Real life pay cut to join NHS

[Poppysmom22]

So I have been offered an NHS role which on paper is equivalent pay (works out the same hourly rate) but because of the higher rate pension deduction and slightly less hours I will be approx £150pcm less actual cash in my pocket am I mad to consider this or is it a small sacrifice now for better pension later. What would you do?
Just FYI I have a nice job with reasonable conditions hybrid etc all the same and I don't need to leave.

Depends if you can afford it, do you need to pay to park too ?
£150 is a week’s food to me.

Totally dependent on the job role but be aware that working in the nhs compared to working in the private sector for example are unlikely to be comparative roles in terms of workload. The system is stretched and almost everyone does unpaid hours.

As someone who works in private healthcare, I would like my NHS pension back, but I would not go back to working in the hospital.

Depends if that £150 is make or break for you? I have worked in the NHS all of my career, 25 years now, as well as the pension I also have a generous annual and sick leave allowance. Just be aware the pension scheme is not a generous as it used to be but is still considered to be very good.

Well it depends on a few things.

what’s your current pension like? Is it reasonable or are you worried about retirement?
are you young enough for a change to pension to make a difference?
how much do you need this £150
would you be starting on the bottom of a pay band and having increments every year?
would you lose your hybrid working and if so does that matter?
would you have more commuting costs?

As the poster above said, the NHS role will come with an impossible workload and they will most likely add to it every year. Also compare whatyour private sector pay and NHS pay will be in 5 years time. Nhs salaries don't rise the same way as private sector pay.

The system is stretched and almost everyone does unpaid hours.

In 25 years this hasn't been my experience at all, if I work over I either get paid for it or take it as TOIL.

And also what are the actual two jobs like, which one do you think would be more enjoyable?
the nhs might send you mad even if not front line. Full of bureaucratic policies, often short staffed. Colleagues going on long term sick at the drop of a hat.

What's fun is you'll get a real terms pay cut each year too 😎

I wouldn't, I would only leave for less money if I was very unhappy in my current role.

Fair enough. I am likely to have a biased view, in 13 years I’ve never done a job role which has not involved unpaid overtime but like I said it depends on the job role I guess

All depends on the role and the level. Operations you will absolutely do unpaid overtime unless you're extremely lucky. Clinical staff seem to either stick to their hours or get pay/toil until they reach band 8a.

Also depends on the team you work in and what you want from a job

How old are you and what's your current pension provision?

Does your current employer contribute 20%plus to your pension contributions? That clinched it for me, moving back to the NHS.

So I currently have
a very heavy workload - colleague not replaced
no holiday cover but not the kind of role that stops if you aren't there
sick pay is ssp
pension is 5% employer contribution
retain hybrid
Currently do more hours than paid weekly
Current role has no progression pathway
Been there a while and I'm a bit bored because it's easy
I don't 'need' the £150
Payrises have been total crap for last 5yrs
Office politics backstabbing is rife as we continually change upper management
Commuting costs same
Free parking at both
NHS is band pay starting at bottom
Currently no job security - go through redundancy process every couple of years.
so much is comparable that I'm really stuck

Yes, I’d go for it.

Then I’d go for it. Current job doesn’t sound great. You will progress through the nhs pay band.

Tbh it's the pension that's the attraction I've got 20+ years left to work by my private pension is not great because I didn't start until compulsory came in. Also private pension could run out whereas NHS is for life. But then I drop dead long before pension age and it'll all be moot anyway

How much will you get extra in your pension in one year? If it’s 20% employer contributions that could be a huge amount. There will be an election next year and the new govt is likely to invest in the nhs - not saying that will fix anything but it might inject a bit of optimism into the system

Following with interest as I have a similar decision to make!

@Dalhoussie maybe we will be colleagues 😁

😊

In your circumstances, go for it. Good luck!

Thanks all for the responses I just needed to talk to out with people who have no skin in the game 😀i am excited about the role tbh and it looks like something I would enjoy.

Can you work at home for NHS or is it completely on site? That may be a factor if you value flexibility.

but I am sure you will be offered to work extra hours so you can more than make up £150 per month.

sick will be better which matters more as you get older plus pension.

also usually god training opportunities and career development.