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AIBU?

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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:
OrigamiOwl · 11/12/2023 11:29

Mydogisscratching · 11/12/2023 11:12

That they paid for themselves out of their own pocket.

Show quote history

Yes I know - I'm a boss!

LameyJoliver · 11/12/2023 11:29

I work for the NHS and so far we've had two funded dinners - one from the surgery and one from the dept. Must admit it wasn't expected!

Original poster
OhpoorMe · 11/12/2023 11:30

Public sector policy outside of central gov? Not government then? NHS? Who funds you?

Non profits are completely different

Everywhere has been centrally funded by government so this is public sector isn't it?

OP posts:
susiedaisy1912 · 11/12/2023 11:32

Nhs here. Never had a paid for party or a bonus.

fungibletoken · 11/12/2023 11:32

Poppsidoppsi · 11/12/2023 11:07

I’m NHS and we don’t get a paid-for Christmas party, or bonuses. We got the back pay but that was it. The only real perk of my job is the flexibility with shifts.

Plus very good job security, enhanced pay (e.g. sick and maternity), and pension contributions? Nothing to be sniffed at there!

Chilicabbage · 11/12/2023 11:33

You are not working in public sector....

ChilliPB · 11/12/2023 11:33

I’m in the Civil Service (not central govt) and we get performance related bonuses. Not paid for Christmas parties though - although our Director/Deputy Director have contributed to ours this year (put down a set amount towards it). So agree with you OP - not all public sector jobs have the same conditions.

yepmeagain · 11/12/2023 11:33

I'm PS and used to have parties paid for by bosses, that stopped about 10 years ago. Now we pay for our own.

No bonuses (unless you're very high up), lucky to get a bloody pay rise.

No bottles of wine - we might get a tub of quality street if we're lucky!

LongDarkTeatime · 11/12/2023 11:35

NHS here (Clinical).
I can pay to go for one pub lunch combined with a meeting at Christmas. That’s it.
If I was paid fairly I’d be ok with that. But with the horrendous long term pay erosion, hearing on the news private sector pay rises are higher than inflation again making me jealous …

helpfulperson · 11/12/2023 11:35

It's not that the public sector can't afford Christmas parties. It's that it's not a appropriate use of public money. The same should apply to charities but often doesn't.

Original poster
OhpoorMe · 11/12/2023 11:37

Chilicabbage · 11/12/2023 11:33

You are not working in public sector....

What makes you say that?

OP posts:
Munchyseeds2 · 11/12/2023 11:38

20 years working for the council, never had anything paid for....they did give us an hour to have a christmas lunch a few times I think

murasaki · 11/12/2023 11:38

PTSDBarbiegirl · 11/12/2023 11:17

That's interesting. How are universities funded, I don't know anything about it, thought that the only PS with paid for parties etc was Houses of Commons & Scottish Parliament!

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Fees mostly, as the government cut teaching grants, and most research grants are entirely spent on the project as they are mainly only funded at 80 %. So the estates costs granted have to top up the researcher salaries etc. But we do a yearly budget based on anticipated income, amd both pay and non pay costs. a 2k hospitality budget was deemed fine, and includes not just academic but professional services staff based in the dept too.

murasaki · 11/12/2023 11:40

The party is always held on the University Estate, so not charged, and uses their catering so what goes around comes around as it were.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 11/12/2023 11:40

Well I would hope the public purse wouldn't pay for your Christmas dos. I've always worked in the private sector and haven't always had a bonus/Christmas party/lunch/present paid for by the company. It very much depends.

Tacotortoise · 11/12/2023 11:40

Why should it apply to charities @helpfulperson? Do you not think morale is a thing in the 3rd sector (and certainly not one that is boosted by pay or pensions).

The charity I work for pay a whole £5 per person for our Christmas party, the rest is funded by us.

minsmum · 11/12/2023 11:40

I have worked for a local authority for over 20years, we don't get bonuses, parties or anything. We don't get presents from our boss not as much as a Christmas card

MissyB1 · 11/12/2023 11:40

Nearly 30 years NHS and Dh is still working for NHS. Between us 50 years! Never had a single meal or drinks party paid for, never had a bonus. They wouldn’t piss on us if we were on fire tbh!

TheKeatingFive · 11/12/2023 11:41

Perks - a few, yes. An OK pension

In fairness, if you have a direct benefit pension, that's a LOT more than ok, compared to the alternatives out there.

CormorantStrikesBack · 11/12/2023 11:41

DappledThings · 11/12/2023 11:05

I've always worked in universities. Always been some paid for parties on site but never anything paid for off site. So would never have a meal in a restaurant paid for (like the thread I suspect started this one where OP's husband paid for his team).

That's not public sector.

Tacotortoise · 11/12/2023 11:42

Oh and I've worked for various public sector organisations in the past and never saw a bonus or any sort of Christmas party.

CormorantStrikesBack · 11/12/2023 11:43

I worked for the nhs for over 15 years. Never had a paid for party or bonus. Had to buy my own thermometer and stethoscope to be able to do observations. Always had to buy my own pens. Had to buy staples for the ward so we could staple discharge papers together. Always had to buy own tea, coffee......I think milk might be provided actually.

ThePoshUns · 11/12/2023 11:44

I've worked in the public sector ( Police) for 30 years. Never had a paid for anything!
Any buffets / gifts from managers ( direct line managers, never the seniors) are paid for out of their own pocket.
Also not allowed to accept any gifts such as chocolate or biscuits off the public either .

Oganesson118 · 11/12/2023 11:44

I’m in the private sector and we don’t get a Christmas party or bonus or perks (well for the third you might but it’s low value, like a £25 voucher and it’s just a recognition for top performers)

I work for a bank though so if we did get anything, we’d just get slated in the press so I guess it’s to avoid that.

Floralsofa · 11/12/2023 11:47

fungibletoken · 11/12/2023 11:32

Plus very good job security, enhanced pay (e.g. sick and maternity), and pension contributions? Nothing to be sniffed at there!

Show quote history

Plenty of private companies offer equal or better maternity/sick pay.

The pension has also been watered down over the years.

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