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.

Hi everyone,

The OP's apologised on the thread (several times now!) for unintentionally offending anyone with her clumsily-worded title. Of course she didn't mean to imply that ALL public sector jobs are cooshy. Or cushy. Or even cushtie.

She's asked if we can edit the title so she doesn't upset anyone else.

Come on, chaps, give her a break! It's Christmas!

Well, thank you dawnMN - that makes a massive difference.
Had that been what was said in the first place, then the responses would have been different.

Dawn have you edited the title?, it still reads like goobledygoop.

My view is if people don't like their job or working conditions try to change job. Also always put yourself in the shoes of others. It sounds like the friend has not done that.
I and my daughters will all be working until the end of 24th and be back at work on Monday (private sector, no overtime, no closure between Christmas and NY) Most of us don't really have lunch breaks at all - just eat the food whilst continuing to work. 4 weeks holiday a year pretty standard.

the OP does seem to have a long list of things that bother her - rich old people, baby boomers and swimming pools that don't open when she wants - maybe she should try meditation

Also OP- you get 28 days holiday, as that is the statutory minimum- it hasn't been 20 for a while now.

What kind of interia [sic] designer are you exactly? B&Q kitchens is it?

O know ghosty, I mean public pools, run by people in cushy public sector jobs- how surprising? Bet they're all off having super-long lunch hours to bother staying open past 5pm

ghostyslovesheep yes she does, ah bless!

Have worked in public sector for eleven years, not had a pay rise for last (almost) six! Never ever get a lunch break. Constantly terrified of losing my job because of some wanker bankers. It's hardly 'coooshy'.

Goodasitgets - I can't finish work early, take a longer lunch break (it would be nice to have one at all, any knd ofbreak in fact), decide what shifts I work, leave at the end of my contracted hours, ever be paid overtime, ever work flexitime, choose whether or not I work at Christmas.
If I did my job in the private sector I would get at least 5 weeks more holiday a year and much more 'cooshy' working conditions.

I don't because I believe in public services free at the point of delivery and it is a really rewarding job. Why anyone thinks public sector jobs are 'cooshy' is beyond me.

The OP clearly thinks they are, however much back- pedalling she is trying now. She has not got a clue. Will be a Tory voter and Daily Mail reader without doubt- if she reads or votes at all

I am off now, sick of her ill- informed rubbish.

I'm PS and I am off from 17th until the 5th

because I only work PT (M/T/W) and have used my annual leave to cover it

I HAD to use leave for the 24th as my office is closed - no choice

I haven't been given these days as a treat - my colleagues will be in work all week except for the bank holidays and the 24th

Look as ex public-sector and quick to anger on behalf of public-sector even I can see that the OP is getting a kicking here. Lay off.

There ARE some jobs like this OP - cushy numbers on great terms and conditions - but they are becoming an endangered species. Your friend may not be so comfy for much longer and then she can join you working in the real world of public sector. She'll get it then :o

I'm not saying I agree with OP - just saying some people don't understand , like a fair few of my friends. They might say ring me on your break, I say I can't, already had it. They say oh just nip for another. Um doesn't work like that!
And it's frustrating to keep trying to explain to them

I take it the OP means 20 days holiday plus statutory holidays, as 28 days is the legal minimum. (Unless she is PT that is)

I don't think I've got a cooshy job at all Op. I think you've just got a shit job and if I were you, I would be looking elsewhere!

YANBU in being irritated that your friend didn't seem to realise that you hadn't got an unlimited amount of lunch break.

Unfortunately, any sort of high ground that you might have previously occupied was immediately cut from under you with your ridiculous comments about "cushy" public sector jobs. You clearly have very little knowledge about working in the public sector nowadays and certainly, I doubt very much that you have a clue about the terms and conditions that prevail in every job at your local town hall either.

Your attempts to dig yourself out of the hole that your ignorant comments landed you in get ever less credible. So please, throw the spade away. Especially since you were clearly wielding it in work time given when you originally posted. Are you paid for posting on MN?

Oh, nonsense. She might have flexi time, but there are loads of redundancies happening in local government at the minute and it is getting rare to get more than statutory minimum payouts. Her holiday is unlikely to be more than about five days more than yours. And if she never does unpaid overtime you can bet she is not well thought of at work, because it bloody well is expected a lot of the time, particularly when lots of your colleagues are being made redundant.

Ah those lucky people with paid holidays. I don't get any or maternity pay or sick pay as work for myself..... There are always others worse off than us though.For employees the minimum for full time workers is indeed now 28 days including the bank holidays (5.6 weeks but that includes the bank holidays too).

Fair enough if you're jealous, but why not do something about it? Work harder and get a better job or, if the public sector is so cushy, get one at the local council. There's nothing worse than a whinger who won't do anything to fix the problem they're so fixated on.

My cousin works in the private sector in London. Earns 55,000+. Package includes private healthcare. Flexi-time. 9-5, no over-time worked. Can work from home 1 day a week. 1hr lunch with expense account. Flies Business Class with job. Very few responsibilities in comparison with me and great holidays. Made redundant from one job- 20yrs ago- got £60,000 redundancy at the time. Employed within weeks at better company. Final salary pension 50% of salary. Bonus every year- minimum 10,000, sometimes 15,000+. He works in insurance and not at particularly high level.

Our Headteacher in a tough 1000+ student comp does not have a job package anywhere near as lucrative and he works 10x as hard with huge responsibility. No perks at all. If he was made redundant - max pay out now would be 30,000. He can not even claim mileage if he drives to a conference 100 miles away. He works 70-80 hr weeks.

There are no public sector jobs at my cousin's level except Chief Execs of Health Authorities and Councils and in the BBC.

As you went to the trouble of altering the title to limit the (justified) rage felt by posters who are public sector workers, why on earth didn't you correct the spelling of 'cooshy', HQ? Its making my eyes bleed.

My cousin works in the private sector in London. Earns 55,000+. Package includes private healthcare. Flexi-time. 9-5, no over-time worked.

That doesn't sound believable / probably a very unique. Don't know anyone in London doing a 9-5 with decent pay, know people in their 20s on not very much that do stupid hours. Must either have a specialised skill set or have a unique job. Saying that unless you bought a house 10+ years ago in London your poor on less than 100k.

Flying business was possible in my company pre 2007, no way now and many companies do the same.

Public sector worker here, no lunch - ever, more often than not no tea break, eight - ten hour days (paid for 7.5), often up at 5 to work before I go in the working till 12 at night. Not so cushy really!

Cant remember the last time I ever had 1 hour for lunch - maybe 20odd years ago when I worked in the private sector now I think about it.

Its not another person's fault you're in such a job. Unpaid overtime? No full lunch break? No flexi? Thats living to work...