A Pizza Hut Delivery car as driven by the Pizza Hut Delivery drivers RMGFH15
ENNISKILLEN’S Jobs and Benefits office has been criticised after a client was sent to a delivery driver job interview even though he had no driver’s licence.
Pizza Hut staff said they were shocked when they discovered half way through an interview that the unemployed man didn’t own a driving licence in some six years.
But a spokesperson for the Department of Employment and Learning – who oversees the Jobs and Benefits office – claimed these clients previously confirmed they had a licence.
Stephanie Dooris, a manager at Pizza Hut, explained that at no point during the process was she made aware of the licence gaffe.
“I rang everyone who applied and asked them to come in for an interview and then this particular person came in for the interview,” she said.
“I got half way down the questions and asked him if he definitely had a clean licence and he said, ‘I don’t have a licence’.
“He told me he hadn’t owned a licence in six years but yet he came in for a delivery driver job. I didn’t know what to say to him.
“He said if he got it then he would have applied for a driving licence but I couldn’t wait.
“He may have thought he had to go to the job interview because of his benefits but we’re not sure.
“He didn’t bring it up at any point of my first phone call or at the start of the interview. I told him there’s no point in continuing with the interview, so he left.
“I thought that when you register at the job centre you would say if you have a licence or not.
“It did take me aback and I thought I can’t believe he went but I told him to come back when he does get a licence.
“It’s a waste of everyone’s time including mine and his and all the emails sent. It’s disheartening when you are doing interviews and this happens. We should have been told by him or the job centre.”
Declan Devlin, who is also a manager at the store, said it was difficult to find drivers. He also commented that the applicant may have attended just to “tick a box” for the job centre.
He added: “It’s a disaster at the minute as we can’t get any drivers.
“We put an advert in for another driver and we got no applications. It’s really hard to get people and get them to stay.
“There’s work for people who want it and there’s an incentive to work too.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) said: “Enniskillen Jobs & Benefits office confirm that five clients were referred to recent vacancies for Pizza Hut by Jobs & Benefits staff and a further three clients applied for these opportunities directly using the JobCentreOnline service.
“Records held by the Jobs & Benefits office indicate that all customers had confirmed that they held a full driving licence and were therefore regarded suitable to be submitted to the vacancies advertised.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere