To take a job with the DWP even though I will lose friends

[Sunsnet]

I currently work a minimum wage job in retail. It's long hours, exhausting and for really shitty money. Sometimes I earn less than minimum wage as I'm salaried and not entitled to overtime.

I've just been offered a job with the DWP. I'll earn 50% more, have a WAY better pension plus more benefits. I'll even be able to work fewer hours so I can spend more time with my family and STILL be better off than now. BUT, I have friends who think the DWP is immoral and by working for them I will be implicit in that immorality.

I agree that the way the DWP works at the moment is immoral, but surely we need good people to work there to ensure that people who need the help and are entitled to it actually get it. Or am I just clutching at straws to justify my position?

I have one friend in particular who says they will never speak to me again if I take the job. This friend is independently wealthy and never needs to work again, I am not. I do not own property, have a family to support, I'm a single parent and I have no qualifications so have no hope of a better job.

Would I really be that awful a person to sell out and take this job?

YANBU definitely take the job xx

I would rather put the needs of my children before my friends. So yes, definitely take it!

They aren't really a friend are they.

Change jobs, don't tell your friends. Enjoy the better money and pension.

I work for a public sector organisation that often gets a very bad press, and people tend to have a very stereotyped view of us. Most of us are perfectly normal, nice people, nothing like the stereotype.

Losing friends like those should be an added incentive to take the job

Definitely take the job. Tell your friend that if he prefers he can just pay you the salary you could earn at DWP and you’ll be available for him to pontificate and lecture at.

Get new friends

They sound weird

Take the job

Is it HMRC? I have friends who work for hmrc they are perfectly normal people hahahaa

Def take the job, I hate these trustafarians with ‘ideals’ about how YOU should keep body and soul together.

I have one friend in particular who says they will never speak to me again if I take the job.

I would say that person isn't your friend.
I would also say that there is nothing immoral about working for the DWP.

Is your friend jealous perhaps that you are improving your circumstances?

Good luck

I dislike the DWP and the way they are run. But I would never put a friend in that position or threaten to end our friendship over this! That isn't a good friend. The answer is basically - yes I agree morally with the negativity associated with DWP but I am prepared to sacrifice that to look after my family. I need the money and can't afford to be moral right now.

It’s a job. It’s better for paid and better hours. I’m guessing more opportunities and a better chance of progression? You would be stupid not to take it.

Congratulations.

Take the job. Your independently wealthy friend who doesn't have to work is not a friend if they would see you and your family worse off.

The DWP isn't immoral by the way, it just carries out government policy.

Wonder who your loaded mate votes for?

Good luck in your new job!
Take it, they wouldn't think twice in your shoes.

Take the job.
it’ll be fine and you will be better off without such ‘friends’

Your friend is talking shit, go for it and be proud of it.

OMG it's a no brainer! Take the job and get less judgey friends!!

Cheeky bastards! Are they going to pay your bills and feed your children? If not then they don’t get an opinion! How dare they! As you can tell I am outraged on your behalf

Its a job, you aren't going to be setting government policy.
Take it, get better friends.

Take the job! Christ I can't believe people have such strong opinions on where their friends work! Wow

Take the job- do what's right for your family.
You will probably find you are constrained by procedures and may only be able to make limited difference but kindness and empathy can go a long way.
Your friend who has financial security without working has no idea what it's like to walk in your shoes- a real friend would understand.

The real question is "could you actually live with yourself if you did? "
I am sorry, but you would need a heart of stone to do what those people do to a lot of vulnerable people. I certainly couldn't maintain a friendship with anyone who chose to work for them.

@Sunsnet
Take the new job and dump the friends. Your first loyalty is to you and your kids.

These idiots are not your friends. Imagine judging someone for taking a new job to better their situation. Take the job and congratulations on it! You can always make new friends