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?

I have worked I. The DWP for 32 years.. it was called the DHSS back then ..

I work at the sharp end .. fraud ::

I am a Socialist

I Absolutely believe in the welfare state:
We should be there to help the
Sick
Disabled
Carers
Unemployed

What we need to police are people scamming it

Anyone saying you are wrong for taking this job are benefit scammers scarred you will call their shitty behaviour out

Why do they think the DWP are immoral? I honestly can't think of why they would?

Did you miss the number of times I've specifically mentioned the PIP department?

Take the job, you don’t have to do it forever, but it may open the door to other areas of the public sector. This person is not your friend - if they were, they’d be delighted that you have this brilliant opportunity to improve your prospects and make a career. Tell them you’re taking the job, and they can take their threats and swivel.

Take the job my darling ..these are not real friends I promise you that ….there may even be a little bit of jealousy because you are bettering your self ..you will make new friends in life but friends like this you really don’t mind DWP do a great job good luck

Did you miss where I said that's what I do and how upsetting it is to spend your life taking abuse of claimants you're putting yourself in harms way?

You're clearly happy vilifying other people without willing to educate yourself or listen so crack on. I believe you've experienced arseholes, but we aren't all like that and it's limited to think otherwise

Everybody thinks something is immoral! If the pros outweigh the cons for YOU then go for it. End of. Nothing immoral there.

I’m sorry OP but those aren’t friends. Also I would never allow the opinion of a friend weigh in at all in a career choice. The DWP job sounds like it is the best move for you so go for it.

Take the job, your family comes first, friends will come and go over time and none of them will pay your wages. Congratulations and enjoy ☺️

Immoral how??
Take the job!

It’s a great opportunity for you …think of yourself and your child ..congratulations girl go for it

You need the job, it will give you a future you could not have slogging in retail, and a better work/life balance.

Fuck what your friend says. She is not paying your bills. Regardless of her thoughts on the DWP, it needs to exist and it needs employees to run.

If you are not in it, you can't change it. Don't let it change you.

Take the job and be a good person - along with many others - who tries their best to make the system work for people who need it.
The policy makers are the ones that carry the responsibility for how DWP works - who knows, maybe your friend needs to vote differently in the next election. Good luck!

If any one of these so-called were offered a job with the DWP they would snap it up. I take it these friends are either unemployed or in low paid jobs?

PS - I have just re-read your post. This is ONE friend?? Why are you even listening to them? They are clearly jealous. Ignore, start your new job and good luck.

So they would rather you worked for a capitalist retail company, who are profiting from the high cost of living, than work for the government that was elected by the majority? They must have the reasoning power of a gnat. It is much better if sensible people work in these jobs, than it is left to power hungry jobsworths. If a decent government gets voted in, circumstances may improve for all.

Take the job and congratulations on getting through the selection process OP 💐

Why are they upset about you joining DWP? You should have asked why. Maybe this so called friend is taking or has been taking benefits they are not entiled to. There are a lot of them out there. Take the job.

How is paying people's pensions immoral? Take the job and make the decision to dump the person who pretends to be a friend but really isn't.

Take the job. Look after your family. Ignore your so-called friend. I receive benefits to which I am entitled. Any time I’ve had to speak to DWP they have been courteous and helpful. They are people doing a job.Get on with it.

Did you miss where it was explained that it is the Government that sets the policies. If you have an issue with the PIP system, then you know what to do at the ballot box, don't you?

What’s immoral about DWP?

I worked for the DWP for 22 years. I had a great time and have made life long friends. It's not the same as when I joined all those years ago as one of my friends is a fraud officer. You're never frowned upon and it's a great job to have. You tell your friends you're only administering the law and if they don't like it they can change it to suit them. Your eyes will be opened by what you see and hear and you will look at people very differently. It's easy to say the rules are wrong but your eyes will definitely be opened. You go for it and when you have your civil service pension and you can put food on your table for your children stuff them . They're not true friends

Really?? They follow the rules and do what they are required to do. Since it was taken back in-house, I have found nothing but helpful kindness and clear explanations from the staff.
They have been through a tough time with massive restructures, new rules and the introduction (ongoing) of universal credit with fewer staff than ever before.