1st Public Sector gig... what to expect?

**gingerjedi** · 7 April 2009, 15:40

The key to getting on with public sector employees and having a long fruitful gig is to do your work and a bit of theirs so they can continue to have long breaks, breakfasts etc.

Don't make them look lazy by massively outperforming them as the boss will soon be on their backs for not being as productive as you, when that happens you're as good as dead.

Ignore the rule book and do whatever social events they like too, and whatever you do don't mention the money, I've never understood why public sector work pays such good rates whilst the employees get crap?

**minestrone** · 7 April 2009, 16:21

Done a couple, at least 30% of people over 40 are waiting for their pension and do no work at all. Pretty funny as their bosses can never get them to do any work.

**mailric** · 7 April 2009, 16:34

Originally posted by minestrone View Post

Done a couple, at least 30% of people over 40 are waiting for their pension and do no work at all. Pretty funny as their bosses can never get them to do any work.

brilliant

Do they still work on flex-time and get time in lieu for avery extra minute they work after 4pm?

**chris79** · 7 April 2009, 16:42

The last public sector gig I worked on I turned up at 9am sharp, then sat around for 30 mins waiting for my client to finish eating her breakfast and cup of tea before I got introduced round the office, etc.

**the_duderama** · 7 April 2009, 16:48

You seem to get more empire building than in private sector, and people do seem to be more willing to stab you in the back.

Also a lot of wastage, I used to work for a company that managed a public sector network, another managed the desktops/servers, yet they still had the need for a network manager. Never understood what he did as the contract management stuff was done by another department.

**SizeZero** · 7 April 2009, 16:56

Just ask who runs the kitty for the tea/coffee/milk supplies and wave a fiver around. They'll welcome you like a long lost brother.

**mailric** · 7 April 2009, 19:04

Originally posted by SizeZero View Post

Just ask who runs the kitty for the tea/coffee/milk supplies and wave a fiver around. They'll welcome you like a long lost brother.

Chipping in to the brew kitty... but where would you stand with IR35 on that one?

It sounds just like I imagined... its going to be interesting.

The commute is a bltch as well so I'll be getting into the office about 8ish to beat the traffic chaos... which should give me plenty of time to post on CUK before everyone else shows up!

**Mr.Whippy** · 7 April 2009, 19:16

What to expect? Not a PC thats for sure... I'm 3 months in to my first public sector gig and still dont have any PC's to enable me to do the work I'm contracted to

**BolshieBastard** · 7 April 2009, 19:21

Originally posted by mailric View Post

Just got my 1st Public Sector gig having only previously worked in the real world.

The only public sector people I've ever met before have been complete and utterly useless muppets with no regard for timeliness or budgets.... is this common?

Anything else I should note before I go in and upset the civil servants and get my gig cancelled?!

Yes, lose your attitude.

1st Public Sector gig... what to expect?