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Original poster

To leave the public sector or not?

43 replies

Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 19:31

I currently work in a managerial role in Adult Social care for the public sector, a sort NHS/ Local authority hibrid. I'm a qualified social worker and my role is directly in relation to that, though is predominantly management.

I've been sort of offered a job in the private sector as a project manager for a large company. It's essentially what I do now, just a different client base. I didn't apply for the job; a friend mentioned me and my current role to a friend I also vaguely know, they contacted me and they want to talk further logistics in the new year, but if I want it, the job is mine. It's initially a pay cut (20%) but has scope to increase quickly and beyond what I could earn in the public sector without serious ladder jumping (and even then). I'm really unhappy with the way adult social care is going - the penny pinching, cost cutting, loss of services, loss of person centred planning, the increase in all decisions being how it reduces hospital admissions. The lack of investment and general staff morale is really getting to me. BUT there are big positives - great pension, 32 days holiday, regular opportunity for career progression, training, regular salary increase within my band and significant job security. The new role is 25 days holiday, minimal pension and no bonus scheme (initially at least). The other big downside is ill be working in the same company (and department as DH), though in a really different role - the company know this and have no issue. DH thinks I'll be great in the role, thinks the company is great and is happy to work with me; we wouldn't be in each others line management areas. It would mean changing my commute to the train, but I have always wanted to work in a fancy city office.

I don't know what to do. Logistically with childcare etc it still works, because DH isn't a knob and does his share. DH can only see the £££ potential, though we currently are quite comfortable anyway, he does earn almost double what I do. I cannot work as a social worker outside of my current area (unless I move to kids which I really don't want. Been there, done that!).

Any advice? Things to consider? I'm really tempted, but I just love my current team and colleagues and to feel like I've at least got the chance to make a difference in people's lives.

OP posts:
Turmerictolly · 21/12/2021 19:36

Do it! I'm sure there'll be a job to go back to (even at a lower grade) if you didn't like it. Just check that the promised progression will definitely happen and set up the pension. It won't be as good as the pension you have but you may have other savings/investments to make up for this.

PPCD · 21/12/2021 19:40

Definitely do it!!

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 21/12/2021 19:45

The thing that would worry me is having all your eggs in one basket. You and DH working for the same company and if the company needs to lose people you could both lose your jobs together.

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Original poster
Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 19:47

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

The thing that would worry me is having all your eggs in one basket. You and DH working for the same company and if the company needs to lose people you could both lose your jobs together.
That worries me too. It is reasonably unlikely as it's a tech business and as long as I keep my registration I could return to social work quite easily. But definitely a consideration.
OP posts:
JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 21/12/2021 19:51

Have you asked them to match your current salary? I wouldn't take a party cut and then all the subsequent loss of benefits they would mean your overall renumeration is even further reduced.

The state of adult social care is a bigger question which only you can answer but it'd be a no from me based on the paycut.

Aurora791 · 21/12/2021 19:58

Best thing I ever did!

CherrySocks · 21/12/2021 19:58

When you say great pension how does that compare with a public sector pension? A public sector pension is a real asset.

Original poster
Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 19:59

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

Have you asked them to match your current salary? I wouldn't take a party cut and then all the subsequent loss of benefits they would mean your overall renumeration is even further reduced.

The state of adult social care is a bigger question which only you can answer but it'd be a no from me based on the paycut.

No I haven't, though the paycut is a) not significant to our household income and b) less than if I were to decide I wanted to move in to a PM role elsewhere. I may ask if there's scope for either increased pay or more holidays.
OP posts:
Original poster
Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 20:01

@CherrySocks

When you say great pension how does that compare with a public sector pension? A public sector pension is a real asset.
Current pension is I pay 9% work pays 14%. New pension is 3% each. We do have other investments though and DH has a separate private pension.
OP posts:
JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 21/12/2021 20:12

You can't compare pensions based on contributions as the local government pension scheme is defined benefit so you'll get a set amount for life irrespective of the amount you pay in or its performance on the stock market.

pastypirate · 21/12/2021 20:16

Really depends on the role whether it's worth taking a pay cut. I'm the same profession as you op and I've been informally head hunted to a private company but how I'm feeling just now is I'm not doing a job in the sector that pays less. In this climate taking a pay cut feels like a huge risk.

Does the new role have a car allowance?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 21/12/2021 20:18

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

You can't compare pensions based on contributions as the local government pension scheme is defined benefit so you'll get a set amount for life irrespective of the amount you pay in or its performance on the stock market.
This
Original poster
Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 20:21

@JackieCollinshasnoauthority

You can't compare pensions based on contributions as the local government pension scheme is defined benefit so you'll get a set amount for life irrespective of the amount you pay in or its performance on the stock market.
No it's defined contribution now. Defined benefit went out before I joined.
OP posts:
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 21/12/2021 20:21

Apart from the high likelihood of killing DH if I either with him, as PP, I would not want to have all our income dependent on one employer. In fact, in this time of economic uncertainty, I’m not sure I’d want to leave the public sector. DH in private sector and my in public (same profession) has weathered a lot of storms in the last 20 years.

Original poster
Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 20:23

@pastypirate

Really depends on the role whether it's worth taking a pay cut. I'm the same profession as you op and I've been informally head hunted to a private company but how I'm feeling just now is I'm not doing a job in the sector that pays less. In this climate taking a pay cut feels like a huge risk.

Does the new role have a car allowance?

No it doesn't, but I've quantified the pay cut taking into account the extra days leave and my car allowance. The actual on paper annual salary pay cut is less.
OP posts:
Original poster
Thepineapplemystery · 21/12/2021 20:25

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads

Apart from the high likelihood of killing DH if I either with him, as PP, I would not want to have all our income dependent on one employer. In fact, in this time of economic uncertainty, I’m not sure I’d want to leave the public sector. DH in private sector and my in public (same profession) has weathered a lot of storms in the last 20 years.
This is my biggest worry by far. Though I can definitely forsee a restructure in my public sector role coming in the near future- I think covid delayed it, but it's definitely on its way.
OP posts:
De88 · 21/12/2021 20:40

How long have you worked where you currently are? Have you worked as a social worker in third sector/health/other local authorities and found it all to be the same?

Agree with another poster above, you know there will always be a job available to you if you decide to go back. It wouldn't be hard to keep your registration, though the new peer supervision element in SWE requirement might be trickier to hit.

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 21/12/2021 20:49

So you're not in the Local government pension scheme?

FrownedUpon · 21/12/2021 20:51

Pension would be a big issue for me. The LGPS is a great scheme & your new job is unlikely to come close to matching it.

Yrks · 21/12/2021 20:53

Do it! I'm NHS, working my way out and dreading the next 2 years to be free. This week had an offer to go elsewhere earlier. Salary cut yes but long term benefits better and not spending my working life worrying about what I haven't done, what I've missed and who's bitching about me means I accepted immediately! Good luck!

Spectre8 · 21/12/2021 20:57

Personally I think your a bit crazy. Things in both private and public sector are bad enoug hthat anyone can lose their job at any point really, not to mentioned the cost of stuff increasing at an alarming rate.

You say this: The lack of investment and general staff morale is really getting to me. BUT there are big positives - great pension, 32 days holiday, regular opportunity for career progression, training, regular salary increase within my band and significant job security. The new role is 25 days holiday, minimal pension and no bonus scheme (initially at least)

Your losing alot including a 20% pay cut! How many years will it take to get back to your salary now? Yet in that same time you could have moved up even further in your current employer as you state there are regular opportunities for career progression.

If you feel the 20% pay cut plus other benefits your losing means you and OH can cope with future living cost increases fair enough go for it.

Tippexy · 21/12/2021 20:58

If you work in the NHS or local authority you will be getting a defined benefit pension which is almost impossible to beat in the private sector.

Beakerandbungle · 21/12/2021 20:58

It depends how much working on the public sector matters to you?

I started in the private and moved to the public - sounds silly but it does matter to me at some level working for the public sector. I know it doesn’t matter to other people at all - but I think we all have things that are fundamental to what makes work positive for us and this is one of mine! So that’s something I’d at least consider as well ( I notice you mention making a difference).

tobypercy · 21/12/2021 21:13

You said:
Current pension is I pay 9% work pays 14%. New pension is 3% each. We do have other investments though and DH has a separate private pension.

It's not really relevant to your decision, by the sound of it, but I think you'll need to put in a minimum of 5% if they're only putting in 3%.
www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/employers/managing-a-scheme/contributions-and-funding Minimum is 8% going in now.

But remember you're not entirely giving up your public sector pension - the money you've paid in stays there, so you'll have that as a base to add your (admittedly less good) private sector one on top of.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 21/12/2021 21:19

If you move jobs, would you be LIFO if the new employer had to make redundancies? It’s very easy to let someone go who has been in post for less than 2 years.