civil service

[gina32]

a friend of mine is in the civil service and had to move offices, from one floor to the next and as a reward the entire office were given a buffet lunch as a thank you, of course with tax payers money!! surely we have better things to do with the money than that.

[Loosehead]

Don't be a plonker, It's a drop in the ocean. Tell you what, lop 0.00001% offf the NHS budget and you could build a school. Now that's where savings should be made.

[gina32]

im not being a "plonker" i just think that the sort of money spent on stupid things like that could be put to better use, saving could be made wherever you look

[CheekyChops]

A buffet lunch is hardly spending loads of money - it happens all the time at loads of places, it's just that you don't know about it.

I used to work for a High Street Bank and when they did something like this, my brother always used to complain that his bank charges were paying for stuff like that.

[gina32]

i know these sorts of things go on but that doesnt mean its right

[scotchollie]

Hi Gina - would you rather that the staff came in on Saturday, on double time to move?

Or Sunday, on triple time?

I think, a buffet lunch, if everyone pitched in moving boxes, and so on, is a fair price to pay!

[gina32]

well actually they closed the offfice down and did it so not only do they get a "free lunch" but the public also have to suffer in the process of the move, also how about instead of giving them a paid half day for maundy thursday they do it then instead????

[THECORBYLOON]

The Maundy Thursday half-day need not be taken on that day, it can be taken later. What Department does yir pal work in?

[Mrs_Pegasus]

Trust me there is more happening in private business that you are paying for.

I have worked for the civil service and did you know they get a day off for the queen's birthday as well!

Like so many have said, its a drop in the ocean and why should these people be treated differently to businesses who spend millions on hospitality and goodwill.

Personally, I concern myself with bigger problems like 3rd world debt and the iraq war!

[gina32]

firstly he DOES have to take the afternoon off on maundy thursday the office is closed so doesnt have a choice, he cant carry it over and secondly he doesnt get the queens birthday off! obviously different departments work differently

[vehelpfulguy]

It is called "oiling the wheels".

I would imagine the staff are not too happy about the move, the disruption, moving desks and cupboards, moving phones and computers, sorting out new seating arrangements.

If the staff are upset then they take days off "sick", their workrate drops, they all stand around in little groups moaning about the move.

The lunch cost far less than having a load of disgruntled employees with a low workrate.

It may be that the lunch came out of the budget for the move anyway.

[THECORBYLOON]

So what Department is it?

[gina32]

what do you want to know for?

[THECORBYLOON]

It was your saying the public had to suffer when the office was closed just made me wonder which department it was. If you don't want to say, it's not a big deal.