The Public Sector Cuts - Anyone worried?

Golden_Anemone

x12yhp wrote: »

I have to admit that I have never before heard of anyone being in the public sector because they wanted to help society.... maybe it is true but I cannot help but be a touch cynical...

So you think that people want to be nurses, social workers, teachers... because they want to become rich? :rotfl:

Yes, x12yhp, you are just a tad cynical.

x12yhp

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

So you think that people want to be nurses, social workers, teachers... because they want to become rich? :rotfl:

Yes, x12yhp, you are just a tad cynical.

So why do you think that people become shop assistants? What about bar tenders? Lorry Drivers? Well that clearly isn't about becoming rich... so by your logic it must be simply down to a desire to better society...

errr.... maybe there is another option...

Indo77

x12yhp wrote: »

So why do you think that people become shop assistants? What about bar tenders? Lorry Drivers? Well that clearly isn't about becoming rich... so by your logic it must be simply down to a desire to better society...

errr.... maybe there is another option...

That's a tad cynical and a bit mean; crazy as it may sound some people do become nurses, police officers, ambulance workers etc because they want to better society. Those in the health and emergency services do better society and deserve our respect.

x12yhp

Indo77 wrote: »

That's a tad cynical and a bit mean; crazy as it may sound some people do become nurses, police officers, ambulance workers etc because they want to better society. Those in the health and emergency services do better society and deserve our respect.

It is a tad cynical but I know a load of teachers... msot have done it because there were no jobs doing anything else so a PGCE was better than sitting and doing nothing. I know a handful of police officers and they went that way because it was a good, solid and reliable job - protecting the public mainly co-incidental. In any case, these noted professions are specific examples. Think of all of those office workers etc., you cannot try arguing that they went in there trying to help society.

I just do not think it is a good stance to say that public sector, in general, deserves any special consideration because they went into it thinking only of the good of humanity. Some will certainly have done so, but the same will be true of some of those who find themselves in the public sector.

Golden_Anemone

x12yhp wrote: »

I just do not think it is a good stance to say that public sector, in general, deserves any special consideration because they went into it thinking only of the good of humanity. Some will certainly have done so, but the same will be true of some of those who find themselves in the public sector.

I don't think anyone in this thread has said that public sector workers deserve any special consideration, merely that they aren't, in general, overpaid or in receipt of countless perks.

x12yhp

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

I don't think anyone in this thread has said that public sector workers deserve any special consideration, merely that they aren't, in general, overpaid or in receipt of countless perks.

I was responding to the quote from stevemp:

a lot (not all) of the public sector staff are in their jobs because they feel they are helping others and doing a worthwhile job

I was merely alluding to the fact that most people find themselves in any given job for reasons other than a general feeling of goodwill to society. Normally it is because they saw a job they could do and because the employer offered it to them. There are exceptions, but the majority of people take what they can get, they are not picky...

36square

It's very easy to want to "better society" when you know you're going to financially better off as well. If and (hopefully when) public sector pay has declined relatively, we'll find out which people really want to "better society" and we can hold them in respect as we used to do.

steveymp

x12yhp wrote: »

I was responding to the quote from stevemp:

a lot (not all) of the public sector staff are in their jobs because they feel they are helping others and doing a worthwhile job

I was merely alluding to the fact that most people find themselves in any given job for reasons other than a general feeling of goodwill to society. Normally it is because they saw a job they could do and because the employer offered it to them. There are exceptions, but the majority of people take what they can get, they are not picky...

I did say a lot (not all)

I work with a few people who merely turn up sign their pay returns and sit on their !!! all day avoiding work:o

However, I work with a lot of people who work long hours, do unpaid overtime, take constant questioning and occasional abuse from patients and relatives, go the extra mile and always have a public smile on their face, even when they could cheerfully throttle the !!!!!!s;) These people are 100% dedicated to their jobs, you can see their energy and commitment every day, yes they are paid a reasonable wage, but they work damn hard for it.

People don't become Nurses or Doctors or Paramedics or any kind of health care professional because they see a nice wage, an easy job and lots of perks. If you think that, then you really are a cynical old git:o

one2escape

36square wrote: »

It's very easy to want to "better society" when you know you're going to financially better off as well. If and (hopefully when) public sector pay has declined relatively, we'll find out which people really want to "better society" and we can hold them in respect as we used to do.

There a lots of reasons for working in the public sector but you end up with problems if "public sector pay has declined relatively". Where I work they made this mistake £100,000's. People took the training and moved on to jobs in the same industry but in the private sector getting £10k to £20k more a year. They have recently fixed the problem by an allowance but we are still unpaid by industry standards. Reducing wages in relative terms is not a good option and will be cause more problems in the future.

x12yhp

steveymp wrote: »

I did say a lot (not all)


People don't become Nurses or Doctors or Paramedics or any kind of health care professional because they see a nice wage, an easy job and lots of perks. If you think that, then you really are a cynical old git:o

Nurses and paramedics, yes, I agree. Medical doctors... one of the biggest reasons it is sold in schools is because it pays well and is reliable... If medical doctors care so much, they would be standing up and saying that they get paid far too much compared to other medical staff (nurses/paramedics, for example) and that they would take a nice pay cut to bring themselves into line and to help out the public health service, about which they care so much... so who will get the ball rolling!?