AIBU to think people do worse things as part of their job?

[Shockedshell]

An acquaintance recently told me I must be pretty heartless to do my job and she doesnt know how I sleep at night.
I'm a Housing Officer for the Local Authority, part of my role involves instigating enforcement action for tenancy breaches and can ultimately lead to tenants being evicted . I need to convince a Judge to grant a warrant of eviction before I carry one out so not just my decision alone. Most evictions are for rent arrears then ASB and I try very hard to work with people to turn things around first.
I sleep at night because in the case of an ASB eviction I know the local community will have a better quality of life once the perps been evicted. In the case of rent arrears every situations different but I know I work hard to help people but sometimes they still won't treat rent as a priority debt.
So do you do worse things as part of your job? If so how do you sleep at night?

I have had people call me a "greedy sociopath" upon finding out what I do for a living (especially post 2008 crisis). Doesn't affect me to be honest but for people who do get affected by their job the key to it is always compartmentalism.

Do your job with as much kindness as you can, and focus on that. If it really gets to a point where it becomes detrimental to your wellbeing however, then it's time to consider stepping away.

@stopfuckingshoutingatme - no, in the most part you can't turn down criminal work if you are a criminal lawyer.

Barristers work on the "cab rank" principle - if you have capacity & the case come in, you take it. Likewise, duty solicitors (the ones that go to the police stations); if it's your night on call, you are the one to give advice.

As well as defending clients (if pleading not guilty) we make sure they have a fair trial, whatever their plea.

My flatmate is a Personal Injury solicitor at a reputable firm. She loves her job because she truly helps people with life changing injuries ... but she sees some horrific stuff. The only consequence that doesn't sit comfortably/I can't respect is when she reads the Evening Standard to see what awful accidents have happened so she'll know for work. It's hard not to see her as profiting off misery.

I work for a local authority in Adult Social Care finance. Adults pay a contribution towards their care so my job involves collecting money from the most vulnerable people in society. For residential clients this can include the value of their house.

This is a policy set by national government. If I didn't collect this money the Council would not be able to afford, for example, foster carers for abused children.

Letting agents. Don't know how they sleep at night. Lied to us about the damp situation in our place and tried to charge us £90 for an email of our bloody 'tennant's duties'. Cunts.

Police. Hated by everyone. No one wants to see you, that's for sure. Victims might be glad you've turned up, but obviously only because something bad has happened to them. I gave that job up for many reasons, but the bile spouted towards the profession was part of it.

I now work in health and safety, so I'm not any more popular! 😂😂

As for barristers and solicitors - I've met and worked alongside many in my careers, and disliked very few. They have to emotionally distance themselves from their cases. The law is often a matter of a game of chess or othello. And when you take it back to clever arguments, interpretations if the law and legal history, it's utterly fascinating but often sadly unsympathetic towards the victims and witnesses. Making a clever legal point does not always make the victim feel better, but should go towards true and fair justice. In theory.

And I'll think you'll find that where they have abhorrent and guilty clients, they express their opinions to others in the legal profession or ensure justice is somehow served appropriately.

For example, I once had a defence barrister ask in Crown Court whether my idiot CPS appointed barrister had considered a Dangerousness Order against the offender (at a sentencing hearing). Despite my having earlier begged my barrister to ask for one, he said he did not think this case required it. The Court disagreed, knew the offender needed to have such an order and made one. It wouldn't have happened had the Defence not raised the issue. She knew the offender was a violent man with a huge history and ensured this case was heard properly. He got 12 years imprisonment before parole could be considered. Brilliant result, despite the prat appointed to prosecute him.

I do wonder how bailiffs sleep at night to be honest. Not you though, OP

I have to give injections to children. They usually take exception to it.

I hate it. They don't understand that it's for their own good, and the look of betrayal they give me when I've been all smiley and friendly...and then stuck a needle in them...well. It haunts me.

But I also get to give injections to obnoxious, rude, ungrateful adults. Sometimes they are openly racist, sexist or generally offensive in what they think is just chit-chat. I like sticking unnecessarily big needles in them. Makes it all worthwhile. I sleep like a baby on those days.

Ah the badgers

Very interesting re barristers . The one I know is quite intimidating so it's good to know and encouraging

We need good people to do the difficult jobs done we

I also agree re oil and gas , I support that sector at work and agree / re safety and the hypocrisy that energy consumers display

"I sleep at night because in the case of an ASB eviction I know the local community will have a better quality of life once the perps been evicted."

You do an important and necessary job, OP. Even the unpalatable bits make a nett contribution to society. Better a job like this is done well by someone who cares than not at all.

Ignore your rude acquaintance and thank you for your service.

TheBadgers my 7yo DS fights like a tiger every time he has an immunisation and I always feel awful for the nurse doing it. I usually have to pin him down and keep his arm still enough for it to happen. Once he had to be prised out from under the nurse's desk, with me removing his hold from the table leg one finger at a time. So sorry on behalf of mothers like me and

The badgers,

If it's makes you feel any better my 3yo recently forced the nurse who gave her her jabs to have some sweets afterwards and invited her to her party.

20 seconds before she was screaming the roof down,

So it's fairly short lived

My dp is a legal aid defence lawyer and quite often the stories behind the crimes show that really the 'evil' person is also a victim who needs help.