Countdown from £28k...

Onebrokelady

Next, M&S and John Lewis have good bedlinen along with Debenhams if there is one and it's still trading, budget bed linen I would go for would be from Next as it's good quality,washes well and isn't too pricey 😊

Sarahwithlove

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

Doesn’t sound like it’s being ran well at all mate. No resources for new staff- potential to retrain one of these staff in the ‘wrong places’ - presumably they have a smaller workload and could afford to poach one into your dept and absorb the workload? 

Ha think I need to get back into the running. Feel !!!!!! all the time so can’t face it right now.

Funny how people work - I know a few who work through to 45/50 and just given up bought some farm or something FML fair play if that’s what you want from life though not for me lol. Have seen that on whisky exchange but tequila 100 not my drink mate FML only memories of it are getting absolutely slaughtered on the stuff years ago. No doubt it’s better than what I’ve had but don’t think I’ll be trying it lol.

The trouble is that it’s all very political and other teams won’t give up their staff as they know they’ll end up in the same boat. There has just been a restructure with more people moving into a flexible pool but not helpful when the policy facing team doesn’t have the resource. But also I don’t think anyone in their right mind would move into this job Mates in other teams have to put the odd shift in but it’s rare, mostly work the hours they’re supposed to.

I know what you mean, I’ve got another 30 plus years before I can think about retirement and unless I was loaded with no mortgage I’m not really sure what I’d do. I’d travel, most likely but that would be money dependent.

Haha. Yeah I’m not a tequila fan either. Only spirits I like are whiskey and gin but trying to avoid them in lockdown.

Sarahwithlove said:

There are certainly a lot of pros and cons to working for the government I have found. And it does certainly feel like with all the cuts over last 10 years that there's more negatives. I'm seriously considering my options and looking at retraining in future myself as not sure can keep going without things improving. 

Yeah, have to agree. Especially when the hours/stress aren’t reflective of the salary, plus retirement age keeps going up, I didn’t even know they could do that. I’m even considering going into financial services. That way I can get paid while retraining even if my income will decline massively. Tough now though as would struggle to afford this place. But could do real estate finance for one of the big 4, or even corporate tax, which would be a bit of legal and numbers combined. For now though I’ll stick with it and see if I can get this masters. Though can’t see them wanting to lose 20% of my time.

Ours has been quite good with apprenticeships etc as long as they can see a benefit to it for them. 
We've been under review for about 2 years now and doesn't feel like theirs an end in sight and until the review is over they won't even consider looking at our pay bands. Yet we have more knowledge then people in other departments who are being paid more than us it's very frustrating. We seem to be moving to electronic for everything at the moment so just waiting to see what impact that has on staffing levels and if redundancies get offered. 

ryanm8655

enthusiasticsaver said:

My eldest daughter works for civil service (or arms length government body) and they have issue with staff and constant restructuring. The management just seems really bad and she puts in really long hours. I can see why people retire at 45/50 if they are not enjoying work. It gives them the flexibility and freedom to do something they do enjoy if the finances stack up. We retired at 58 but would have been earlier had we not had children. We don't have any problem finding things to do even in this lockdown situation. 

Yeah, I was at an arms length body previously and they restructured as I was joining and have now told the London Office they all have 2 years to leave or move to another office as they're closing it to save money. I'd happily retire young if I had the money, even if that meant doing other stuff in my spare time like working for a charity or something. Current retirement age is 67 though...average salary pension is good but not when you can't take until you're too old to enjoy it...

alt80 said:

The management of it sounds like a !!!!!! nightmare mate. Nice to see where my tax is going. 🙄 honestly mate not even sure what you can do. 100 don’t think waiting around until you’re half dead is the right answer though unless you sort of switch off a bit and coast get the enjoyment from things other than work. As an employer can’t say I’d want staff doing that but it doesn’t seem like they care however don’t think that’s good for you either.

Ha get yourself into property finance and you can hit me up with the chucky lol.

Haha - the problem is the way the budgets are. You have to bid for money from treasury and it's all allocated so even if you have money in one pot, you can't spend it on staff. It's why the public sector is so reliant on overpaid consultants. The whole budget culture needs to change. The "if you don't spend it, you lose it" is another that really grinds my gears...

The more I think about it the more I need to do something on the job front, ha.

ryanm8655

Onebrokelady said:

Next, M&S and John Lewis have good bedlinen along with Debenhams if there is one and it's still trading, budget bed linen I would go for would be from Next as it's good quality,washes well and isn't too pricey 😊

Thanks! My previous load of bed linen was from M&S and though it was pricey, it was so comfy (bought in my debt heyday - think I spent £80 on a double duvet cover and pillow cases, which I'd wince at now... Still super comfy though, just a shame the current bed isn't a double, which is also making everything expensive! Will take a look at next.

Sarahwithlove said:

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

Doesn’t sound like it’s being ran well at all mate. No resources for new staff- potential to retrain one of these staff in the ‘wrong places’ - presumably they have a smaller workload and could afford to poach one into your dept and absorb the workload? 

Ha think I need to get back into the running. Feel !!!!!! all the time so can’t face it right now.

Funny how people work - I know a few who work through to 45/50 and just given up bought some farm or something FML fair play if that’s what you want from life though not for me lol. Have seen that on whisky exchange but tequila 100 not my drink mate FML only memories of it are getting absolutely slaughtered on the stuff years ago. No doubt it’s better than what I’ve had but don’t think I’ll be trying it lol.

The trouble is that it’s all very political and other teams won’t give up their staff as they know they’ll end up in the same boat. There has just been a restructure with more people moving into a flexible pool but not helpful when the policy facing team doesn’t have the resource. But also I don’t think anyone in their right mind would move into this job Mates in other teams have to put the odd shift in but it’s rare, mostly work the hours they’re supposed to.

I know what you mean, I’ve got another 30 plus years before I can think about retirement and unless I was loaded with no mortgage I’m not really sure what I’d do. I’d travel, most likely but that would be money dependent.

Haha. Yeah I’m not a tequila fan either. Only spirits I like are whiskey and gin but trying to avoid them in lockdown.

Sarahwithlove said:

There are certainly a lot of pros and cons to working for the government I have found. And it does certainly feel like with all the cuts over last 10 years that there's more negatives. I'm seriously considering my options and looking at retraining in future myself as not sure can keep going without things improving. 

Yeah, have to agree. Especially when the hours/stress aren’t reflective of the salary, plus retirement age keeps going up, I didn’t even know they could do that. I’m even considering going into financial services. That way I can get paid while retraining even if my income will decline massively. Tough now though as would struggle to afford this place. But could do real estate finance for one of the big 4, or even corporate tax, which would be a bit of legal and numbers combined. For now though I’ll stick with it and see if I can get this masters. Though can’t see them wanting to lose 20% of my time.

Ours has been quite good with apprenticeships etc as long as they can see a benefit to it for them. 
We've been under review for about 2 years now and doesn't feel like theirs an end in sight and until the review is over they won't even consider looking at our pay bands. Yet we have more knowledge then people in other departments who are being paid more than us it's very frustrating. We seem to be moving to electronic for everything at the moment so just waiting to see what impact that has on staffing levels and if redundancies get offered. 

Yeah, I'm kinda hoping the masters will be the carrot to keep me in the team but another person just told me they're leaving so half our team has now gone...Masters would start in September, at which point I'd be on 4 day weeks. But at least I have a secure job I guess... That does sound frustrating re: pay and is essentially why we are haemorrhaging people, couldn't promote junior people internally, so they've had to leave for more money. It's a real !!!!!! show but won't impact the people who make the decisions ultimately.

alt80

@ryanm8655 not sure how it doesn’t impact those more senior? Seems an extremely bad way of running an organisation imo. Not sure if my thinking skewed on this but just makes no sense at all tbh.

Sarahwithlove

ryanm8655 said:

Onebrokelady said:

Next, M&S and John Lewis have good bedlinen along with Debenhams if there is one and it's still trading, budget bed linen I would go for would be from Next as it's good quality,washes well and isn't too pricey 😊

Thanks! My previous load of bed linen was from M&S and though it was pricey, it was so comfy (bought in my debt heyday - think I spent £80 on a double duvet cover and pillow cases, which I'd wince at now... Still super comfy though, just a shame the current bed isn't a double, which is also making everything expensive! Will take a look at next.

Sarahwithlove said:

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

Doesn’t sound like it’s being ran well at all mate. No resources for new staff- potential to retrain one of these staff in the ‘wrong places’ - presumably they have a smaller workload and could afford to poach one into your dept and absorb the workload? 

Ha think I need to get back into the running. Feel !!!!!! all the time so can’t face it right now.

Funny how people work - I know a few who work through to 45/50 and just given up bought some farm or something FML fair play if that’s what you want from life though not for me lol. Have seen that on whisky exchange but tequila 100 not my drink mate FML only memories of it are getting absolutely slaughtered on the stuff years ago. No doubt it’s better than what I’ve had but don’t think I’ll be trying it lol.

The trouble is that it’s all very political and other teams won’t give up their staff as they know they’ll end up in the same boat. There has just been a restructure with more people moving into a flexible pool but not helpful when the policy facing team doesn’t have the resource. But also I don’t think anyone in their right mind would move into this job Mates in other teams have to put the odd shift in but it’s rare, mostly work the hours they’re supposed to.

I know what you mean, I’ve got another 30 plus years before I can think about retirement and unless I was loaded with no mortgage I’m not really sure what I’d do. I’d travel, most likely but that would be money dependent.

Haha. Yeah I’m not a tequila fan either. Only spirits I like are whiskey and gin but trying to avoid them in lockdown.

Sarahwithlove said:

There are certainly a lot of pros and cons to working for the government I have found. And it does certainly feel like with all the cuts over last 10 years that there's more negatives. I'm seriously considering my options and looking at retraining in future myself as not sure can keep going without things improving. 

Yeah, have to agree. Especially when the hours/stress aren’t reflective of the salary, plus retirement age keeps going up, I didn’t even know they could do that. I’m even considering going into financial services. That way I can get paid while retraining even if my income will decline massively. Tough now though as would struggle to afford this place. But could do real estate finance for one of the big 4, or even corporate tax, which would be a bit of legal and numbers combined. For now though I’ll stick with it and see if I can get this masters. Though can’t see them wanting to lose 20% of my time.

Ours has been quite good with apprenticeships etc as long as they can see a benefit to it for them. 
We've been under review for about 2 years now and doesn't feel like theirs an end in sight and until the review is over they won't even consider looking at our pay bands. Yet we have more knowledge then people in other departments who are being paid more than us it's very frustrating. We seem to be moving to electronic for everything at the moment so just waiting to see what impact that has on staffing levels and if redundancies get offered. 

Yeah, I'm kinda hoping the masters will be the carrot to keep me in the team but another person just told me they're leaving so half our team has now gone...Masters would start in September, at which point I'd be on 4 day weeks. But at least I have a secure job I guess... That does sound frustrating re: pay and is essentially why we are haemorrhaging people, couldn't promote junior people internally, so they've had to leave for more money. It's a real !!!!!! show but won't impact the people who make the decisions ultimately.

Might be willing to let you do it to keep you then. I think it redundancies are offered a lot of people will take it especially now they have put a salary cap again. So no payrise this year for us. Took them until November to pay us last years. 

efes_shareholder

i've always found dunelm bedding serves the purpose well

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

@ryanm8655 not sure how it doesn’t impact those more senior? Seems an extremely bad way of running an organisation imo. Not sure if my thinking skewed on this but just makes no sense at all tbh.

The decision maker is so far removed from the work that he won't even know. The work will still get done, it'll just be of lesser quality/mean others working longer. But the problem isn't the decision maker, it's the whole way budgetting works in public sector...

Sarahwithlove said:

ryanm8655 said:

Onebrokelady said:

Next, M&S and John Lewis have good bedlinen along with Debenhams if there is one and it's still trading, budget bed linen I would go for would be from Next as it's good quality,washes well and isn't too pricey 😊

Thanks! My previous load of bed linen was from M&S and though it was pricey, it was so comfy (bought in my debt heyday - think I spent £80 on a double duvet cover and pillow cases, which I'd wince at now... Still super comfy though, just a shame the current bed isn't a double, which is also making everything expensive! Will take a look at next.

Sarahwithlove said:

ryanm8655 said:

alt80 said:

Doesn’t sound like it’s being ran well at all mate. No resources for new staff- potential to retrain one of these staff in the ‘wrong places’ - presumably they have a smaller workload and could afford to poach one into your dept and absorb the workload? 

Ha think I need to get back into the running. Feel !!!!!! all the time so can’t face it right now.

Funny how people work - I know a few who work through to 45/50 and just given up bought some farm or something FML fair play if that’s what you want from life though not for me lol. Have seen that on whisky exchange but tequila 100 not my drink mate FML only memories of it are getting absolutely slaughtered on the stuff years ago. No doubt it’s better than what I’ve had but don’t think I’ll be trying it lol.

The trouble is that it’s all very political and other teams won’t give up their staff as they know they’ll end up in the same boat. There has just been a restructure with more people moving into a flexible pool but not helpful when the policy facing team doesn’t have the resource. But also I don’t think anyone in their right mind would move into this job Mates in other teams have to put the odd shift in but it’s rare, mostly work the hours they’re supposed to.

I know what you mean, I’ve got another 30 plus years before I can think about retirement and unless I was loaded with no mortgage I’m not really sure what I’d do. I’d travel, most likely but that would be money dependent.

Haha. Yeah I’m not a tequila fan either. Only spirits I like are whiskey and gin but trying to avoid them in lockdown.

Sarahwithlove said:

There are certainly a lot of pros and cons to working for the government I have found. And it does certainly feel like with all the cuts over last 10 years that there's more negatives. I'm seriously considering my options and looking at retraining in future myself as not sure can keep going without things improving. 

Yeah, have to agree. Especially when the hours/stress aren’t reflective of the salary, plus retirement age keeps going up, I didn’t even know they could do that. I’m even considering going into financial services. That way I can get paid while retraining even if my income will decline massively. Tough now though as would struggle to afford this place. But could do real estate finance for one of the big 4, or even corporate tax, which would be a bit of legal and numbers combined. For now though I’ll stick with it and see if I can get this masters. Though can’t see them wanting to lose 20% of my time.

Ours has been quite good with apprenticeships etc as long as they can see a benefit to it for them. 
We've been under review for about 2 years now and doesn't feel like theirs an end in sight and until the review is over they won't even consider looking at our pay bands. Yet we have more knowledge then people in other departments who are being paid more than us it's very frustrating. We seem to be moving to electronic for everything at the moment so just waiting to see what impact that has on staffing levels and if redundancies get offered. 

Yeah, I'm kinda hoping the masters will be the carrot to keep me in the team but another person just told me they're leaving so half our team has now gone...Masters would start in September, at which point I'd be on 4 day weeks. But at least I have a secure job I guess... That does sound frustrating re: pay and is essentially why we are haemorrhaging people, couldn't promote junior people internally, so they've had to leave for more money. It's a real !!!!!! show but won't impact the people who make the decisions ultimately.

Might be willing to let you do it to keep you then. I think it redundancies are offered a lot of people will take it especially now they have put a salary cap again. So no payrise this year for us. Took them until November to pay us last years. 

I had the same thing in my last role, would get a years worth of pay rise in one hit...I wonder if I'll still get it now I've left...plus the bonus too as that took so long to agree (usually about £200 as an annual bonus ha). I was hanging around for redundancy in my old role for quite some time. Glad I didn't stay as now they're saying everyone needs to leave without redundancy anyway...

efes_shareholder said:

i've always found dunelm bedding serves the purpose well

Will check out dunhelm, did have a look for the mattress topper on there but delivery was about a month ha...

gymgirl11

Loving the comments about local authority/local government working. I also work in local authority. I just go to work, do it and then leave Although, I’ve just always viewed my job as a way to pay the mortgage and bills. It doesn’t excite me anymore but the thought of leaving and giving up the perks (flexi time, 29 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays, ability to buy additional leave) aren’t worth it!

I always feel like there is some review going on, the politics in the background, the lack of support (sometimes) and no chance of a pay rise or bonus but you always know that you’re not going to be sacked and kicked out the door with no notice!

On bedsheet wise, love a good M&S one. Next also do more affordable bedding & is comfy. 

alt80

@ryanm8655 / @gymgirl11 sounds miserable tbh you spend a long time working to be counting down the weeks to weekends/ holidays and it just being a way to pay bills nothing else no way to live.