Ah Yes, This Again

In addition to Poor School and free work, I am involved in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), a program that is supported by the state.  This program has a lot of potential, and yet, it has a lot of frustration.  VR is supposed to help people with disabilities get back to work or to help pay for retraining.  In my case I have been referred to a job coach, who is supposed to help me find work.  VR also provides physical therapy for my injuries.

The job coach is paid a certain amount by VR to help me find a job. The brochures and written information sound good, and having a professional help me find something suitable is a great idea. So I was encouraged when I was accepted to the program.  My case manager at VR is a lovely lady who is genuine and caring.  She gave me some numbers and some unofficial advice on who to call in order to choose a job coach.  With that in mind, I chose a company that seemed to be proactive. We're going to talk about fraud and misuse of funds again.  Here is another case of misuse, and not by the end user.

My job coach does exactly what I do every week.  She looks for jobs for me to apply to.  She will also fill out the applications, submit my resume, and write my cover letters.  She will take the personality screenings that some employers require.  She will talk to employers to ask if they have any openings.  If I didn't have a resume, she would write one for me.  Here is my problem with these services:  I already do all of that on my own, and I don't want someone else to make up my experience and abilities.  I also do not want someone who can't spell submitting my applications.  I'm picky that way. Her services aren't incredibly helpful and they are served with a very strong dose of condescension.  Additionally, she has no problem committing fraud by lying on applications.  I have had to look over her shoulder and adamantly and repeatedly tell her that I do not have the experience that she claims.  I have gone back into applications after I've gotten home in order to change them since she has outright lied. I have been called for interviews for jobs that I have not agreed to apply for, without any idea what I'm being called about, and ended up looking like an idiot.  At the end of an appointment, I've seen her log that she has submitted my application for jobs that I submitted on my own time.

The moral questions are these:  Do I continue to let this fraud continue?  Do I allow applications that are not honest and truthful to go out in my name?  Do I continue to look increasingly foolish and put my ethics on the line, in order to reap the benefits of the physical therapy that VR is providing for my knees and shoulder?

And finally, at what point do I just stop caring about trying to be ethical?