people with cooshy jobs that don't get I have to work unpaid overtime, can't just take flexi days and only have 20 days holiday [title edited by MNHQ]

[twoopsie]

Just got back from a shit lunch meeting a friend. Takes 15 mins to walk there and only have a hour lunch break that I have to be back by. She was late so I just had a juice and raced back to the office. Spent maybe 10 mins with her.

She doesnt understand that I can't just take a super long lunch, that I can't do felxi time and have to be in work 5 days a week. Was also saying she couldn't see why I'm working Xmas eve and nye, when I have to as only get 20 days. Shes found it strange that I do any overtime without getting paid, when its just something you have to do, I don't love it either. Then she doesn't understand that I have to keep my performance up as if it slips, I'm out with 150 quid per year worked. No five / six figure payout!

I know some public sector jobs are run more like this these days,but not hers in the local town hall.

Sorry just having a rant, sleep deprived and sometimes feel like she's rubbing it in my face.

I know lots of public sector workers, I am a public sector worker, and I know nobody who has cushy conditions as you describe. I would love a full hour for lunch !

YANBU for feeling annoyed or fed up.
YABU for taking out your job hate on 'people with cooshy public sector jobs'

So one friend who doesn't have the ability to think beyond the end of we nose, and doesn't have a job that is representative by any means of all public sector jobs, and your job and company that isn't representative of all private sector jobs, and this is your conclusion?

I'm sorry that your friend is being so unsupportive and useless though, and that you're totally sleep deprived, it sounds shit. Blah it all out here and we'll give you sympathy and virtual ups of tea [tea]

Ahem

Your friend should obviously have more understanding, but YAB totally U to attribute it to being in a so-called cushy public sector job. There are many public sector jobs that involve a whole lot more pressure than just having to take a rigid lunch hour and unpaid overtime, and there are many cushy private sector jobs.

It's one person. Not everyone in public sector jobs thinks like this or has those working conditions.

When I worked in the private sector in various jobs I could take two hours for lunch if I wanted, I just needed to work later to make up the hours. We had core hours that we had to be in the office for, everything else was flexible.

Don't think it's a private/public sector thing, just a crap employer/reasonable employer thing.

Wha?

Sorry OP. I understand you are upset with someone, but not why cooshy [sic] public sector workers are to blame for your having a shit friend!

YANBU to be annoyed that she was late and inconsiderate. YABU to label a whole sector as being cushy!

You're right. Teachers and nurses (and many other people in cushy public sector work) always take an hour lunch, never stay longer than contacted hours to catch up on paperwork or help out colleagues and always get paid for the extra hours they put in. I haven't a clue why people are leaving these profession in droves...

Too right, Kitt! I'm a teacher and I love my long lunch hour.

An hour is twenty minutes, right?

Sorry I'm not labeling all public sector workers with that, I'm only talking about the ones that do I know that many/most don't thesedays. Tried to say this in the last bit of my op.

You obviously don't understand how flexi time works OP.

Blimey. You mean I dreamt all those 12 hr night shifts that I had to skip my breaks because I was needed and all that unpaid overtime that staff end up working was a figment of my imagination? That was in between the abuse, insults and occasional assaults. Why don't you apply for one of those cooshy jobs that seem to exist?

I'm public sector, and don't get any of that - and a 40 min lunch that if I run over with a meeting is more like 10/20 mins!

Lol, I haven't had a pay rise in 5 years! 'Cooshy' indeed.

OP the answer is simple:

If those in the public sector have it so much better than you then get a public sector job.

I recommend teaching as its sssssssoooooooooooo easy

Again I am only talking about local town hall jobs, didn't realise my title was so loaded. Obviously their are cooshy jobs and non cooshy ones, I wasn't suggesting that all PS work is cooshy

Oh dear- if your friend thinks she has it like that in the public sector she will be disappointed. I've worked in it for 25 years now. Standard national conditions are 20 days leave rising to 25 after 5 years. The government will not allow big redundancy pay outs (think about it - they need to save money) so you get the statutory rate as everyone else in the country. I have never ever been paid overtime and I have done lots of it. Some staff can work flexibly but many can't as they need to be available at set times. There is similar pressure with targets etc and I could paper my house in the redundancy letters I've received- it's been a constant threat. I would say the contracted hours are often better than private sector (but you rarely work those) and the sickness policies are often more understanding (but with redundancy always looming you are really risking it if you have to take sick time). Overall I like being in the public sector but it is not cushy in my experience.

PS I'd be pissed off too, particularly if she often messes you around.

no longer doing my 'Cushy' public sector job, as could not do the hours expected or ever get my flexi back, get reports in on time without working through the night.
Or pick DS up on time who incidentally didn't sleep. I ended up so tired I was hallucinating.

If she can take a longer lunch break, and she is late, then next time tell her to come to nearer you and text on the way (or even when she's there if it's next door). Don't just blame the entire public sector.

And btw I don't understand how your job works either if you're out with £150 per year worked if your performance slips.

YABU. I work in the public sector and I never have a "super long lunch", in fact I rarely have lunch break an hour. It is prejudice like yours that continues to give the public sector such a poor image. You have an hour for lunch? You don't find that in the public sector now. Oh, and most people I know at work stay well beyond their contracted hours and, no, there is no overtime paid.