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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"Public sector - so no"

353 replies

OhpoorMe · 11/12/2023 11:00

Anyone else get quite frustrated seeing this on threads about Christmas parties/ bonuses / staff perks etc

The public sector isn't one homogenous organisation. I've only ever worked in PS organisations and have always had a paid for staff party, sometimes bonuses, sometimes perks etc.

It's not a given that public sector = badly treated!

OP posts:
Hitshow · 12/12/2023 17:11

I’ve never understood the fascination with working all your life to just get a good pension. My mum was an advocate of this too.

Mumof2teens79 · 12/12/2023 17:12

Private sector but not sales/profit orientated.
We get £20 toward a meal with colleagues organised within teams. We do have a contractual bonus scheme although it's performance related and rarely amounts to much more than 3%.
No other "perks"....and we don't "finish for xmas" as a 24/7 organisation you are lucky if you get the bank holidays off.

BIossomtoes · 12/12/2023 17:14

Hitshow · 12/12/2023 17:11

I’ve never understood the fascination with working all your life to just get a good pension. My mum was an advocate of this too.

You will when you reach retirement age. We definitely appreciate the pensions we paid were now benefiting from.

Mumof2teens79 · 12/12/2023 17:17

Hitshow · 12/12/2023 17:11

I’ve never understood the fascination with working all your life to just get a good pension. My mum was an advocate of this too.

Really?
What will you live on without a pension?

Zombiezee · 12/12/2023 17:19

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Hobbesmanc · 12/12/2023 17:24

I've moved from private to public sector recently. Pay is less of course. But public sector work life balance is hugely better. Support. Wfh. Flexi time. Pensions.

I certain,y don't miss the boozed soaked Christmas dos in mid range hotels and conference centres. The cheap hampers etc.

We've had a nice meal after work paid for ourselves. There's a bring a buffet dish and secret Santa lunch next week. We get an extra days half holiday and can use flexi hours to extend the Christmas break.

Ibizabar · 12/12/2023 17:25

Can you imagine the outcry if every public sector worker was given a christmas bonus and a paid for party? People bang on enough now about local councils wasting money.

I've worked for the local council for 25 years and have never had a paid for party or a bonus.

VanGoghsDog · 12/12/2023 17:27

Hitshow · 12/12/2023 17:11

I’ve never understood the fascination with working all your life to just get a good pension. My mum was an advocate of this too.

Not really a fascination, more a necessity.

Yesyoucant · 12/12/2023 17:28

Gingernaut · 11/12/2023 11:04

I've only ever worked in PS organisations and have always had a paid for staff party, sometimes bonuses, sometimes perks etc.

Where the fuck do you work?

Are they hiring?

I have never had a Christmas 'do' in a PS job or bonuses

Yes, this!

Peablockfeathers · 12/12/2023 17:38

Hitshow · 12/12/2023 17:11

I’ve never understood the fascination with working all your life to just get a good pension. My mum was an advocate of this too.

Because its a brilliant safety blanket. If I die before retirement age it'll still pay out a life changing sum to my DS. The employer contributions for me are much better than any savings account, and i have no desire to work in the private sector to earn more so won't make the difference up in better wages. Lots of people don't understand pensions and assume its a few quid when you retire.

To the OP I've never known any actual public sector employees as in NHS, civil service etc have a paid meal.

Aishah231 · 12/12/2023 17:57

I imagine you're quite high up the food chain OP!

TarkaDalOtter · 12/12/2023 18:05

I have worked in the NHS for 30 years and have never had even a glass of orange paid for. No Christmas party, and of course no bonus. At the end of the pandemic, they agreed to give the ward staff some tea and coffee free of charge.

I have actually never minded though. It is taxpayers’ money going towards the NHS and they are paying for healthcare, not my party. The pension is the light at the end of the tunnel that keeps me going.

Gingernaut · 12/12/2023 18:09

TarkaDalOtter · 12/12/2023 18:05

I have worked in the NHS for 30 years and have never had even a glass of orange paid for. No Christmas party, and of course no bonus. At the end of the pandemic, they agreed to give the ward staff some tea and coffee free of charge.

I have actually never minded though. It is taxpayers’ money going towards the NHS and they are paying for healthcare, not my party. The pension is the light at the end of the tunnel that keeps me going.

This

But fuck with the pension and I'm not the only one who'll walk.

That would be the final straw.

neverbeenskiing · 12/12/2023 18:09

My DH works in the private sector. Their work Christmas party is in a 5*hotel. Three course meal, entertainment, a free bar all night and the company pays for anyone who wants to (plus their partner) to stay overnight and have breakfast the next day. They also get a Christmas bonus.

As someone who works in a school, when I witness this kind of extravagance of course I'm struck by the disparity. How could I not be? We're having to fundraise to carry out essential repairs and having serious conversations about whether we can remain open to all year groups 5 days a week without letting TA's go, so treating staff to a party or gift is out of the question.

That doesn't mean I think I'm "badly treated". I feel supported, valued and listened to in my role and I certainly don't think taxpayers should be funding our Christmas party. But I do think some people who have never worked in the public sector have no idea and there are a lot of myths (including on this thread) about us all having a cushy time of it. For example the posters insisting that all public sector workers have great pensions in comparison to the private sector. I can assure you that's not the case across the board! DH gets a much better pension deal than I do, and it was the same in his last role which was also private sector but in a completely different industry.

daffodilandtulip · 12/12/2023 19:00

TarkaDalOtter · 12/12/2023 18:05

I have worked in the NHS for 30 years and have never had even a glass of orange paid for. No Christmas party, and of course no bonus. At the end of the pandemic, they agreed to give the ward staff some tea and coffee free of charge.

I have actually never minded though. It is taxpayers’ money going towards the NHS and they are paying for healthcare, not my party. The pension is the light at the end of the tunnel that keeps me going.

When I worked in the NHS I would have felt the same, had there not been constant black tie events for management. There's still a constant stream of photos on social media of awards nights, celebrations and parties. None for the actual staff who do the work though.

NHS pension isn't that amazing either, considering how much you pay in.

ginoohginoginelli · 12/12/2023 19:11

@Heyhoherewegoagain yes 67 is the state pension age. You can only get the full NHS pension from 67 as its in line with the stage pension age. So you may be able to retire at 61 because you've paid into your LA pension since you were 21. That's not an option for me. I have to wait till 67. (Well I could retire at 61 but my pension would be reduced accordingly)

ginoohginoginelli · 12/12/2023 19:13

It's was also the case until recently that part time staff paid in pension contributions based on full time hours. That only changed this year. So my contributions have been proportionally higher then my full time colleagues. Which is pretty crap when you think about it.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 12/12/2023 19:23

ginoohginoginelli · 12/12/2023 19:11

@Heyhoherewegoagain yes 67 is the state pension age. You can only get the full NHS pension from 67 as its in line with the stage pension age. So you may be able to retire at 61 because you've paid into your LA pension since you were 21. That's not an option for me. I have to wait till 67. (Well I could retire at 61 but my pension would be reduced accordingly)

has That changed recently? My mum received hers at 57

Whichever union agreed to that needs shot!

BIossomtoes · 12/12/2023 19:29

Heyhoherewegoagain · 12/12/2023 19:23

has That changed recently? My mum received hers at 57

Whichever union agreed to that needs shot!

Edited
Show quote history

It must have changed very recently. My NHS pension was payable at 60, I didn’t claim it until I was 63 and I not only got the full whack but it was backdated to my 60th birthday. That was six years ago.

ginoohginoginelli · 12/12/2023 19:41

@BIossomtoes yes there have been changes over the last few years, both the the nhs pension and state pension. Which is what I'm trying to explain. Once upon a time it was really good. Now not so much.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 12/12/2023 19:47

ginoohginoginelli · 12/12/2023 19:41

@BIossomtoes yes there have been changes over the last few years, both the the nhs pension and state pension. Which is what I'm trying to explain. Once upon a time it was really good. Now not so much.

I just did a quick google and see what you’re saying, that’s in relation to the 2015 scheme, so presumably there will be a taper for this depending on when you joined…it sounds like it’s similar to the way that police pensions changed for people who joined after 1997…the effects have been tapered for some officers, whilst others have been completely shafted by it

fetchacloth · 12/12/2023 19:59

I used to work in a secondary school and there were no paid for parties there ever.

SALWARP2023 · 12/12/2023 20:07

I think public sector should get treated the same as the private sector but this not only includes bonuses and meals etc, but also terms of employment such as only receivng statutory sick pay rather than the 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay. Plus eliminating the enhanced maternity pay the public sector enjoy. And employers only contributing 5% towards pensions rather than the 20 to 29% public sector workers enjoy. Just a thought to those poor public employees!

SALWARP2023 · 12/12/2023 20:08

It is compared to private sector. Look it up!

Heyhoherewegoagain · 12/12/2023 20:28

SALWARP2023 · 12/12/2023 20:07

I think public sector should get treated the same as the private sector but this not only includes bonuses and meals etc, but also terms of employment such as only receivng statutory sick pay rather than the 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay. Plus eliminating the enhanced maternity pay the public sector enjoy. And employers only contributing 5% towards pensions rather than the 20 to 29% public sector workers enjoy. Just a thought to those poor public employees!

Yup, because the race to the bottom in eroding employee rights is always a great plan!