(11 Feb 2015, 7:56 am)Andreos1 wrote There could be a whole number of reasons, such as lack of a direct link to bad experiences with existing or previous employees.I quite regularly use the 8 between Sunderland and Washington due to how quick it gets from A to B compared to the 2/2A, But getting back on topic I personally think Employers across the Region need to be educated on Public Transport, as there bound to have people coming from here there and everywhere for a Job, got to also question whereabouts they are travelling from to get to work.
You just have to take a look at the operators social media pages to see regular and experienced commuters have with public transport and being late.
In different parts of the country, people commute for miles on public transport.
There is a link on the forum elsewhere, relating to a study Nexus did on the lack of public transport to/from major employment hubs. They based some of the initial Bus Strategy routes around the feedback they received from employers and employees.
One suggestion was to pump prime a service from Washington to Sunderland Business Park.
We eventually saw the 8 diverted that way
Another, was the lack of a direct service between Washington and Team Valley. Outside of peaks, passengers need two buses and pay for the privilege.
South Tyneside to Cobalt was another one.
I don't think the infrastructure or current network in the region does itself any favours with regard to commuting at all.
(11 Feb 2015, 9:06 pm)aureolin wrote Bit baffled by this. I've never heard of an employer asking people their mode of transport, and certainly no interviews that I've sat in, have I been asked? It's your responsibility to get to and from work, not the employer's, so it shouldn't matter.
(11 Feb 2015, 9:15 pm)Jimmi wrote It is your responsibility to get to work however you choose to get there and I think its unfair if employers are rejecting people just because they use public transport, just because they use a bus doesn't mean they will be late everyday.
It's weird how some wouldn't fancy hiring people who live not far away but have to use public transport but are fine with some who live miles away that can drive a car.
(11 Feb 2015, 9:06 pm)aureolin wrote Bit baffled by this. I've never heard of an employer asking people their mode of transport, and certainly no interviews that I've sat in, have I been asked? It's your responsibility to get to and from work, not the employer's, so it shouldn't matter.Its not a Question I am usually asked at an Interview, but in recent weeks it has become very common for it to be asked for me anyway which I find rather odd, and from feedback I have asked for via Email when an Employer has came back and said I was unsuccessful, getting to and from Work was the reason why, I honestly dont know what the issue is, perhaps Employers are simply unfamiliar with the Local Area and Areas outside of where they are Based, Basically the Question itself is based around the proposed Shifts you would work if you were successful at the Interview, obviously looking for someone who is Reliable and can get there on time on a Daily Basis.
(11 Feb 2015, 9:15 pm)Jimmi wrote It is your responsibility to get to work however you choose to get there and I think its unfair if employers are rejecting people just because they use public transport, just because they use a bus doesn't mean they will be late everyday.Exactly if you cant get from A to B to start a Work at say 9am, then there is no point in attending an Interview for said Job, in my case I attended because I could get there for 9am, simply by looking at where the Employer is Based and looking at Bus Times, it really isnt hard at all in my opinion, common sense really.
It's weird how some wouldn't fancy hiring people who live not far away but have to use public transport but are fine with some who live miles away that can drive a car.
(11 Feb 2015, 4:50 pm)citaro5284 wrote And then when it is put on, nobody uses it.....At the risk of going off topic - research will have been done, loads (according to Dan) were good when it first started. So the question needs to be asked as to why loads tailed off.
(11 Feb 2015, 6:01 pm)Malarkey wrote I quite regularly use the 8 between Sunderland and Washington due to how quick it gets from A to B compared to the 2/2A, But getting back on topic I personally think Employers across the Region need to be educated on Public Transport, as there bound to have people coming from here there and everywhere for a Job, got to also question whereabouts they are travelling from to get to work.
(11 Feb 2015, 10:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote At the risk of going off topic - research will have been done, loads (according to Dan) were good when it first started. So the question needs to be asked as to why loads tailed off.My older Brother works for Convergys and they promote Employees Cycling to Work, out of that they paid Half of what my Brothers Bike cost due an Initive they set up with Halfords, I am aware others elsewhere, a few of which you have mentioned Andreos1.
Organisations such as Valley Links (think that is the name), try and promote alternative modes of transport to the car. Maybe there needs to be more done.
I have been racking my brains and thinking back to when I was in your situation and relying on public transport and I am pretty sure the question was asked, but this was based on working outside normal 9-5 hrs - for instance dealing with deliveries and was aimed at finding out how flexible I could be.
Living half an hour away and relying on a half hourly bus service, would not have given the employer the flexibility they may have needed or wanted at the time.
Of course, I told them about public transport and how the folks could drive and drop me off if needed. Obviously the folks had no idea I had volunteered them for taxi duties, but it gave me the upper hand to those relying on the bus.
(11 Feb 2015, 10:42 pm)Malarkey wrote My older Brother works for Convergys and they promote Employees Cycling to Work, out of that they paid Half of what my Brothers Bike cost due an Initive they set up with Halfords, I am aware others elsewhere, a few of which you have mentioned Andreos1.
I also have a Bike but it needs repairing, so that would give me an Advantage if I was to get a Job in the Washington Area, as for Buses I have an excellent Service which gets me around the most of Washington, again its the same for Newcastle/Sunderland and Durham, I just have the issue of Employers not giving me a Job due to using the Bus and thinking I live Miles away.
I am going to have a sit down with my Ingeus Advisor on Friday to see if there is anything we can do, probably not but hey-ho something will come eventually.
(12 Feb 2015, 12:13 am)gtom wrote It always bemuses me why GNE insist on their Facebook and journey planner to send people from Birtley and Chester to Gateshead to get to Team Valley (outside of 937)It may be linked to the fact Go North East uses their own Journey Planner and/or Traveline's facility.
Why don't they offer the option of a 21 to Aletaster and a 94 from there. Cuts journey time in half
(11 Feb 2015, 9:06 pm)aureolin wrote Bit baffled by this. I've never heard of an employer asking people their mode of transport, and certainly no interviews that I've sat in, have I been asked? It's your responsibility to get to and from work, not the employer's, so it shouldn't matter.