaking down the barriers to support and highlight the stark reality many people face this winter. If this is you or someone you know, please know the Citizens Advice network is here to help. While we are known for the advice we give, CAS also has a responsibility to raise awareness and advocate for change, and we’ll do all we can to ensure a fairer Scotland for all.”

Chief Executive of Consumer Scotland, Sam Ghibaldan, said: “With ongoing affordability and debt challenges facing consumers, in addition to rising energy bills over the winter, this campaign comes at a crucial time for households across Scotland.

“Consumer Scotland’s research demonstrates that many consumers are continuing to struggle with energy costs, particularly those on low incomes or with high essential energy needs, so it is vital consumers know help and support is available.

“We are pleased to support the Worried this Winter campaign to ensure consumers have access to a range of free and confidential information, including advice on their energy bills and the financial support available.”

The poem can be viewed in the new campaign video here:

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2GlTeGEToU&feature=youtu.be

Watching the meter tick
Second guessing every flick
Of the light switch

It’s no way to live

The pressure to count every penny just right
Scraping by no end in sight
Never truly in control of your life

What do you do?

When the doors you find
Were built to keep you out
When the signs you see
All point to roundabouts

When you have cut every cost you can
Grabbed on to every helping hand
When you’ve worked
And scrapped
And saved
And planned

But the meter still ticks

There is no simple fix
And it takes time to change
The way the system is

But we will work
Each and every day
To help you navigate
Your way to a place
Where peace can exist

Where the ticking of the meter
Isn’t all there is

Workplace misery: new report exposes unfair treatment

Thousands unfairly treated at work

FairEnough

Thousands of Scots face unfair working practices which leave them in desperate and miserable situations, according to new evidence from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).

Last year the Scottish CAB service saw 46,540 instances of unfair treatment at work – an increase of 5.5% on the previous year – and already this year the figures look set to be even higher.

Examples include unfair dismissal, non-payment of wages, cancellation of holidays, bullying, racism and denial of sick pay.

Many workers have told CAS they would like to take their case to tribunals but can’t afford to do so.

CAS new report ‘Fair Enough?’ sets out these problems in detail and suggests solutions to make Scotland’s workplaces fairer. It is being sent to Ministers, MPs and MSPs.

Publishing the report, CAS spokesman Rob Gowans said: “In Scotland we like to see ourselves as a generally fair, socially just country. Sadly, the evidence seen by CAB advisers every day tells a different story. We know that many Scots who are unemployed face severe hardship. But many who do have jobs are living on low incomes and also facing extremely unfair conditions at work.

“The evidence we present today is a snapshot of the kind of employment cases we see. Of course it’s important to say that most employers are fair and treat their staff well. But sadly it’s clear that there are many rogue employers in Scotland, and also that the system is in many ways stacked against workers who want to challenge unfairness at work.

“Some of the unfair employment practices we see put workers in difficult, complex and miserable situations. In exposing these today we want to raise awareness of these problems, but also to argue the case for change. All of the problems we identify in this report can be fixed, and we suggest ways of doing that.

“Because Scotland’s workers deserve better. And it is also in the interests of government and society as a whole that fair employment is promoted. Workers in low quality, stressful jobs have poorer general health, and poor daily quality of life than other groups – even those who are unemployed. It is also important to ensure that unscrupulous employers who wilfully undermine their employees’ basic rights do not gain an unfair advantage over fair employers.”

The sort of cases outlined in the report include:

  • People being dismissed in unfair circumstances, including for being off sick, attempting to take holiday, or informed of their dismissal by text message.
  • Employees who were not paid at all by their employers, in one case for six months’ full-time work.
  • Employers who failed to pay their employees’ income tax and national insurance leaving them to pick up the bill; and instances of clients paid considerably below the National Minimum Wage.
  • People who were unfairly denied sick pay when seriously ill
  • Employers refusing to allow employees to take paid holiday
  • Women who were dismissed when they became pregnant
  • Instances of racist and sexist bullying at work
  • Migrant workers who were exploited and made to work excessive hours
  • People who could not afford the fees to pursue an Employment Tribunal claim
  • Cases where a client won their case at an Employment Tribunal, and were awarded several thousand pounds, but their ex-employers managed to avoid paying them any of the money they were due
  • Many of the examples of poorest practice relate to people on zero hours contracts.

The full report: 

Fair Enough Protecting Scotland’s workers from unfair treatment Feb 2015