MatchDay Heroes

[SGr]

I think Burnley is different though, just genuine fans with time to spare, and willing to help.

Just genuine fans who won’t be able to watch the game on top of not being paid a penny?

No. This isn’t about “genuine fans”, this is about getting free labour in under some cringy guise. Honestly, the higher we finish, the more out of depth the powers that be become. Embarrassing.

[SGr]

but the volunteers are aware its unpaid

Stupid people will fall for the “heroes” job title. If you want unpaid work on a Saturday afternoon you should just go and work in a charity shop.

Least then you’re contributing to a charity and not a company that makes literally tens of millions in profits.

[Wile E Coyote]

Stupid people will fall for the “heroes” job title. If you want unpaid work on a Saturday afternoon you should just go and work in a charity shop.

Least then you’re contributing to a charity and not a company that makes literally tens of millions in profits.

but they know, and CHOOSE to help

[tim_noone]

but the volunteers are aware its unpaid

Volunteers are to be commended but are usually people with an income and a few hours spare helping a worthwhile cause...not a champagne quaffing prawn sandwich eating employer.

[SGr]

but they know, and CHOOSE to help

That’s taking advantage of people falling for a job title, like I said. People may know about it, and some even may do it, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be paying a wage for it. It’s pure profit maximisation by an already profitable company - not some local non league side appealing for help.

[Wile E Coyote]

patronising gits,

[PutTheWheelieBinsOut]

I just wonder how many of the 'volunteers' will be really volunteering and how many will be sent by DWP?. I expect a lot of the 'volunteers' to be the most vulnerable of society. If true shame on BFC.

[WadingInDeeper]

Instead of 30, why not recruit 60 match day heroes.

These could work in 2 teams of 30, one game on and one game off duty. When they are off duty they get a free ticket.

[HieronymousBoschHobs]

Disgraceful.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I've just posted the same on another thread - that is about the same subject. (Why do we have two threads)?

It worked very well for London Olympics. I can't see the problem with Burnley looking for the same. It's not a job, it's a volunteer opportunity. It will suit some - though not those that would want to be in the ground watching the game.

UTC

Two threads as someone missed my thread from circa 8 hours before somehow

[deanothedino]

I've just posted the same on another thread - that is about the same subject. (Why do we have two threads)?

It worked very well for London Olympics. I can't see the problem with Burnley looking for the same. It's not a job, it's a volunteer opportunity. It will suit some - though not those that would want to be in the ground watching the game.

UTC

The Olympics were completely different. Firstly, they at least got free meals and travel in London. Secondly, many of the roles were closely linked to the actual event - escorting athletes, running in-arena equipment etc. They got to be a major part of the Olympics in many cases. I don’t think standing outside the Turf, in exchange for a tracksuit and a coat (application mentions uniform so I assume that’s the limit) can compare to that.

[ClaretAndJew]

Two threads as someone missed my thread from circa 8 hours before somehow

I have asked the mods to delete it. I've reported my own post don't worry mate its only a message board you'll be ok.

[Fretters]

This is up there with the retainer.

[ClaretMoffitt]

Just another example of our club taking its fans for granted.

[Milltown1882]

The bad thing is it only takes 30 people doing it as advertised for them to view it as a success story.

[Murger]

Whoever came up with the idea and whoever sanctioned it should be sacked.

[mikeS]

The London Olympics recruited 70,000 volunteers in 2010, two years before the event. They were given training, a uniform, food vouchers and free travel. They were quite successful and helped to make the games. Are Burnley doing the same?

[ClaretMoffitt]

The bad thing is it only takes 30 people doing it as advertised for them to view it as a success story.

people in this town will not work for nothing.

[BurnleyFC]

That’s a pretty shabby way to try to recruit someone.

[Grumps]

Don't agree with burnley doing this, But to call it illegal to advertise it is a joke.
Police, fire brigade, army, navy, airforce etc all have volunteers and all advertise for them, some in the national press....

[mikeS]

Do you get to wear a pair of giant foam hands?

[fidelcastro]

Who is H Harbidge, and what exactly is his/her role?

[claptrappers_union]

I know a couple of people who were ‘Games Makers’ at the Olympics.

One of them told me going down to assist with A/V team - but he knew nothing about any of that stuff and I remembered thinking it sounded a bit stingy, just glorified work experience.

Then, as the games got going, he was posting pictures on Facebook having a great time and as a nation we all got caught up in the success of the event. He was at all the major events either as a ticket holder or in professional capacity and made friends.

I spotted him in the closing ceremony too when the Games Makers were thanked.

It looked like an amazing experience. He was trained in something he didn’t know much about and there was a level of appreciation for ther role throughout the event. It was really a once in a life opportunity to get involved in something special - that was the incentive and I wish I did it on reflection.

Burnley Football Club are taking advantage supporters with this ‘opportunity’.

[claptrappers_union]

Who is H Harbidge, and what exactly is his/her role?

Supporter Liaison. Don’t have a do at individuals though on this forum. It’s not fair on them as it might be out of their control.

[fidelcastro]

Supporter Liaison. Don’t have a do at individuals though on this forum. It’s not fair on them as it might be out of their control.

Okay I'll refrain, but as his/her name is on the advert, then I'd have at least thought that he/she had proof read it, even if he/she didn't design it.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I have asked the mods to delete it. I've reported my own post don't worry mate its only a message board you'll be ok.

lol uokhun?

[ŽižkovClaret]

Okay I'll refrain, but as his/her name is on the advert, then I'd have at least thought that he/she had proof read it, even if he/she didn't design it.

Exactly, i'd have not been happy had my name gone on that

[Vintage Claret]

I too am a bit disappointed.

When I saw the thread title I thought the club were going to be dishing out free Cadbury's mini chocolate bars to all supporters during the game

I'd prefer matchday 'Celebrations'

[ClaretTony]

I have asked the mods to delete it. I've reported my own post don't worry mate its only a message board you'll be ok.

I've merged the two threads

[Wile E Coyote]

I feel fairly certain this ridiculous club criticism is based purely on the poor form of the team, if we were top of the league, you wouldnt see a bad word written about a small group of willing volunteers assisting the club.

[houseboy]

Not for businesses in entertainments - we're a classic example of a business who only needs to employ people for a certain amount of time on certain days. It makes sense to have a pool of labour from which to draw. For people who this is appropriate for (e.g. students etc) that's fine. No one is saying they make good basis to hold down a mortgage etc.

For SOME businesses they have to operate in that way - you can always set up to say that you will guarantee a certain amount of hours but often sports venues have a pool which they draw from.

I worked in employment law for years and what you have just described is exactly the way it was sold as an idea but trust me bud the reality, overwhelmingly, is that employers use them to get around the, admitedly sometimes overstrict, employment laws. If you need to get rid of someone, even if they've worked for you for years, you just stop offering them work, no need to pay out redundancy pay. If you want to sack someone for whatever reason there is no need to go through all the due process of verbal and written and final warnings. Trust me for every employee who thinks they are fine there are 50 employers rubbing their hands.
They have put the law firmly back in the hands of the employer and although many may see that as a good thing it would only be so if all employers were decent and treated people fairly but that is far from the case, many (most) employers want to produce goods and services as cheaply as possible and sell them for as much as they can, that's how capitalism works, and cutting labour costs are the first thing that many see as the way forward. Too many people on BOTH sides of the political devide fail to see that the employer/employee relationship is a partnership. The employer puts up the money and takes all the risks, they own the means of production so to speak and they take responsibility for it's success, or failure, but the flip side is quite simply that without employees there is no business at all so all the investment in the world is pointless because there is no-one there to actually make the money. All the millionaires and billionaires in the world are nothing without the people who work for them, nobody ever became wealthy as a sole trader.

[Murger]

I feel fairly certain this ridiculous club criticism is based purely on the poor form of the team, if we were top of the league, you wouldnt see a bad word written about a small group of willing volunteers assisting the club.

Nothing to do with club form.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I feel fairly certain this ridiculous club criticism is based purely on the poor form of the team, if we were top of the league, you wouldnt see a bad word written about a small group of willing volunteers assisting the club.

Absolutely nonsense.

[Wile E Coyote]

it is in my opinion, there may well be some validity in all the employment law references posted above, but i doubt it would be such a hot topic if the teams fortunes weren't been scrutinised so much , its like having a dig because the general mood is bad.

[ClaretTony]

I feel fairly certain this ridiculous club criticism is based purely on the poor form of the team, if we were top of the league, you wouldnt see a bad word written about a small group of willing volunteers assisting the club.

Anything but, and what I still find incredible and laughable is that they want Burnley fans to volunteer (I've no problem with that as other clubs do it) but then they won't see the game. Now, I'd have happily volunteered at Wolves two days ago, I might have enjoyed missing that, but the whole thing seems nonsensical to me.

[claptrappers_union]

I feel fairly certain this ridiculous club criticism is based purely on the poor form of the team, if we were top of the league, you wouldnt see a bad word written about a small group of willing volunteers assisting the club.

I’m a ‘happy clapper’ but this Volunteering nonsense is not good.

[Awayfromburnley]

What I can't fathom is that at some point some experienced (if not educated too) people have sat around and discussed this and approved it.

That is the scary part. We mock the ticketing, the pies, the twixes etc, but this seriously makes me think that something is badly wrong.

It's just common sense, decency and cultural to expect some tangible reward for doing something, it doesn't have to be monetary though, a match ticket or club voucher (if you u do x amount of games) would soften the blow here. Oh and removing the word 'job'

Shame.

[Wile E Coyote]

ok, can someone please explain what is wrong with this , I seem to be missing an important point.

[Wile E Coyote]

are you suggesting they are being misinformed in some way

[South West Claret.]

it is in my opinion, there may well be some validity in all the employment law references posted above, but i doubt it would be such a hot topic if the teams fortunes weren't been scrutinised so much , its like having a dig because the general mood is bad.

Quite simply it’s about rich organisations getting something for nothing which in this day and age is totally unexceptionable to the vast majority of decent people.

[dushanbe]

In this situation there has to be some reward - not necessarily financial, because people volunteer their time and effort for free in all sorts of areas. In this instance, I can't see any reward at all. You probably won't get to see the game, you'll be stood out in all weathers but theres a vague chance you will benefit from some sort of warm fuzzy feeling having helped someone, while we sit in the warmth, brandy in hand laughing that we've mugged you right off.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Well into normal office hours now and it remains. Guess the club don't think there is anything wrong with it

[dushanbe]

Well into normal office hours now and it remains. Guess the club don't think there is anything wrong with it

As someone said previously, if there are 30 mugs who volunteer, they won't think they've done anything wrong.

[Dark Cloud]

I don't think Wile E is correct as the form on the pitch has no bearing on this issue. However, I also don't buy into the "free labour" idea either and that the club are deliberately trying to rip people off. If anyone does come forward they will have CHOSEN to and will be willing volunteers as stated in the spec, although why someone would ever come forward, knowing they won't see any footy, I really don't know. My issue really is why on earth do we feel we need such people. It's Burnley with a crowd of 18,000 - 21,000 maximum, with around 15.500 season ticket holders for goodness sake. Not 95,000 at Barcelona with half the crowd being foreign tourists. It's the "naffness"of it which is making me cringe as I get this picture of people on Harry Potts Way with big foam hands high fiving fans walking past, shouting "have a great day"! and telling them which is the Bob Lord and which is the CFS, even though they've been attending for years and it's written on it. (And it's at the cricket ground end which gives a clue!) Plus, as stated earlier, when we are in the Championship and crowds are around 11,00, they'll look even more incongruous! Plain naff imo!

[claptrappers_union]

As someone said previously, if there are 30 mugs who volunteer, they won't think they've done anything wrong.

To be fair, there might be some people who think, "As a supporter, I like to get to the ground before kick-off anyway and I don't mind meeting people and showing visitors were to go and so on, its no skin off my nose and I'm happy to lend a hand because its the sort of thing I like doing."

But its nice to be appreciated, even if its to give the award to the Man of the Match with the sponsors after a game. Just something.

[Bordeauxclaret]

To be fair, there might be some people who think, "As a supporter, I like to get to the ground before kick-off anyway and I don't mind meeting people and showing visitors were to go and so on, its no skin off my nose and I'm happy to lend a hand because its the sort of thing I like doing."

But its nice to be appreciated, even if its to give the award to the Man of the Match with the sponsors after a game. Just something.

Or even to be able to watch the match.

[claptrappers_union]

It's the "naffness"of it which is making me cringe as I get this picture of people on Harry Potts Way with big foam hands high fiving fans walking past, shouting "have a great day"! and telling them which is the Bob Lord and which is the CFS, even though they've been attending for years and it's written on it. (And it's at the cricket ground end which gives a clue!) Plus, as stated earlier, when we are in the Championship and crowds are around 11,00, they'll look even more incongruous! Plain naff imo!

I think its a good idea to have people in this position and it doesn't need to be a huge stadium, its just about customer service and a positive appearance. Imagine being an away fan with the family and arriving at the ground and you approach a friendly face and they say :-

"Welcome to Turf Moor (or Old Trafford, Bescott Stadium, Wham Stadium or whatever) I'm Lindsay, is there anything you need any help with today? Have you brought your ticket or are you collecting it here? Well, the away ticket collection point is there, theres a small queue, theres also nice pub for away supporters over in that direction over there by the programme seller... if there anything you need to know, just find someone where this uniform and they will happily help"

Its not much, its nice first impression though - the best people at this type of job though are people with PAID customer service experience.

[randomclaret2]

Isn't that what Rocky does now ?

[jrgbfc]

Volunteering at the Olympics was a once in a lifetime experience to be part of an amazing event. Standing outside the Turf in the middle of January freezing to death most certainly isn't it. Has anyone brought this up on Twitter with Bentley?

[uni_queue]

Whats our connection with ELM people - ? This crazy idea has their mission statement all over it !

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The team at ELM People has a proven track record of delivering successful training and development programmes for our clients, including local authorities, retailers, national theatre companies along with event management for English Rugby Union Clubs and the London Olympic Games

The expertise and flexibility of ELM People enables clients to bring their ideas to life and liberate their potential. "