Page 6 | Dear Jeremy - I am still not going back to work.

TennisWithDeborah · 15/03/2023 19:34

The 55+ year olds I know who are not working are not working through choice. They’re not hankering after apprenticeships 😂 They could get jobs if they wanted to.

Others are unwell on NHS waiting lists.

I’d be interested in comments from people who are considering signing up to this scheme.

Nolimittomylove · 15/03/2023 19:41

Dear Jezza

Thanks a bunch for nothing. I stayed home to look after my kids because I couldn’t get the childcare I needed on the wages I’d receive. Also no one thinks about the 6 sodding weeks school holidays where most pre schools are shut the same as schools. Term time only work is like rocking horse shit.
so here I am now finally able to go back to work and I’ve been out of the workplace for 18 years. Wish me luck.

Mariposista · 15/03/2023 19:57

Full respect for the retired - they have done their bit for society for many years, made their contributions, used their skills and can now enjoy a rest. Also respect those not doing paid work, but in voluntary roles.

VanGoghsDog · 15/03/2023 20:01

Dayvi · 15/03/2023 16:49

I would imagine if those over 50 have decided to retire have made a decision and can afford to do so. So why the fuck would he think they would be tempted back.

I'm 55 this year and while I'm not quite at the stage I can afford to retire I'm nearly there, and could downsize my job and access pension which would be great.

The budget has made no changes to my plans. I feel the max pension contributions did need to go up, but from £40k to £60k is too far - this only benefits very well paid people. I put around £50k pa in my pension currently (bringing forward unused allowances, which end this tax year) but even I can't manage to get to £60k.

The change from being able to recycle £10k instead of £4k might help me retire a bit earlier as it has tax advantages, so that's the opposite to the effect he wanted I guess.

BlackeyedSusan · 15/03/2023 20:06

IClaudine · 15/03/2023 15:47

Dear Jezza

Many of us who are 50+ and not in employment are actually working. In my case as a full time carer for £69.70 per week. Now do eff off.

for the grand sum of something like £1.94p an hour. (last year it was £1.92p an hour.

I'm too fucking knackered to work ever again thanks to the lack of support for disabled children... and disabled adults and the long bloody waiting time to get a diagnosis and not getting any proper treatment once you have one...

Hellybelly84 · 15/03/2023 20:08

2010Aussie · 15/03/2023 18:45

I'm in my mid 60s and working part time. No way would I want to retire. I enjoy the job, the people with whom I work and the challenge.

You are right when you say that there is something of a retirement mentality. Those retired people I come across who don't have regular occupation such a volunteering, can be a bit narrow in their attitude. I love being with 20 and 30 somethings with their enthusiasm and positivity.

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And everyone brings something different in a workplace with all ages. I want to be doing the same as you, working part-time in a job I enjoy. I dont think i’d like the idea of the whole week stretched out in front of me without any work to go to, be it paid or volunteer work.

mimi0708 · 15/03/2023 20:14

ReedRite · 15/03/2023 17:35

Dear Jeremy,

I see nothing in your budget to address the wage stagnation and piss-poor earnings that cause life in the Uk to be so expensive. So I’d like to know what you think is tempting about going back to work for a pittance?

This exactly. Who is going to want to go back to work for often very little pay.

BlackeyedSusan · 15/03/2023 20:21

TheGander · 15/03/2023 17:45

Where did you work @GlassBunion , that sounds awful.

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possibly a special school. It's not unusual. sadly.

MarnieSQ · 15/03/2023 20:25

Dear Jeremy,

Maybe those ‘returners’ can be directed to staff the after school clubs that you have announced that schools will provide.
Staff, including head teachers are fed up of having to fill the gaps (from 8.00 till. 18.00) as well as doing their own job.
Perhaps the ‘returners’ will work 90 mins at the start of every day and return for another two and a half hours at the end....cos no one else currently wants to do this ( for minimum wage) .

neitherofthem · 15/03/2023 20:27

You've already increased my state pension age to 67 you bastards, so you can fuck off.

Cantstaystuckforever · 15/03/2023 20:52

MandyMotherOfBrian · 15/03/2023 18:47

And this is where the Tories excel. Divide and conquer.
DoorstoManual is not your enemy and you aren’t hers.
You probably do have a common enemy though, if you only applied some thought…..

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I didn't say OP was my enemy. I did say - and hold to it - that it's not 'light-hearted' about someone making jokes about being 60 and wealthy enough not to ever consider going back to work, when it's an extremely privileged position.

I do, however, feel a large and entirely justified amount of enmity for smug feckers who don't read things properly, then make patronising statements like 'if you only applied some thought' 🙄. I'm a lifelong leftie and this makes me feel like voting for Jacob Rees-Mogg on principle.

SpudleyLass · 15/03/2023 21:30

Dear Jeremy,

I sincerely would love to return to work, even full time.

Its currently not feasible as my 4 yo DD with non verbal ASD and seizure disorder should be at school, but our Local Authority is ignoring my calls and emails.

So I'm at home until that all changes and I don't need to keep fighting for support that will allow my daughter to flourish and for me to return to the workplace.

Bunnyfuller · 15/03/2023 21:59

@MegaManic public service pension: invested at an agreed rate, the boom hello Tories and pensions changed.

JimJammies · 15/03/2023 22:03

Too late for me Jez - I fucked my career when childcare wasn't free and i couldnt continue. So no career to go back to.

whereaw · 15/03/2023 22:18

Dear whoever is in politics,

If your policies don't work exactly for me and my life right now you are a c ** t

Yours truly,
Perpetually bitter

Amboseli · 15/03/2023 22:33

@Hellybelly84 I feel the same. I don't want to give up work, I get so much more from it than the money. I might take some time off to travel but would go back to work after. Don't mind what I do.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 15/03/2023 22:37

I'm a lifelong leftie and this makes me feel like voting for Jacob Rees-Mogg on principle
Erm, ok then. Good luck with that, sounds intelligent and sensible.

Jux · 15/03/2023 22:44

Dear Jeremy, I'm 65 and have been trying to go back to work for nearly 10 years; I am not physically capable of doing more than about 3hrs a day 3 days a week, and I can't do anything physically demanding. I must be placed near a loo and I am not allowed to drive. Sadly, no one wanted to employ an elderly, disabled woman who is so close to retirement. Do you think they might now?

Undisclosedlocation · 16/03/2023 09:08

Dear Jeremy
I had enough money to be retired yesterday. I still have it today.
So no, funnily enough I do not want to exchange my hours of freedom for an employer who expects me to be flexible to a 24/7 schedule, demands the moon on a stick and pays shit wages just so you and all your little friends can get richer and scrape yourselves out of the political wilderness.
Thanks Undisclosed

midgemadgemodge · 16/03/2023 09:29

Dear Jeremy

Your parties choices have significantly contributed to this mess

Don't expect me to clear up after you - I'm not the mother of the Tory party

If I get the chance to retire I will be off like a shot

Yours

Pastadanca · 16/03/2023 09:37

whereaw · 15/03/2023 22:18

Dear whoever is in politics,

If your policies don't work exactly for me and my life right now you are a c ** t

Yours truly,
Perpetually bitter

Haha so accurate

LindyLou2020 · 16/03/2023 09:55

2010Aussie · 15/03/2023 18:33

I work for a local authority and we employ a lot of people over 50 (we even have someone over 70). Shortlisting is based on experience and qualifications as applicants are not required to state their age.

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It's good that applicants for Local Authority jobs aren't required to state their age. I used to work for LAs, and they were pretty hot on equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusivity.
My husband was made redundant 10 years ago aged 58. He worked in the private sector. He could not get another job, and we were convinced it was because of his age.
Even 'though he didn't have to state his age on application forms, every prospective employer asked for your education and work history, including the relevant dates.
So it was very easy to work out how old he was 💁

CountingMareep · 16/03/2023 09:59

Hello Jeremy,

Yes, I work. I have worked since my DCs were in primary school. However I have had to settle for low paid, part-time retail and clerical roles. Thanks to a systematic hollowing out of libraries and cutting of the valuable professional skills of librarians I have not been able to work in the role I trained for. Also, I find myself constantly disadvantaged and discriminated against because of my hearing loss, even though it’s at a level where decent tech will help a lot.

midgemadgemodge · 16/03/2023 10:05

I spent all my life voting for a party that would have increased the taxes I pay
So I don't think that statement is accurate at all

rwalker · 16/03/2023 10:06

You do know it’s not one size fits all and it will help some people
sorry to break it to OP but I don’t think Jeremy had just you in mind when he did this