Think I might leave the Public Service....

LegacyUser

Hi all,
I'm 45, worked in semi-state sector for many many years and 6 years ago took voluntary redundancy and joined the public service in a junior admin role.

As I have a BSc and MSc in IT I reckoned I'd get a few promotions no bother..
I got one promotion and now its all fallen apart...pension levies, pay cuts, no promotions, more cuts to come...TBH I'm just about managing at the mo...

I have an interview this week for an IT role in a large Irish company..certainly more pay and good conditions..seems pretty secure, but who can tell...

Would I be mad to leave the permanent pensionable job in Public service...even though there's lots more cuts on the way (and I'm already under pressure fincially..)...and god knows what else to come?

What ye reckon?

Nody

Not really; you've missed the gravy train by joining the PS to late (and you'd be very unlikely to get promoted due to skills as it is based on timed served) and if you get an offer with better money/benefits on the table (PS or private) I'd take it.

Zen65

EXPublicSector? wrote: »

Would I be mad to leave the permanent pensionable job in Public service...

No.

It might be mad to ask for advice about a matter which is financial (or at least that seems to be the thrust of your post) when you have not disclosed any financial information.

I'm not suggesting you disclose any financial information here! I would suggest you talk to somebody who is a professional and might be better placed to help, like somebody in MABS, for example?


Be at peace,

Z

pow wow

No, but there will always be people who will tell you that you are mad to leave - usually people outside the public service who have very little idea of how things really are 'inside

OP I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it just yet as you don't know you'll get the job and you'd be working yourself up over nothing. Realistically, although your current conditions are 'manageable' - they are unlikely to get better and may very well get worse.

I left an established post in the civil service in NI for a similar reason - I could have stayed there forever and lost out on promotions to people who were less qualified/experienced but had more time served in the particular Department I was with. Job security isn't everything but it's part of it, as are finances and being able to go in to work every day not feeling like you're on a highway to nothing. It is all about balance after all. Also agree with Nody above - you joined too late to be onto a very cushy number.

Good luck with the interview!!

Sleepy

Factor your pension entitlements, holidays in your current role into your decision.

One major one to consider is the hours involved in most Private Sector roles. I possibly earn more than I would in an equivalent IT role in the PS (I doubt it but it's possible, I earn less than the average PS wage before factoring in PS pension entitlements) but I definitely work much longer hours, have less benefits and am required to do a lot more travel in my own time than I would be in the Public Sphere.

Personally, I'd love the 9 to 5 stability of a PS job right now as I've a young family and hate the days when I leave before the kids are up and don't get home til they're already in bed. Wanna swap?

Mrs OBumble

EXPublicSector? wrote: »

Would I be mad to leave the permanent pensionable job in Public service...even though there's lots more cuts on the way

IMHO, nothing is really permanent these days. The govt could change the rules re permanency of PS jobs at any time. Sure the unions might kick up a bit, but they need to be weakened anyhow.

If you're being a CO at the moment, you must be bored in you job. How many years can you see youself doing that for, and how many of your current colleagues would need to retire before you're next in line for an interesting job?

InReality

Promotions are no longer time based in the CS.

tenchi-fan

It depends on how much you currently get paid and how much of a risk you're willing to take in your new job. No one knows what sort of cut will be applied to public service pensions but given you're 45 you might be spared the worst of them.

The private sector is worse than the public sector for job stability and I know a lot of companies currently have pay-freezes and promotion bans (generally you can take on more work, just without more money!) You might need to contribute over 30% of your wages into a pension fund and don't forget that come next year you can only get tax relief on a miserable 20% (as opposed to the previous 48%).

Wishbone Ash

Nody wrote: »

you'd be very unlikely to get promoted due to skills as it is based on timed served

Any promotion I've got had nothing to do with time served nor do I know anyone in the Pubic Service who has

Sleepy wrote: »

I'd love the 9 to 5 stability of a PS job right now

A large percentage of the Public Service do not work Mon - Fri, 9 to 5. You may be confusing the Public Service with the Civil Service. I'll be doing a 13 hour shift on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day.

wmpdd3

I think the pension is the clinker, look at a pension calc to see how much you would have to contribute to come out with, say 17,000 per year on retirement.

Even with cuts to the public service pension, its still going to be more than the state pension. See how much you would have to pay in and add that to your current wages.

Capt'n Midnight

First thought Stay where you are till the recession is over.

Second thought far away fields are green.

Third thought check out all the perks of the public sector, flexitime



In private sector my pension decreased in value,
in the private sector I didn't get paid to answer calls at night
I been on salary with no overtime
I've been in jobs where I wanted to leave on the first day
In the private sector even if you are permanent you can be given a months pay in lieu of notice and be asked to leave the building , (redundancy is capped at about €10K) and until you are permanent they can just say bye-bye

Have you checked the stability of the company / sector

would you be happy there - remember a job for life would relieve a lot of stress

irishguy

EXPublicSector? wrote: »

Hi all,
I'm 45, worked in semi-state sector for many many years and 6 years ago took voluntary redundancy and joined the public service in a junior admin role.

As I have a BSc and MSc in IT I reckoned I'd get a few promotions no bother..
I got one promotion and now its all fallen apart...pension levies, pay cuts, no promotions, more cuts to come...TBH I'm just about managing at the mo...

I have an interview this week for an IT role in a large Irish company..certainly more pay and good conditions..seems pretty secure, but who can tell...

Would I be mad to leave the permanent pensionable job in Public service...even though there's lots more cuts on the way (and I'm already under pressure fincially..)...and god knows what else to come?

What ye reckon?

The IT sector is doing pretty well at the moment in Ireland. The big thing would be pension you will have to weigh that up with any increase you get.
Also I am sure you will have to work longer hours and overtime (possibly unpaid) and work harder. If your up for it I would say you would have better opportunities to advance in the private sector.