Public sector employment to Private sector.
Discussion
www.prepare4private.co.uk is a business set-up to help employees in the public sector find work in the private sector amid the job cuts being made. The owner of the business was being interviewed this morning on BBC Radio Nottingham, and it was interesting to say the least. Now, I've never worked (or wanted) to work in the public sector but apparently this service prepares public sector staff for:
Private sector application forms and interview techniques.
Differences in private sector business practice e.g the competitor element.
And what surprised me the most:
"of course in the private sector there is the cash and profit element. Public staff won't be used to this way of working".
Hang-on - I know the private sector is different but isn't managing cash/budgets the same? Or is this an admission to "we just spunk money up the wall with no care".
Private sector application forms and interview techniques.
Differences in private sector business practice e.g the competitor element.
And what surprised me the most:
"of course in the private sector there is the cash and profit element. Public staff won't be used to this way of working".
Hang-on - I know the private sector is different but isn't managing cash/budgets the same? Or is this an admission to "we just spunk money up the wall with no care".
I started work in a Local Authority over 30 years ago, I was a hated Work Study guy.
My job was meant to be about approving efficiency, this did not sit well with the culture, where any budget savings were a bad thing, as if one years budget wasn't spent then the following year it was reduced, and as budget size was related in some way to the penis size of the Director involved, this was A VERY BAD THING. (So changes to methods or new more efficient machinery we recommended were left undone.)
I left for the real world after a couple of years, as I could not imagine staying in that culture.
I had reason to visit my local council and got talking to one of the guys, the latest mantra is that 'saving money = saving jobs', no thought is given to as to whether 'Fairtrade Co-Ordinator' is a good use of resources when the roads are flooded through clogged drains and there are potholes everywhere.
On the positive side, there have to be great opportunities for businesses who have the patience to do educational work to train LA staff what commercial life is all about!
My job was meant to be about approving efficiency, this did not sit well with the culture, where any budget savings were a bad thing, as if one years budget wasn't spent then the following year it was reduced, and as budget size was related in some way to the penis size of the Director involved, this was A VERY BAD THING. (So changes to methods or new more efficient machinery we recommended were left undone.)
I left for the real world after a couple of years, as I could not imagine staying in that culture.
I had reason to visit my local council and got talking to one of the guys, the latest mantra is that 'saving money = saving jobs', no thought is given to as to whether 'Fairtrade Co-Ordinator' is a good use of resources when the roads are flooded through clogged drains and there are potholes everywhere.
On the positive side, there have to be great opportunities for businesses who have the patience to do educational work to train LA staff what commercial life is all about!
I know someone who spent most of their life in the public sector.
Since they moved into the private sector they now understand what hard work really is, that 35 days holiday a year is not a god given right, the flexi-time is unknown in the real World for anyone below upper management, who are working all the hours anyway so need it to be able to have a functioning life outside of work.
Oh and they stopped being a Labour voter and opened their eyes to the real world.
Good things can come of this.
Since they moved into the private sector they now understand what hard work really is, that 35 days holiday a year is not a god given right, the flexi-time is unknown in the real World for anyone below upper management, who are working all the hours anyway so need it to be able to have a functioning life outside of work.
Oh and they stopped being a Labour voter and opened their eyes to the real world.
Good things can come of this.
Rude-boy said:
I know someone who spent most of their life in the public sector.
Since they moved into the private sector they now understand what hard work really is, that 35 days holiday a year is not a god given right, the flexi-time is unknown in the real World for anyone below upper management, who are working all the hours anyway so need it to be able to have a functioning life outside of work.
Oh and they stopped being a Labour voter and opened their eyes to the real world.
Good things can come of this.
Not an uncommon story. It's the same for many liberals who are either students or public sector, when they're left with no choice but to work in the private sector their views on politics often change as they realise that green taxes, increasing business taxes etc can mean the loss of their job and income.Since they moved into the private sector they now understand what hard work really is, that 35 days holiday a year is not a god given right, the flexi-time is unknown in the real World for anyone below upper management, who are working all the hours anyway so need it to be able to have a functioning life outside of work.
Oh and they stopped being a Labour voter and opened their eyes to the real world.
Good things can come of this.
As ever, the simple PH black or white view.
Whilst there are fundamental differences between both sectors, the imaginary philosophical Berlin wall between respective employees is questionable.
The company mentioned at the top of the thread has spotted an opportunity (nervous Pub sector employees in the throes of redundancy) and wants a slice of the redundancy payment.
Given the skills, effective management and growing experience I suspect that a decent proportion of 'displaced' pub sector staff will function very well in the private sector. Freed from cloying 'decision by committee' and a more dynamic environment they will relish the opportunities. They just need some jobs to apply for...
Don't blame the players, blame the game.
Whilst there are fundamental differences between both sectors, the imaginary philosophical Berlin wall between respective employees is questionable.
The company mentioned at the top of the thread has spotted an opportunity (nervous Pub sector employees in the throes of redundancy) and wants a slice of the redundancy payment.
Given the skills, effective management and growing experience I suspect that a decent proportion of 'displaced' pub sector staff will function very well in the private sector. Freed from cloying 'decision by committee' and a more dynamic environment they will relish the opportunities. They just need some jobs to apply for...
Don't blame the players, blame the game.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Just been a guest of the NHS following a car accident on the 2nd.Hugely impressed, (and surprised given the constant negative press).
My only comment would be too many chiefs and not enough indians (nurses), but everyone was concerned, professional and pleasant. The hospital was clean, bright and efficient. I was amazed at how well the different departments communicated and worked together.
It is a shame that your experiences do not match as I really cannot praise them highly enough following my enforced visit.
captainzep said:
As ever, the simple PH black or white view.
Don't blame the players, blame the game.
I used to work in the private sector(finance) and it was a breeze. Chat all day with colleagues, stare at clunge, have a coffee break every hour, browse the internet at leisure getting emails from mates, then go home on time. Don't blame the players, blame the game.
I work in the public sector now. Don't have time to chat, there's no clunge! Rarely get a break and don't have internet access and am always finishing late.
Of course, i'm fully aware that there are easy and difficult jobs in both sectors but I just wanted to play the silly post game. Gosh, that was easy.
i was being sold a private secotr job when working in the public sector. One of the major attractions of the private sector role was that the workload was much lighter, your desk wasn't covered in files and that you were not demand led. To prove this I and another public sector chap they wanted to employ, were taken inot the offices where we would be working.
It was quiet, the desks were brand new, as opposed to my one which had been hit by anti-aircraft fire, the computers were up to the minute and I would have had my own secretary. When I asked what would happen if the work load suddenly increased I was told that the demand was 'managed', i.e. not enough staff and it was kicked into touch.
The conditions were better and the pay, as I would have to start 'at the bottom' (not really true as I'd have been responsible for lower paid staff), was about the same as I was earning with overtime. The scheduled hours were about the same and there was an accepted limit to additional hours.
The work would have been less varied, much more so. Promotion prospects about the same although I'd set my sights to a limit and the new job would have been within my wishes.
I didn't go as there would have been certain risks for me. The other chap did. There were a couple of others on the day and neither said they would transfer.
It is fair to say that the work could be very hard but it is fair to say mine was already. It was target led but you could pick your jobs. One of the chaps working there, sorry, drinking coffee, said something along the lines that every now and again you could treat yourself to an interesting or worthwhile one where the odds were against you getting a result.
I didn't bin the job there and then but only after a long discusssion with my wife and later with a friend.
It is fair to say that had I had less years in my job I would have gone for it. It was close.
When I went back to my office, with the chaos, the phones ringing, the poor quality fittings, the one decent chair that kept being taken by others, the crap canteen, to a thick boss who was only after promotion, the full in trays, the pending file that never went down, the knowledge that I would only be able to do a good job on such a small proportion of my workload, knowing that for my weekend off I had something lie a 30% chance of being called in - never ask your wife or friend.
The biggest draw ws that I would have been able to control my inbox. That was a cracker.
I used to deal with those whom I would have worked with and they would, on occasion, complain and moan about their job but not for reasons that would have crossed my mind to do. Once one chap moaned about his car, this at a time when parked in his car park was my pool car, a 1.3 Metro, about 4 years old.
It was quiet, the desks were brand new, as opposed to my one which had been hit by anti-aircraft fire, the computers were up to the minute and I would have had my own secretary. When I asked what would happen if the work load suddenly increased I was told that the demand was 'managed', i.e. not enough staff and it was kicked into touch.
The conditions were better and the pay, as I would have to start 'at the bottom' (not really true as I'd have been responsible for lower paid staff), was about the same as I was earning with overtime. The scheduled hours were about the same and there was an accepted limit to additional hours.
The work would have been less varied, much more so. Promotion prospects about the same although I'd set my sights to a limit and the new job would have been within my wishes.
I didn't go as there would have been certain risks for me. The other chap did. There were a couple of others on the day and neither said they would transfer.
It is fair to say that the work could be very hard but it is fair to say mine was already. It was target led but you could pick your jobs. One of the chaps working there, sorry, drinking coffee, said something along the lines that every now and again you could treat yourself to an interesting or worthwhile one where the odds were against you getting a result.
I didn't bin the job there and then but only after a long discusssion with my wife and later with a friend.
It is fair to say that had I had less years in my job I would have gone for it. It was close.
When I went back to my office, with the chaos, the phones ringing, the poor quality fittings, the one decent chair that kept being taken by others, the crap canteen, to a thick boss who was only after promotion, the full in trays, the pending file that never went down, the knowledge that I would only be able to do a good job on such a small proportion of my workload, knowing that for my weekend off I had something lie a 30% chance of being called in - never ask your wife or friend.
The biggest draw ws that I would have been able to control my inbox. That was a cracker.
I used to deal with those whom I would have worked with and they would, on occasion, complain and moan about their job but not for reasons that would have crossed my mind to do. Once one chap moaned about his car, this at a time when parked in his car park was my pool car, a 1.3 Metro, about 4 years old.
Fun Bus said:
"of course in the private sector there is the cash and profit element. Public staff won't be used to this way of working".
I wish someone would tell that to the borough council who are hounding us to pay a respite care home bill for an elderly person we help look after. No-one else in their organisation recognises our involvement, but Finance managed to find us OK.When we got hold of a social worker, their first question was "well, who is going to pay for this"? People have told us that as they get towards the end of the financial year and the money is running out, they stop returning calls so they don't have to take any more cases on which might involve expenditure.
Oh, and by the way OP - did you start this thread from your (private sector) work?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I was asked twice in fact, once around 1982 and then in 90/1. I'd moved in that time.I was told by one chap who worked for the private company that things had changed a bit and it was getting more like factory work. When I told him what it was like in my job he sort of shrugged his shoulders and said something like: Tough all round. All around me it was, not him.
I was highly skilled so was an attractive proposition to them, but I was still working on a clapped out desk, with a badly filled hole in my office floor. When my boss had his carpet in his office replaced by a foot deep Axminster, I got the fitters (it was on a weekend, my boss didn't like any disruption) to fit the old carpet in my office. My boss was furious. The carpet, it seemed, even if it was old - it certainly wasn't worn given how little work he did - was too high a quality.
I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination, suggesting that it is easy in the private sector only that it is not gold fittings and sitting around with your legs crossed in the public. I worked long hours, doing a difficult job, studying in my own time to do the best I could, and was paid substantially less than those doing a similar job in the private, in a nice office, with more chance of getting home at the end of the day. And a pretty secretary.
Had the firm collapsed - it is still going strongly - my skills would have been transferable although I probably would not have been able to pick a specific area so security wasn't bad but wasn't excellent either.
I've worked in both public sector - 30 years - and private - 18 years - and reckon that the latter was easier. That said, I would suggest that the proportion of those who want to do as good a job as they can, against that of those who just do what they are paid to do and those who just do enough to stop themselves being sacked is the same in private and public. Around a third each.
The press comes down hard on the public sector, suggesting that they are lazy, but that is just lazy reporting. I've worked with people in the public sector who have put their health on the line. And I also know that one of the most corrupt groups of people I've ever met are involved in local government - it was in finding that out that I got the second job offer.
There's not a lot of difference. Most workers want to do a good job.
I know two teachers at a local school which had all my four kids in it (not at one time) who really did dedicate their lives to helping their pupils fulfill their potential. Well above and beyond the call of duty, or pay scale come to that. Out of the whole school there was one chap who was a disaster and the regs stopped him being sacked - don't know the reason. But even with the belief that you can do bugger all and still get paid, the rest seemed dedicated and hard working. We met one, much to my daugher's disgust, on a caravan holiday in Devon. She spent mornings working on lesson plans and such.
So when I read something in the Mail about how useless teachers are - except those in the private sector of course - I just ignore it.
I have worked in both the Private Sector and the Public Sector. I have to say that the two are poles apart. The Public sector is slow moving and in my view, at times very unprofessional.
When in Public Sector meeting its not unusual for people to have discussions amongst themselves, to pass notes, text or even make phone calls. Whereas in my Private sector experience this would be a serious issue.
Long term public sector employees will find it very difficult transitioning to a privet sector role.
When in Public Sector meeting its not unusual for people to have discussions amongst themselves, to pass notes, text or even make phone calls. Whereas in my Private sector experience this would be a serious issue.
Long term public sector employees will find it very difficult transitioning to a privet sector role.
fatboy b said:
So you've never been in hospital where they made you better then?
love it when people try to defend all public sector waste by using the old 'hard working nurses' line.similar events are happening all the time, but two years ago a relative went in to A&E with a DIY inflicted flesh wound - only required a tetanus jab and stitches (otherwise perfect health), yet they still managed to become infected with MRSA and die 10 days later.
fatboy b said:
I sincerely hope you never have the need to use one then 
agree - i think i'd rather attempt a DIY repair with pritt stick and take my chances with tetanus.in addition the nurses in the ward didn't seem hard working, generally seemed dis-interested in the patients and infact actively ignored & mocked one of them.
likewise, when some golden crowned f
k nugget tried to rob us, then vandalised two cars belonging to our neighbours, oxford police kindly sent us a victim of crime leaflet through the post - ("they most likely wore latex gloves, so it won't be worth checking for prints") well worth all that tax
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