Are we morally obliged to work ?

[Justthisonce12]

630,000 economically inactive people in the UK not claiming benefits. Early retiree’s I guess.

Hunt plans to tackle this and encourage work force participation to allow businesses to grow. ie cheap labour I presume ? But also preventing a brain drain.

Will be interesting to see how he plans to address this.

I’m in this category as a SAHM. I’m also a carer to my parents.

I know a few of those. Working cash in hand!

There’s nothing he could do to encourage me I to a full time job. Having said that, I am economically active as I do a couple of days most weeks as a supply teacher. I won’t be doing more, either in schools or elsewhere.

If someone can legitimately fund themselves without claiming support from the state, then why should they be forced to work?

I am in this category. Am a SAHM also having EMDR for CPTSD. I assume it will have to be carrot led as the group doesn’t claim benefits.

Well, some people need to work to support the system. And those who can't work. That's the way even the most basic societies work.

Preumsably though, people who have retired have done a fair bit of work and are (again presumably) supporting themselves in their choices. Also working to support a scoiety doesn't necessarily mean paid work.

It's a tough one.

If they aren't claiming benefits what levers is he planning to use to encourage them to work?

It’s almost like they need a large influx of working aged people

The 600,000 people he was talking about was those on UC wasn't it? According to BBC.

The two people that I know are carers for a parent.

I’m an earlyish retiree (aged 58 three years ago) and nothing would tempt me back to the workplace. I claim no benefits and won’t get state pension for another 6 years at least.

Just been made redundant, am job hunting. Too much in savings to claim benefits.

I'm doing what I can, Jezza.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of them are SAHMs whose partner earns too much for them to be entitled to claim benefits, but childcare costs too much for them to be able to work.

I think we’re morally obliged to provide for ourselves financially if we can. I think we have a moral obligation, if we expect to benefit from the NHS, the education system, and the welfare state generally, to contribute via taxation if we can or via other methods if we cannot.

I think there are a lot of early retirees who think or feel as though they’ve earned their keep and thus the right to sit back and claim their pension, when the reality is that the tax and NI they paid during their lifetimes didn’t even cover the services they and their family used, let alone decades of a state pension. Which isn’t an attitude I’ve much time for.

I don’t work or claim benefits.

I wouldn’t mind a part time job, preferably from home…

I have had to turn off the radio so I stop shouting at the cunt - considering the utter drivel and lies he's spouting it's a wonder the ground doesn't open up and swallow him. The sheer insult to all our intelligence is breathtaking.

People who happen to be living in a particular society aren't units of labour available to work as the state sees fit.

Those who don't work or don't work much, and don't need the state for income, are only going to be incentivised by the fundamentals changing. It becoming worthwhile to work. That could look like people no longer being able to afford their labour market choices, or jobs becoming more appealing, or some combination of the two. Nothing else is going to do it and appeals to principle won't.

Personally I work, but part time, and have zero intention of working as much as I could. This is very affordable for my household, not funded by top up benefits so the coercive opportunities are limited, and if anyone suggested there's a moral obligation to work more, the response would be derisory laughter.

We aren’t obliged to work, but we are obliged to be self sufficient if we are fit and healthy and an age where working is possible. But if people can support themselves without working through family money or whatever, then good for them.

I think this too. I didn’t hear him say they’d be giving non working people who don’t claim work coaches ? That would have to be entirely voluntary and probably completely pointless. I think he said that those on UC would have to meet more often with a work coach, perhaps they will change the exemption you have when you have under 3 year olds? It wasn’t too clear.

This.

I haven’t worked since I was 32. A combination of high income when I was younger, inheritance and then subsequently disabilities means I won’t work again - I’m 42 now. It doesn’t mean I don’t contribute to society, I advise on various health related forums and am involved with charities. I really hate the way we judge people in our society by their earnings and career.

Well if work wasn't so demoralising and exhausting and peoples health was better perhaps more people would like to work?

The Tory's have allowed the health of the nation to decline , so older people and long covid people are wrecked and often acting as a care service because the care service has vanished

And I recall things like tea breaks when I started work , work life balance , whereas now it's drive you to the ground

And I recall things like EU citizens working for a better life over here

You reap what you sow

My fear is that they know this so the only option is force - screwing pensions and saving

With the bonus it will shorten life span so reducing social and nhs costs long term

Me and you would definitely get on! 😁

I don’t work, but claim PIP, because I’m disabled. I’d love to work though, I get very bored and lonely at home.

DH works, he always has. He earns quite a lot, and has a military pension, so pays a lot of tax. It’s always been important to us that he’s carried on working for as long as possible so we’ve got lots of adaptations around the house and in the car so I can be independent.

So if people can fund themselves for example they got an inheritance or a cash win they should still go out to work? Because if I didn’t need the money I bloody well wouldn’t!

What is the point, if these people don't need state support but can fund themselves - it's none of Hunt's business.

He would be better focusing efforts on removing whatever barriers there are to people on UC getting back into the workplace, where this is feasible.