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?

How is dwp immoral?

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.
That's your answer Op, take the job you'd be mad not to. If anyone asks what you work at say Admin, in my experience that seems to stop people asking any more questions because they really aren't bothered knowing any more than that!

Also, i love making new friends at new jobs 😁

Take the job, you may be the person who makes a difference

Oh, and be willing to look things up or refer to someone higher up if not sure. I've had workers tell me things I know are incorrect when I was on tax credits and had to look it up and ask them to please check. A more vulnerable person than me (and I'm neurodiverse myself) might have accepted the first answer and been underpaid.

Until your friends pay your bills, their opinions on this shouldn't really matter. Working that kind of job is not a crime.

Take the job. You will be so much better off and they are nice normal people. I worked there for several years and made many good friends.

Don’t tell them you work there - Admin or Civil Service - they won’t ask again.

Clearly you need better friends.

Definitely take the job, no question. You will be much happier, better work life balance and make lots of new friends.

Take the job, you deserve it. Bugger what people say, they’re not real friends if they say things like this, it’s totally unfair for them to do this.

You have to look to the future, there’ll be chances for promotion, possibly flexi time, really good pension, sick pay etc.

I’m unable to work due to having M.S and I’ve dealt with the DWP and had lovely people to speak to. Obviously there will be some bad eggs, same as anywhere. You can be one of the GOOD eggs, like the ones that have helped me. In fact is was my coach at the job centre that encouraged me to claim certain benefits due to my illness. I’m so grateful for her help, it’s made what was a really stressful time that little bit more bearable.

Wishing you all the best and success 🤗

Take the job. Your family comes first. You might end up disliking the job but it’s a stepping stone out of retail and would open doors for you to progress.
I don’t agree with a lot of how DWP operates myself, but the staff are not the ones making the rules. You also have a choice in that role how you treat people. I was so worried about going to the JC a few years ago when I was made redundant. My job coach was absolutely lovely and did everything he could to help me. I’ve heard some horror stories about other job coaches but you can choose to be empathetic and helpful.
Besides, someone has to do these jobs. If there was a shortage it would result in more problems for people x

With a ridiculous outlook like that you'd be no loss.

Your friend is being ridiculous. Sure there are things that the DWP gets wrong. Bit it also administers benefits for a whole bunch of deserving people. If no one worked for them then how would those folks access the help they need? Use your vote to change policies!

Jasmin you sound incredibly privileged. Lucky you.

I hate the DWP with a passion, but someone has to do the job.
I am partially projecting here, and I don't want to seem rude, but please don't be guided within it to harden your heart.
As another poster has added, they have been horrendous to her disabled son, and I have had that experience too. I understand it is your job to filter people out, but just remember there are many needy people.
You might be a really lovely person and that might well not apply to you, but don't let your new job make you believe that everyone is out there to rinse the system.
Sorry if that is harsh.
Go after the job xx

It isn't the fault of the people who work for the DWP.

"Those People" are doing what policy tells them to do; policy which is designed not by them, but by the Whitehall civil servants and politicians.

Problem solved, @Jasmin1971 is going to pay all your bills!

Tell them to bore off. Celebrate your new job! DWP can always do with empathetic people.

Take it, you can get new friends. There are lots of lovely people working for the DWP and you can transfer between Civil Service departments in the future if you wish. Congratulations - enjoy it!

Individual staff at DWP aren't responsible for the system they have to work under.

I have a lot of dealings with DWP staff (I work in welfare rights) and the vast majority of those I have contact are decent, reasonable, helpful and often act with as much kindness and empathy as is possible in their job.

As long as you're not taking the job because you think everyone on benefits is a scrounger and you want to give them a hard time, which I'm sure you're not, go for it.

Of course you should take the job, and you'll do amazing and improve life for you and your kids and your so called "friend" will lose out on your friendship.

Just because you work for the DWP doesn't mean you're not a good person. I work for a housing association and there is a lady on MN who thinks every staff member of HAs exist purely to make tenants lives hard, but I'm actually a very nice person who is excellent at my job and genuinely care!

People can be weird.

Congratulations, OP, take the job. The salary, pension and working hours are going to transform your life immeasurably for the better. Your "friend" is a dick.

Take the job and be the kind, decent person the service needs. Use it as a stepping stone to another, less controversial job as soon as you can.

I've thought about getting a job with the DWP and attempting to subvert the system by refusing to sanction anyone and marking every claim through until I got fired, but I doubt they'd employ me. You can't do that because you need this job but you CAN make a difference by being the nice, helpful person you appear to be and making life better for the people that use the DWP and your family.

I used to work on behalf of the DWP for many years. I am now on the other side if the coin.
Anyone saying that won't speak to you if you work there? Well, do they want you to take money from them for working, or less money for not working?
Totally take the job. It's a massive organisation and your team could be lovely. But join a union.

Any decent "friend" would be happy for you. Take the job and bin her off. Congratulations!

Take the job, it's the DWP not an arms company!
Do the job well, treat people with respect and know that you're doing your best to help even if the system is horrendous right now.