To think public sector pensions should be slashed?

I have over 33 years NHS experience. I developed CFS/ME which was attributable in large part to burn out at work. I had to step down and go part time for over 15 years and then left 10 years prior to state pension because my health was deteriorating with continued work stress. My pension is a fraction of what it should have been if I had worked FT at the grade I was on when I became unwell.

There are many, many diligent, committed people whose health and pensions have been undermined by the public sector work environment so forgive me if I don't Immediately warm to your proposal.

If you cut pensions, you'll have to actually pay almost close to market rate... That's going to be a lot more expensive!

I'm a nurse and would have quit long ago if it wasn't for my decent 1995 NHS pension I can claim most of at 55.

yup.
my relative's 'final salary pension' is a percentage of nmw. salary is made up of different elements. the base element, on which the pension is based, is nmw.

Don't be ridiculous, could you manage on £11,500 a year because that's all some pensioners get. You know the ones you think are loaded. They have paid in for over 35 years to get that. The ones on PC haven't paid in but get topped up anyway to just short of full pension then get given the WFA so end up with more than the ones that paid in for over 35 years.

Grow up ... why should NHS workers have there pensions attacked yet again and be punished because the greedy private companies slashed theres to make more profits.
why is the answer always a race to the bottom ? Shouldn't it be that all workers public or private deserve a decent pension after working all of their lives.

But whilst you have only had minor salary increases much of the public sector (civil service and LG particularly) had no increase between 2008-2019 and progression in increments is no longer a thing. So whilst you have had 2% pay rises over 10 years (20%ish) increase some of us continued to be on the same pay as when we started so actually lost money.

I would earn £10-20,000 more in private sector but for me that would be contrary to why I went into my chosen profession, I value the work life balance and the holiday and pension scheme mean that I have more flexibility now and in later life.

Majority proportion of civil servants are on minimum wage now

A final salarly scheme never meant getting the final salary as a pension. The pension was a percentage of the final salary and no where near it!

This 👆 people in public sector jobs (NHS, Teaching etc) would earn considerably more in the private sector. Speaking as a Clinical Psychologist (retired), when I was in one of the highest positions, I could easily have earned 6/7 times as much in the private sector.

Also, there are no new final salary schemes. Anyone employed in the NHS from 1995 hasn’t been employed with one. I expect the end date was similar in other public sector organisations.

There’s a massive pay gap between the private and public sector.
there are no final salary schemes the only difference is the employer puts a lot more in - almost 30% in my case but it’s 30% of a small number

You are not, entirely agree. However, which MP is going to put forward a proposal to cut their own pension pot 🤣 A recent review of pensions in my field shows civil servants getting 32% pension 😱 It's just ridiculous and cannot be justified.

Your pension is double mine? I'll get just under £6k per year + state pension.

You sure about that? The cut off is very low. A pensioner with an income of £13k wouldn't get it, for example.

I don't think I am more "lucky" that my employer pays money into my pension rather than giving me a better salary. I would rather be given the choice.

Twat

I'm a retired public sector worker, I still pay taxes and I won't get the winter fuel payment.

My disgruntled friend once said about NHS staff 'my taxes pay their bloody wages'. By that logic, as an NHS employee, I pay my own wages.

The only pensioners that have lost winter fuel payments are the ones that don’t need it,

@caringcarer everyone except @Mownmum it would seem

Everyone knows the public sector have been on pay freezes and then 1 percent.

I'm completely with you OP. Having working in private industry most of my career, the stint in the public sector I did was by far my most lucrative and the small pension I have from it will be much higher than even the couple of years ones from private industry.

Surprisedcupcake - You have made some real sweeping generalisations about what is offered in the private sector. Only 13% of private sector employers offer these types of benefits. Most Civil Servants, have flexible working, WFH policies, early retirement in certain services, where they then reapply and go back in the same service or work elsewhere!. I often see a neighbour who works for the Department of Education sunning themselves in the front garden with a glass of wine when she is on a little break!!!!. Another that works for the housing association spends his days on the Xbox as generally it is harder to get rid of non performers. Now they are talking about moving to 4days week for same pay😳. Not sure whether this link will help. I agree with you OP. According to figures from HM Treasury, in 2021 the UK net deficit stood at £3.8tn, of which more than £2.6tn was due to net public sector pension liability, having grown from £1tn in 2011 to Sept 2024. The golden pension fund will have to be funded in its current state by Taxpayers of future generations because there is less money going in than is being taken out. I agree put Public sector salaries up but reduce the tax payer contributions of 23%.I on this occasion want it ruining for others as this deficit is carried by the taxpayers and only about 1% of the country is in the high end tax bracket. It may stop my council tax going up hideously again, when rural dwellers get very little services, have to drive cars as there is no alternative and the last time an ambulance or police personnel was seen was I am guessing back in the 70s. Monwmum I have totally got your point 👍

www.taxpayersalliance.com/mandarin_millionaires_civil_service_pension_pots_2023#:~:text=The%20average%20pension%20upon%20retirement,lump%20sum%20was%20%C2%A3131%2C500.

If you want to cut cost why not slash the lazy lords in the House of Lords, pay? They get a lot just for attendance and free lunches with wine whilst some kids in schools go hungry. The house of Lords makes me sick.

This, or maybe OP could be a teacher and manage 26 kids at once as well as all the prepping and marking which happens mostly in your own time because almost all hours at school you are timetabled to teach students. A huge shortage so plenty of room for you OP.