Sanctions… I got threatened with sanction for doing volunteer work, because you’re “not available for work” when you volunteer. I mean, it’s not like volunteer work is at all useful for a CV, or for boosting applicant’s confidence or skills, is it? Absolutely counterproductive and stupid.
Also got told I had to apply for a job at the company I’d just been made redundant from, even though they had a 6 month non-return clause making it impossible for them to rehire me.