Examples of waste in the public sector
Discussion
It would be interesting to hear examples of waste in the private sector too (presumably anonymised). They get fewer headlines for obvious reasons.
For example, when working in the private sector I've been flown across Europe for a middle-managementskiing jolly strategy meeting, which isn't something I've personally seen in the public sector.
Not than I'm advocating taxpayer funded quango ski trips, but from my own experiences the invisible hand of the market doesn't make the private sector waste free.
For example, when working in the private sector I've been flown across Europe for a middle-management
Not than I'm advocating taxpayer funded quango ski trips, but from my own experiences the invisible hand of the market doesn't make the private sector waste free.
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781905641482...
If you're really interested, read that. It's jaw dropping.
If you're really interested, read that. It's jaw dropping.
I agree, I've experienced far more excess in the private sector than I have in the public sector and I have almost equally 10 years in each.
1 example is 10 of us went from the UK to Paris for lunch because we needed to stroke the ego of an established customer, in the public sector I needed to justify every mile.
1 example is 10 of us went from the UK to Paris for lunch because we needed to stroke the ego of an established customer, in the public sector I needed to justify every mile.
DieselGriff said:
I agree, I've experienced far more excess in the private sector than I have in the public sector and I have almost equally 10 years in each.
1 example is 10 of us went from the UK to Paris for lunch because we needed to stroke the ego of an established customer, in the public sector I needed to justify every mile.
The private sector doesn't grab 43% of my earnings before I even get to see it. So waste in the private sector is of no interest to me.1 example is 10 of us went from the UK to Paris for lunch because we needed to stroke the ego of an established customer, in the public sector I needed to justify every mile.
Jinx said:
DieselGriff said:
I agree, I've experienced far more excess in the private sector than I have in the public sector and I have almost equally 10 years in each.
1 example is 10 of us went from the UK to Paris for lunch because we needed to stroke the ego of an established customer, in the public sector I needed to justify every mile.
The private sector doesn't grab 43% of my earnings before I even get to see it. So waste in the private sector is of no interest to me.1 example is 10 of us went from the UK to Paris for lunch because we needed to stroke the ego of an established customer, in the public sector I needed to justify every mile.
Jinx said:
The private sector doesn't grab 43% of my earnings before I even get to see it. So waste in the private sector is of no interest to me.
That is illogical. What do you do with the money once you have it?If the private sector is the "real economy", and that sector is wasteful, then our "real economy" is f'cked too.
HundredthIdiot said:
That is illogical. What do you do with the money once you have it?
If the private sector is the "real economy", and that sector is wasteful, then our "real economy" is f'cked too.
No, the company that wasted the money is fooked, and there will always be someone else to fill the void. If the private sector is the "real economy", and that sector is wasteful, then our "real economy" is f'cked too.
There is no comparison between waste in the public and private sectors. It really is no one's business how a private company spends their money.
HundredthIdiot said:
That is illogical. What do you do with the money once you have it?
Finance debtHundredthIdiot said:
If the private sector is the "real economy", and that sector is wasteful, then our "real economy" is f'cked too.
The "Private" sector operates at a Net profit - therefore even if it is wasteful it is still positive. Private sector waste is also spent in the private sector therefore its waste keeps other industries going. Hence every pound spent by a private sector employee increases the pounds value (as a non-profitable employee is rarely employed for long - NB spread across the whole company).The "Public" sector operates at a Net loss - therefore the more wasteful it is the more negative it becomes. Every pound spent by the public sector is reduced in value (to pay for the public sector employee spending it).
Therefore reducing public sector waste is far more important than reducing private sector waste.
HundredthIdiot said:
Jinx said:
The private sector doesn't grab 43% of my earnings before I even get to see it. So waste in the private sector is of no interest to me.
That is illogical. What do you do with the money once you have it?If the private sector is the "real economy", and that sector is wasteful, then our "real economy" is f'cked too.
Its their money to use as they see fit... If they want to take a jolly on their money then so be it and I hope they enjoy themselves, after all the company must be making something called profit to be able to afford to do it... making money and it being their own... nice!!
You work in the public sector and do the same then that is a waste of money as that is my money and not yours to waste on jollies to Paris/Blackpool/etc...
MX7 said:
It really is no one's business how a private company spends their money.
You're right but if private industry wastes money then they have to work harder to remain competitive, and again no great loss to us if they go under as a result - that's just bad management - but we're talking about a world stage where we are competing against countries with much lower labour costs and subsequently lower product costs, so indirectly we are affected again. Only one rule in this game for all to understand
Pvt profits = taxes
taxes = public expenditure
thats right public sector workers...your pay is from the pvt tax take and any tax you pay is a discount from total tax spend of the pvt tax collection. Accept this and we can move on as a country. Dont think im right? proove me wrong.
Waste in public sector = increased tax spend
Waste in pvt sector = low profits (owners of the business feel the pain)
Pvt profits = taxes
taxes = public expenditure
thats right public sector workers...your pay is from the pvt tax take and any tax you pay is a discount from total tax spend of the pvt tax collection. Accept this and we can move on as a country. Dont think im right? proove me wrong.
Waste in public sector = increased tax spend
Waste in pvt sector = low profits (owners of the business feel the pain)
If I can set the record straight (before I get demonised 
) I'm not saying that private sector waste is better or worse than public sector waste, what I'm saying is that after 20 years of having worked in both I have seen far more excess waste in the private sector than in the public and this also has a devaluing influence on the country.
You also need to remember that the public sector is also completely at the mercy of the incumbent government - i.e. if the government decide that single armed black lesbian single parent mothers are under represented than every NHS trust, every school, all the armed forces etc etc need to comply and go out and employ such people - that does not mean that those people doing the employing agree with that policy.
) I'm not saying that private sector waste is better or worse than public sector waste, what I'm saying is that after 20 years of having worked in both I have seen far more excess waste in the private sector than in the public and this also has a devaluing influence on the country.You also need to remember that the public sector is also completely at the mercy of the incumbent government - i.e. if the government decide that single armed black lesbian single parent mothers are under represented than every NHS trust, every school, all the armed forces etc etc need to comply and go out and employ such people - that does not mean that those people doing the employing agree with that policy.
HundredthIdiot said:
when working in the private sector I've been flown across Europe for a middle-management skiing jolly strategy meeting, which isn't something I've personally seen in the public sector.
Not than I'm advocating taxpayer funded quango ski trips, but from my own experiences the invisible hand of the market doesn't make the private sector waste free.
Therein lies the point. One is taxpayer funded, the other isn't. If a private sector organisation gets "wasteful" and its competitors don't, it loses out. Either because it is unable to compete on price as a result of its higher costs, or because its shareholders receive a poorer return. Conversely, the government sector doesn't have competitors. Not than I'm advocating taxpayer funded quango ski trips, but from my own experiences the invisible hand of the market doesn't make the private sector waste free.
You can also bet your arse that a private sector organisation in financial distress will cut out such events pretty quickly. Most public sector employees don't even seem to realise there is a problem with the public finances.
HundredthIdiot said:
It would be interesting to hear examples of waste in the private sector too (presumably anonymised). They get fewer headlines for obvious reasons.
For example, when working in the private sector I've been flown across Europe for a middle-managementskiing jolly strategy meeting, which isn't something I've personally seen in the public sector.
Not than I'm advocating taxpayer funded quango ski trips, but from my own experiences the invisible hand of the market doesn't make the private sector waste free.
So what if the private sector wastes money - it doesn't affect taxpayers.For example, when working in the private sector I've been flown across Europe for a middle-management
Not than I'm advocating taxpayer funded quango ski trips, but from my own experiences the invisible hand of the market doesn't make the private sector waste free.
in my experience management 'offsites' are a total waste of life and everyone i know avoids them like the plague, no matter how extravagent the location or hotel. frankly anyone who considers that a reward needs a new job. on the other hand entertaining clients skiing, motorracing, golfing etc is perfectly legitimate if it wins more profits than it costs; its just churning money round other companies anyway (with the public sector taking its cut along the way). at the other end of the scale corporate jets for executive wives is just fraud and often ends very badly for the individuals and companies. public sector waste happens on a monstrous scale, i'd start by looking at IT projects and other big procurement projects. (interestingly a not inconsiderable waste on major government projects is paid by the private sector in the form of bidding costs on projects that they don't win)
i kind of take the view private sector cash is the shareholders to waste how they want... public sector cash is ours they should take a s
t load more care with it.
i kind of take the view private sector cash is the shareholders to waste how they want... public sector cash is ours they should take a s
t load more care with it.Edited by fbrs on Tuesday 20th April 21:25
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