In answer to quant, IIRC the real reason for signing-on is something to do with NI payments so you get your full pension when you retire...
if there are such things in 40 years time...
We may chuckle at your Doctor friend being asked to consider a customer services job, but I wouldn't be surprised if he were turned down for being over-qualified in any event.
I was thinking of going for a mystery shopper position. £15 an hour for pretending to buy stuff. Certainly beats not being paid to look around shops and not buying things, which is what I do now anyway...
