Public Sector. Good or Bad?

Andy_L

gingerdad wrote: »

Rubbish. The public sector are most defiantly not the lowest paid in the country.

The Civil Service is not a synonym. for the Public Sector. The 10%ish of the Public sector that is the Civil Service has lower (average/median) pay than the private sector.

Andy_L

Old_Slaphead wrote: »

So a private company does work for the public sector and it's employees become public sector workers ?

Its an interestering question.
Sould a cleaning company who's only contracts are public sector buildings and who, in the old days, would have been employed directly by the state, be classed as public sector?
What if that cleaning service cost is hidden from direct sight by being part of a PFI contract to provide that building?

vivatifosi

Really2 wrote: »

But even if you run with the 1.2m working for companies who contract to the public sector (not that I believe that would be the case).
Does that not show how badly things are run in the public sector. They contract people at a higher rate than their employment cost is?
EG contract cleaners @ £8.50PH Cleaners earn £5.93PH = £2.57PH wasted spending.

Yes and no. For sure contract cleaning companies make a profit or they wouldn't do it, but even if a cleaner earns £5.93 ph their employer would have costs on top of that in terms of employer's NI, sick pay over statutory minimum (if paid), paid leave, etc.

The concern I have with using external labour is the public sector tendency to use very large firms rather than small local businesses. I did some work for a very large construction firm and even they weren't big enough to play in the PFI arena. If only a very few companies have the ability to quote for a job, that doesn't make it as competitive as it could be imo. Same goes for the Capitas, Sercos etc of this world.

starsandmoon

I work for the public sector and have 2 jobs with different Local Authorities. I see the big managers earning huge salaries and you dont have a clue what they actually do. Iam very low down in the pecking order and have had two pay cuts this year. Not one manager has. I can see why people hate the public sector when you hear about the non jobs that pay silly money but there is another side. People like me working in front line services earning just above minimum wage. I chose the public sector because I was guaranteed a decent pension, flexi time etc but I was paid less than if I worked for the private sector.

Public sector workers are hated by everyone now although there was nothing stopping these haters from getting jobs there seeing as its such a cushy number.

I await to be publicly flogged now for daring to admit I work where I do! Really I should be shot.;)

FTBFun

daveyjp wrote: »

Please let us know who are.

Retail, I'd suspect.

wotsthat

starsandmoon wrote: »

People like me working in front line services earning just above minimum wage.

A front line service? What like the army or something? I thought they got quite a bit more than the minimum wage.

starsandmoon

wotsthat wrote: »

A front line service? What like the army or something? I thought they got quite a bit more than the minimum wage.

No not the army. Social services and library services (if you dont like books or reading you make think this service shouldnt exist)

I have seen shocking wastes of money though. There was an awards ceremony in London that the big bosses attended. I processed the invoices, £5,000 that cost and we didnt even win the award! These are the sort of things that should be stopped and external consultants who charge 3 times more than a paid member of staff and are often the person hiring's mate!

Oh yes Ive seen it all. I could write a book but no one would buy it and stones would be thrown at me in the street.

Old_Slaphead

starsandmoon wrote: »

Public sector workers are hated by everyone now although there was nothing stopping these haters from getting jobs there seeing as its such a cushy number.

Are there 20 million job vacancies in the public sector then?

nb on average public sector employees receive far greater remuneration than private sector.

antrobus

gingerdad wrote: »

Rubbish. The public sector are most defiantly not the lowest paid in the country.

daveyjp wrote: »

Please let us know who are.

Those employed in the 'hospitality' and 'personal care' sectors. Oh, and retail. People like cleaners, bar staff, waiters, kitchen staff, check out operators etc.

According to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (December 2010) the "average median gross annual salary" for public sector employees was £28,808 compared to £24,596 in the private sector, or 17% more.

wotsthat

Oh right - a front line librarian.

I like books and reading but still think too much money is spent on libraries - if they are that great why do only old people use them?