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.

Yes I do think some public sector workers do take their very generous terms and conditions for granted and haven't got a clue what some people in private industry have to put up with. But on the other hand they aren't very well paid and often have to deal with a very demanding hostile public.

If anyone is to blame it is your employer who expects you to do unpaid overtime or at the very least not allow you to claim the time back.

When I worked in the public sector I rarely had a lunch break. In the third sector now my lunch break is half an hour when I get to take it.
I don't think most people would have the luxury of making arrangements for lunch involving such a distance to walk there and back.
Perhaps your irritation should be directed at your friend not having the manners to be on time.
And, of course, most people these days are under threat of redundancy and subject to performance management, and that includes the public sector.

Well as a teacher, would someone enlighten me as to what a luch hour is?

I spend mine marking books and helping kids. I wouldn't have time to go out and meet anyone

Oh I see more posts. I am talking about town hall jobs by the way. Teachers and nhs is a given you don't get great conditions but honestly it's not how you think in the town hall.

Cushy Public Sector NHS body here.

I don't get a lunch hour (IIRC it's 40 minutes ) but I am always busy through it anyway.
The Great General Public doesn't see why they shouldn't be seen if they are late -after all, they are always sitting waiting for us aren't they?
In my last week I had four late ( and by that I mean completely missing the entire appointment period) patients.

They will ask something important as they are leaving when they've had 20 minutes to ask or start telling me something that I can't say "Oh Dear that's a shame, well off you go now" and usher them out.

I have to do everything the same day as I work PT so can't catch up two days later.

I'm meant to finish at 4.30, never happens.
Oh and don't forget - Pay Freeze. Later retirement. Increased pension contribution but less pension.

And I pay my Membership (which covers my insurance) plus State Registration to allow me to work in the NHS.

And when people say "I pay your wages" I pay tax. I pay to work here.

Cushy? Yeah right

And when I say a given - I just mean people understand it to be so, not that it should be like that!!

A whole hour for lunch!!! I can only dream.

Oh yes, travel expenses cut and we have to park like any other motorist and carry our bags. (sometimes a heck of a long way)

Although in the interests of balance you generally get decent union recognition which does mean you have a bit more clout in terms of how you are treated. I think that can help in some jobs.

local council jobs here only have stat minimum holiday?
you can use flexitime tho to 'bank' hours
a lot of private sector jobs have flexitime
maybe its just your company is a bit crap?

Maybe find a new job then? Or study harder and qualify for a job with better working conditions.

Another loaded thread that is clearly going to be YABU. Yawn.

If you work full time, you're legally entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday a year aren't you?

An hour lunch! Try driving between clinics in your lunch 30 minutes after squeezing extra patients in! Its very common to work through lunch.

Wow, I have worked in the public sector all my life and have never had cushy hour long lunches and flexi time.
I do t I is about how Town Halls work but it certainly wouldn't happen at my local council where feelings are running very high at the moment,...staff even have to clock in and out when they go to the loo! Where does your friend work, the local council workers would love her job

You're only working Xmas eve and nye?? Dont you work Xmas day and New Years day then like so many thousand cushy public sector workers including myself?

I trained as a teacher (but came to my senses). I have subsequently worked in both public and private sector and can honestly say that although I now have what is known in the private sector as a "nice" job, in my experience the public sector generally (I am not talking about nurses or teachers BTW but office work) was much easier.

There is of course a false perception on both sides. I work in finance but I don't get a great bonus, a magnificent Xmas present, long lunches or very much of an expense account (and on the rare occasions I do claim on expenses I have to justify it all - no receipts, no money.) We have only just been advised we can have flexi time but most of the jobs we do wouldn't allow it very often. I also don't have a union to help me if I get shafted and all the difficult bosses I have had have all been in the private sector - they wouldn't get away with such behaviouir in the public one.

I have had one (less than inflationary) pay rise in 4 years and my pension is crap thanks to Gordon Brown. I get less holiday and my salary is only fractionally ahead of what I would be getting if I'd stayed in the public sector, where my friends still are.

It works both ways and depends on exactly what you do in each sector, rather than just which sector you are in.

YABU. I work in the public sector, I am not allowed to leave work in my lunch break, on the rare occasion that I get one. Day off are getting harder and harder to get due to ever declining staffing levels, and I will be working all over Christmas. If however what you meant was "AIBU to think my friend could be more sympathetic and understand that I do not have the same freedoms she does?" then YANBU!

That'll be the cushy public sector that hasn't had a pay rise for the last 5+ years will it?

The one where I work 8.45 - 3 without a lunch break and only get half an hour on the full day I work?

Where my colleague is forced to use a week's worth of annual leave next week because we are closed for a holiday she doesn't actually celebrate?

I get that you're pissed off, but tbh all jobs have a downside. I used to work term time only, DH still does. Obviously 13 weeks holiday a year is great, but there's no flexibility when you can take it, you can miss loads of your kids school events and have to pay top whack for holidays and can never go on a day out somewhere without it being heaving because you can't choose to go at a quieter time.

Grass is always greener...

Erm I very rarely get a lunch hour even though I have to put at least half an hour down - flexi time isn't free - you have to work it over your contracted hours and then have it back so basically they don't have to pay you overtime - most people in my line of work make up far more flexi than they ever claim back. We be had about 1% payrise in 6 years, never had a bonus, Christmas do paid for. I was promised incremental rise of my wages - after 9 years I'm still near the bottom after it has been stopped time after time. Pensions not what they used to be and I'm doing a job that two people used to do.

Added to that I have some part in public protection - knowing how grateful you are really gives me a warm fuzzy feeling like it will all the nurses and fire service and police working Christmas Day. I totally get it's my choice to work there and I can leave if I don't like it but we can all do without the 'cooshy' comments thanks.

No not U at all OP

I am a public sector worker and regularly work 7.30- 6, rarely take a lunch break, am not allowed to leave the site I work on without management permission ( even during lunch) and get paid for 32.5 hrs per week however many more I work. My pension contributions have increased by £100+ permonth in the last year and I well get less and have to work 7 years longer. I can't work flexi time.

Stop moaning at public sector workers.

Just thinking - I have a 'cushy public sector' friend. Works in central government and does get a lot of the perks people often attribute to the whole of the public sector - flexi, 6 weeks leave, pension (although will be contributing more these days) etc. The difference is with her is that she's considerate, so would make lunch arrangements sensibly, not be late, and be mindful of my annual leave allowance and not making insensitive remarks.

In short, your friend is just an arse, it's not the fault of the 'public sector'.

Our staff have to use their leave because the building is closed over the holiday period- no choice.
No bonuses ever, no over-time ever, 1% pay rise in last 6 yrs. Staff who work term time only just means they get paid less because your pay is divided up to pay you all yea round- so you get less every month to make sure you are paid everymonth. You don'tget paid for school holidays as such.
Sick of hearing whinges about public sector workers. Try working in a hospital, school or for a local council- under constant threat of redundancy due to government cuts to public services. You know nowt about it and you are talking out of your backside.
Happy Christmas.