I cannot work from home I work for the NHS

Aranyani

annabanana82 said:

Aranyani said:

annabanana82 said:

Aranyani said:

annabanana82 said:

My friend works in the NHS as a nurse, not frontline but offering a much needed and valuable role to some of the most vulnerable in our society. She found it all very embarrassing throughout the lockdown all the offers of free things and jump ahead of the queue. She only took advantage a couple of times but didn't like the attention it came with. In her eyes she was only doing her job, and other colleagues were suffering far more than herself. 

As for the working at home, I've been lucky enough to be at home throughout as another public sector worker. We are going to be out of office for at least another 6 months. There is going to be a massive job of paper filing when we eventually go back, which I'm not sure has really been considered or how it's going to be managed. 
With much of the PS/CS relying on paper files I can see there is at least one valid arguement for staff being in the office depending on your role, but I'm sure there are others.

I hope you've been provided with lockable cases/files if you're expected to store confidential paperwork for over a year! 

We aren't producing any hard copies of anything, so not only will we have filing to do but 1 years worth of printing...

Well then the best thing to do would be to invest in a secure shared server to avoid all the above.  Most NHS trusts already have them. 

We do, I'd be surprised if there was a government department without them. 
But that doesn't negate the fact that we will still have hard copy filing to do when we eventually go back

It makes absolutely zero sense to print out documents for the sole purpose of filing paper copies when they are securely stored electronically.  What a waste of time, energy, space and resources!

strawb_shortcake

Aranyani said:

annabanana82 said:

Aranyani said:

annabanana82 said:

Aranyani said:

annabanana82 said:

My friend works in the NHS as a nurse, not frontline but offering a much needed and valuable role to some of the most vulnerable in our society. She found it all very embarrassing throughout the lockdown all the offers of free things and jump ahead of the queue. She only took advantage a couple of times but didn't like the attention it came with. In her eyes she was only doing her job, and other colleagues were suffering far more than herself. 

As for the working at home, I've been lucky enough to be at home throughout as another public sector worker. We are going to be out of office for at least another 6 months. There is going to be a massive job of paper filing when we eventually go back, which I'm not sure has really been considered or how it's going to be managed. 
With much of the PS/CS relying on paper files I can see there is at least one valid arguement for staff being in the office depending on your role, but I'm sure there are others.

I hope you've been provided with lockable cases/files if you're expected to store confidential paperwork for over a year! 

We aren't producing any hard copies of anything, so not only will we have filing to do but 1 years worth of printing...

Well then the best thing to do would be to invest in a secure shared server to avoid all the above.  Most NHS trusts already have them. 

We do, I'd be surprised if there was a government department without them. 
But that doesn't negate the fact that we will still have hard copy filing to do when we eventually go back

It makes absolutely zero sense to print out documents for the sole purpose of filing paper copies when they are securely stored electronically.  What a waste of time, energy, space and resources!

I agree in the main, but it largely contractual documents and we are required to keep paper copies

unholyangel

Andy_L said:

unholyangel said:

I'm not sure about the NHS pensions, but the few public sector pensions I've seen, very little of what is being deducted in "pension contributions" is actually going into that pension pot. From memory, it was something like 20% of their contributions are actually paid into the pot. 

Most Public Sector pensions do not have a "pot" but are unfunded. The employers/employees contributions are used to pay the pension of current retired members with any excess/shortfall going to/made up by the treasury. IIRC the NHS is currently "in profit" (ie giving money to the treasury) whilst the Civil Service is "in debit" due to the differing demographic profiles  & recruitment patterns of the organisations.

The older schemes yes. But not all of them. For example the current partnership scheme. Even the current alpha is nowhere near as generous as the older plans. 


All I'm saying is service pensions (public or health) aren't as generous as they're often thought to be. 

Thrugelmir

Andy_L said:

unholyangel said:

I'm not sure about the NHS pensions, but the few public sector pensions I've seen, very little of what is being deducted in "pension contributions" is actually going into that pension pot. From memory, it was something like 20% of their contributions are actually paid into the pot. 

Most Public Sector pensions do not have a "pot" but are unfunded. The employers/employees contributions are used to pay the pension of current retired members with any excess/shortfall going to/made up by the treasury. IIRC the NHS is currently "in profit" (ie giving money to the treasury) whilst the Civil Service is "in debit" due to the differing demographic profiles  & recruitment patterns of the organisations.

The shortfall for prior years funding is effectively paid out of the current years budget. As is imposed as a levy on current employees. Money can only only ever be spent once. 

Aranyani

Thrugelmir said:

Andy_L said:

unholyangel said:

I'm not sure about the NHS pensions, but the few public sector pensions I've seen, very little of what is being deducted in "pension contributions" is actually going into that pension pot. From memory, it was something like 20% of their contributions are actually paid into the pot. 

Most Public Sector pensions do not have a "pot" but are unfunded. The employers/employees contributions are used to pay the pension of current retired members with any excess/shortfall going to/made up by the treasury. IIRC the NHS is currently "in profit" (ie giving money to the treasury) whilst the Civil Service is "in debit" due to the differing demographic profiles  & recruitment patterns of the organisations.

Money can only only ever be spent once. 

Sounds snappy but obviously false, if you think about it for even a second. 

Thrugelmir

Aranyani said:

Thrugelmir said:

Andy_L said:

unholyangel said:

I'm not sure about the NHS pensions, but the few public sector pensions I've seen, very little of what is being deducted in "pension contributions" is actually going into that pension pot. From memory, it was something like 20% of their contributions are actually paid into the pot. 

Most Public Sector pensions do not have a "pot" but are unfunded. The employers/employees contributions are used to pay the pension of current retired members with any excess/shortfall going to/made up by the treasury. IIRC the NHS is currently "in profit" (ie giving money to the treasury) whilst the Civil Service is "in debit" due to the differing demographic profiles  & recruitment patterns of the organisations.

Money can only only ever be spent once. 

Sounds snappy but obviously false, if you think about it for even a second. 

Not if your allocated a pot cash annually to pay the bills. Budgeting is effectively passed down the line. 

dunstonh

If someone in the public sector wanted to match the benefits of the NHS pension, then they would need to contribute around 30% of their income.

Whilst the current NHS pension is not as good as it was in the past, it is still at gold standard level with very little in the public sector coming close.
Historically, the public sector pension generosity was fair enough as the working salary was generally lower than the average private sector and was seen as a reward for a working life of public service.   However, the increase in the public sector earnings to close the gap with the private sector during the early 2000s meant the pension costs went up massively as well. Hence the slight reductions in the pension.    Although most of the adjustments wont hit the average NHS worker. They will prevent the old historical abuse (across the public sector) of someone getting promoted close to retirement to get 3 good years to base their final salary pension on.   Those with a continually upward progression over their working life will take a hit (but its still better than anything else they have available).

JamoLew

It isn't quite as easy to get promotion in that way nowadays anyway

If i recall the current pension is based on career average earnings - so yes, that little loophole has been rightfully closed.
The benefit of course is that it doesn't penalise the employee as badly if they want to cut their hours in their latter years of employment
The system is constantly changing and probably will again multiple times in the future (I am fortunate to have 20+ years in the 1995 section) although the version before that was a lot better as it was based on 1/60ths rather than 1/80ths - but at least I can get that at 60 with no penalties unlike the current system that would be reduced by 30% taking at 60 rather than 67.
As already mentioned - very few actually make it that far, most of my colleagues in recent years have "retired at ~55-60 and gone on to do much less demanding, lower paid, part-time jobs just as a top up and something to do

To the OP (if they ever come back) - I would gladly swap. Fortunately (?) part of my role is able to be done from home and I despise it - home is my relaxing/happy place NOT my workplace
I would carry on as before if I had the choice but sadly have to tolerate part home - part work

antonic

I am a Civil Servant who has been working from since March and not likely to return to the office until next May (at the earliest).
As for my pension I am affected by the McCloud judgment and will have to decide what to do with the contributions I have made since 2016 - do I want to keep then in my Alpha pension or move them to my 26 years in my Classic Pension ?.
I am lucky that I can still retire and draw my Classic Pension in 6 years when I get to 60.

Mrs_Ryan

I’m also a Civil Servant who is trying my best to get back to the office as my home circumstances are difficult to say the least. However given that I live in what was and is likely to remain a Tier 1 area and my workplace is in what was a Tier 3 area- plus I’m chronically ill- I’m stuck where I am for now.

I don’t get perks- I don’t earn enough to pay enough tax to claim anything back- and all I’ve got is increased electricity bills from having to run extra lights (I work afternoons) plus constantly having to power my work equipment and having to up my internet package to get a better connection. No doubt the gas bill will be ridiculous as well- being chronically ill I feel the cold and need to run the heating while I’m working as well. 

Fortunately, my husband who is an experienced postal worker, is able to pick up a lot of overtime at the moment. Neither of us have gold plated pensions- my Civil Service pension won’t be much to speak of due to my earnings, I have an NHS pension from my 8 years service as a Healthcare Support Worker and a small pension from when I worked in banking. Hubby’s Royal Mail pension is hardly worth the paper it’s written on- even after 33 years service I was shocked at how small it was. Working in the public sector isn’t all that great.