Another public sector pay outrage

adouglasmhor

We have lumberjacks in the UK? I think it's harvesters, machine operators and foresters.

FISA are extremely proactive in the forestry industry and safety standards have risen dramaticaly since the days of axes and wedges.

Tromking

BillJones wrote: »

When I worked at the MOD, behind a desk, the sickness culture was every bit as bad as the statistics suggest.

It`s good you acknowledge that your own personal experience of the public sector was only as a Desk Johnny, this might explain your rather jaundiced view on the subject.
It`s only fair I suppose to balance that by explaining that my own biased view is based on my good-self spending many a shift (inc. yesterday morning!) in MUFTI-gear.
We all bring our own experiences to bear in discussions like these I suppose.

wotsthat

Tromking wrote: »

We all bring our own experiences to bear in discussions like these I suppose.

I've worked for almost exactly the same time as you. I've taken about 10 days sick and only about double your sick days in holidays.

I'm planning an early phased retirement and thinking of joining the public sector for a few years to wind down and boost my pension. I'll take off about 25 days sick each year and every other August with stress.

Not a thing anyone can do about it.

adouglasmhor

wotsthat wrote: »

I've worked for almost exactly the same time as you. I've taken about 10 days sick and only about double your sick days in holidays.

I'm planning an early phased retirement and thinking of joining the public sector for a few years to wind down and boost my pension. I'll take off about 25 days sick each year and every other August with stress.

Not a thing anyone can do about it.

You would be out under the local Authority I sub contract to's policies.
It would take them about 2 years, but you would be out.

wotsthat

adouglasmhor wrote: »

You would be out under the local Authority I sub contract to's policies.
It would take them about 2 years, but you would be out.

Two years? Cushty.

adouglasmhor

wotsthat wrote: »

Two years? Cushty.

I know, mind you if they can prove you are at it, you are out straight away. Or if you are never going to be fit to return to work - six months.

wotsthat

adouglasmhor wrote: »

I know, mind you if they can prove you are at it, you are out straight away. Or if you are never going to be fit to return to work - six months.

To be honest I'm hoping to get about 4 years out of it so will tone it down. What if I take 15 days sick plus the occasional extended spell? The paperwork will be perfect and my crying at the GP surgery will ensure a sick note no problem.

I doubt I'll stand out sufficiently to receive special attention.

chewmylegoff

Tromking wrote: »

It`s good you acknowledge that your own personal experience of the public sector was only as a Desk Johnny, this might explain your rather jaundiced view on the subject.
It`s only fair I suppose to balance that by explaining that my own biased view is based on my good-self spending many a shift (inc. yesterday morning!) in MUFTI-gear.
We all bring our own experiences to bear in discussions like these I suppose.

Whilst I'm happy to admit there are a few public sector jobs, including being a paramedic, infantry soldier or police constable on the beat which I would be too scared to do, the majority of public sector employees sit behind desks and the only additional danger they meet every day compared to private sector employees sitting behind desks is the fact that the ceiling is slightly more likely to fall on their heads because their offices are always grotty.

J_i_m

It's very easy to assume that public sector workers are skiving when off sick. But it is an uncharitable perception.

There are some public sector jobs that you genuinely can not attend if you are ill or injured.

Hospital workers shouldn't work when ill lest they spread their infections to the patients in their care, who are already at higher risk. After norovirus for example to have to wait until you've been clear for 48 hours before returning to work, because it spreads like wildfire and you have to be fully certain you're clean of it before you risk taking back into a hospital environment.

In many public sector places of work the management will send you home if you turn up ill or injured, not only because of the risk you present to yourself but to others as well.

Also pray.. How is a firefighter, nurse, care assistant, porter etc supposed work with a significant injury? If you were to be carried down a ladder from a burning building by Fireman Sam wouldn't you want him to be fighting fit? Wouldn't it be rather worrisome if he had a chronic bad back or broken limb? Not all public sector jobs can be replaced by desk bound tasks for these periods. (Although admittedly that can also be true of the private sector, I doubt a bus driver has a desk job to do if they have an injury which prevents them from driving).

But, the bottom line is that just because someone has a few sick days totting up on their record doesn't automatically mean that they are skiving or taking advantage of the system. And turning up to work when not for to do so could get them disciplined just the same as when misusing sick days.

CLAPTON

J_i_m wrote: »

It's very easy to assume that public sector workers are skiving when off sick. But it is an uncharitable perception.

There are some public sector jobs that you genuinely can not attend if you are ill or injured.

Hospital workers shouldn't work when ill lest they spread their infections to the patients in their care, who are already at higher risk. After norovirus for example to have to wait until you've been clear for 48 hours before returning to work, because it spreads like wildfire and you have to be fully certain you're clean of it before you risk taking back into a hospital environment.

In many public sector places of work the management will send you home if you turn up ill or injured, not only because of the risk you present to yourself but to others as well.

Also pray.. How is a firefighter, nurse, care assistant, porter etc supposed work with a significant injury? If you were to be carried down a ladder from a burning building by Fireman Sam wouldn't you want him to be fighting fit? Wouldn't it be rather worrisome if he had a chronic bad back or broken limb? Not all public sector jobs can be replaced by desk bound tasks for these periods. (Although admittedly that can also be true of the private sector, I doubt a bus driver has a desk job to do if they have an injury which prevents them from driving).

But, the bottom line is that just because someone has a few sick days totting up on their record doesn't automatically mean that they are skiving or taking advantage of the system. And turning up to work when not for to do so could get them disciplined just the same as when misusing sick days.

yes of course

so what are the figures for public sector jobs that don't have these issue e.g. many local government workers, central government workers, london transport workers etc etc?