State workers still enjoy advantage over private employees

PaulF81

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

There were 5 suitable applicants out of 4000...that is looking at it factually.



An infantry private has food and accommodation provided. So all they earn is spending money.

As for how dangerous it is. That all depends on where you are based, and what job you do. Firefighters who have died on duty were doing a more dangerous job than infantrymen who haven't been on the front line for example.

Most soldiers only do the job when they are young, and for a few years. Most firefighters (many who are ex military), do it as a long term career. And have homes and families to support. And they put themselves in danger on a daily basis for the rest of their career to save people like you and your family. Maybe if you need them one day you may appreciate what they do.

But at the end of the day they are both public sector workers.

a lot of myths in the above. soldiers pay for food and accom and their pay is atually docked significantly in the earlier years to account or cheap accom for example.

antonic

I`m loving being a Civil Servant because currently :

1) I am working a compressed working week (doing my 37 hours in 4 days not 5) and therefore having every Monday off and so have permanent long weekends
2) I get 30 days Paid Leave a year
3) I get 10 1/2 days Bank Holidays & privilege days a year
4) I could have a maximum 36 days flexi a year (3 days a month)
5) When I retire I will get an index linked pension based on a maximum of 26 years contributions out of 40 years service
6) I will also get a lump sum based on the same 26 years
7) My salary of just £20,000 pa, is quite good for where I live & work and finally
8) I enjoy my job, I enjoy trying to help people to the best of my ability, even though my job does involve getting people to pay what they owe !.

So all in all I`m happy bunny who has no intention of leaving the Public Sector.

Andy_L

A._Badger wrote: »

A surprising number of people who wear big boots and carry guns for a living (no, not Millwall supporters!). You might try asking some, if you can tear yourself away from the Guardian.

Those self same people who make up about 40% of the MoD you mean?%

homelessskilledworker

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

I find it extremely hard to believe that public sector workers work for over 31 hours a week on average. I think the survey respondents must have been confused and gave the number of hours they attend the workplace.

Same theory goes for estate agents, they might sit in their office for 40 hours a week these days, but work a third of it.
Talking of estate agents, which one does Wotsthat work for??

System

You seem to be a little obsessed with wotsthat lately.

Anyway he doesn't work for an Estate Agent, I seem to recall him saying he's in charge of overdrafts at Lloyds TSB.

JonnyBravo

Joeskeppi wrote: »

You seem to be a little obsessed with wotsthat lately.

Anyway he doesn't work for an Estate Agent, I seem to recall him saying he's in charge of overdrafts at Lloyds TSB.

I'd heard he was Media Relations for Kirstie.... (but yes he does bank at Lloyds)

Loughton_Monkey

A._Badger wrote: »

A surprising number of people who wear big boots and carry guns for a living (no, not Millwall supporters!). You might try asking some, if you can tear yourself away from the Guardian.

When we hear terms like "the army of youth unemployment", it often brings to mind the option of re-introducing National Service, which would, of course, increase the public sector significantly.

By paying them to sit at home, or take drugs and terrorise their estate residents, one could argue that they are already on the 'state payroll'.

Having a mind for the public purse, we could deduct the cost of their big boots and khakis from their meagre benefits. It is probably not essential to give them guns [we don't want another million trained killers roaming out streets] since our lads from the "Regulars" could give them cover while they are used to detect mines in Afghanistan or whatever.

When I suggested this in a letter to the Guardian, surprisingly, they didn't print it.

wotsthat

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

Talking of estate agents, which one does Wotsthat work for??

Rightmove. Do us a favour mate - can you stop hogging the bandwidth - you're getting in the way of people who need to find nice £120k houses within an hours drive of certain cities to win internet arguments.

Also, those tears you shed on your keyboard when you discover that prices haven't crashed since you last looked (5 minutes previously) are playing havoc with our servers.

There's been a complaint from your local estate agent Peter Lane as well. You shaking your fist outside the window chuntering about frightened indebted homeowners is scaring the staff.

adouglasmhor

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

An infantry private has food and accommodation provided. So all they earn is spending money.

Not since Pay as you dine came in, and even before that way back in the 80s when I was in accommodation charges and food charges (admittedly relatively low) came of your top line. You got the charges waived on ops.

paulmapp8306

The article is comparing apples to oranges in general. What does tha average private worker do? it includes all min wage jobs - shop workers, factory workers etc who historically have had low wages.

I can say for certain that like for like jobs are paid better in the private sector.

I have a trade and have been public sector for 20 years. Im now leaving to work in the private - and Im looking at an increase of £8k - £10k per year for an equivilant job.

I wont get as many holidays (currently get 30 days plus public holidays - new jobs seem to be 6 weeks - or 30 days inclusive of PHs), and I wont have the same flexibility of hours - though Ill still work a similar ammount (37.5 in the PH, 39 in private).

"average" comparissons of this type mean absolutely diddly. you need to compare the SAME job in the different markets to get a true reflection.