Would you want my job cut?

bluey890

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

Of course Lawyers are going to earn more than me - that is real life, just as the qualified nuclear inspectors I work with earn a lot more than me.

Are they French?

carolt

bendix wrote: »

carolt wrote: »

He's on the internet at public expense during work hours, asking complete strangers if his job is worth keeping.

As a contributor to his salary, I think the answer is self-evident.

Out of interest, bendix, whilst obviously I don't pay your salary and so it's technically none of my business, I'm curious as to what your employers think of the time you spend online during working hours?

Are they happy with that?

I take it clients aren't billed for the hours you spend on here? :rolleyes:

I should add - I'm 100% self-employed, so my time is my own to waste as I see fit.

Sir_Humphrey

bluey890 wrote: »

Are they French?

No, but they could be. Most civil service jobs (except those with national security issues) are open to EU and Commonwealth citizens - and are often taken by them. How many people here knew that?

bendix

carolt wrote: »

bendix wrote: »

Out of interest, bendix, whilst obviously I don't pay your salary and so it's technically none of my business, I'm curious as to what your employers think of the time you spend online during working hours?

Are they happy with that?

I take it clients aren't billed for the hours you spend on here? :rolleyes:

I should add - I'm 100% self-employed, so my time is my own to waste as I see fit.

Of course they aren't billed. I'm in management. I'm not a lawyer. And my employer is obviously happy with my contribution to the firm, otherwise they wouldnt pay my salary.

I repeat .supply and demand.

bluey890

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

No, but they could be. Most civil service jobs (except those with national security issues) are open to EU and Commonwealth citizens - and are often taken by them. How many people here knew that?

Senior civil service (along with quangos) are old boys school, everyone knows that!

lostinrates

carolt wrote: »

bendix wrote: »

Out of interest, bendix, whilst obviously I don't pay your salary and so it's technically none of my business, I'm curious as to what your employers think of the time you spend online during working hours?

Are they happy with that?

I take it clients aren't billed for the hours you spend on here? :rolleyes:

I should add - I'm 100% self-employed, so my time is my own to waste as I see fit.

AIUI clients won't be billed for a non-lawyers time. I can only dpeak for DH's employers, but they don't mind the down time, when its available and within reason because the hours are so long. They accept hat if people live int he ofice then they need time out during working hours for hair cuts etc too. DH is working in a team ATM that is 'generously staffed' for the job in hand. So rather than passing a full teams billable hours to a client he's coming home early. It doesn't happen a lot but it helps makes up for all the times he doesn't get home at all

carolt

bendix wrote: »

carolt wrote: »

Of course they aren't billed. I'm in management. I'm not a lawyer. And my employer is obviously happy with my contribution to the firm, otherwise they wouldnt pay my salary.

I repeat .supply and demand.

So it's OK for you to post in work time but not for others.

Agan - how very convenient. :rolleyes:

bluey890

lostinrates wrote: »

AIUI clients won't be billed for a non-lawyers time. I can only dpeak for DH's employers, but they don't mind the down time, when its available and within reason because the hours are so long. They accept hat if people live int he ofice then they need time out during working hours for hair cuts etc too. DH is working in a team ATM that is 'generously staffed' for the job in hand. So rather than passing a full teams billable hours to a client he's coming home early. It doesn't happen a lot but it helps makes up for all the times he doesn't get home at all

Lawyers bill for their time on the toilet.

bendix

carolt wrote: »

bendix wrote: »

You want the public sector to underpay its civil servants - but not its lawyers brought in from outside.

Paying one is 'waste' - paying the other several times as much is 'market forces'.

How convenient.

Apples and oranges pal. Apples and oranges. Even Sir H, to his credit sees that.

I - frankly - don't care what the public sector pays its external lawyers. I don't WANT them or force them to pay a private law firm's rates - they choose to do that of their own free will. They make those choices; other choices would be to hire their own lawyers and put them on the payroll.

I would like to think the public sector managers are savvy enough to work out what is best for the public purse - use high cost law firms now and again, or hire cheaper internal resources fulltime - but that's up to them.

Here is the crux of it. Noone forces them to pay Slaughter and May rates. Noone sticks a gun to their heads. They can simply make their own arrangements. I assume they chose to pay because they perceive value somewhere.

Again, it's market forces.

But to do what you are suggesting and FORCING private companies to lower rates solely because the government wants them to is plain daft. And workable. What are you going to do - make them work at gunpoint? Dont the law firms have the right to refuse your lower terms?

Utter nonsense.

bendix

carolt wrote: »

bendix wrote: »

So it's OK for you to post in work time but not for others.

Agan - how very convenient. :rolleyes:

Sure I can. My salary isnt being paid for by your taxes.

If you were my employer or paying my salary, I might give you a different answer of course.