Anyone here had a “F*** IT” moment that led to retirement?

Agree 100% with those upthread who remarked how university work has changed for the worst. I left accademia in the early 2000s, having probably had the best of it. Universities were still about expanding one's imagination and experience. We did not have to wade through all this dreary woke and transgender stuff as both staff and students do now. Working in higher education now must be like treading on eggshells and being terrified of misgendering someone or committing a micro-racist offence by admiring someone's hairstyle.

My husband had a moment like that and, hard though it was to get through the lean years that followed until his pension kicked in, we're both glad he did it. He was a higher-education teacher, preparing young people for a career in engineering (the kind of thing that used to be called an apprenticeship before the fools that run education in this country decided to scrap them). Due to another massively stupid government decision, the college was "put out to tender" (ie, sold to the highest bidder). The company that won have nothing to do with education; they make and sell things and are solely concerned with monetary profit. DH watched standards falling and falling as hard cash took over from educational standards as the raison d'etre of the college. Students who didn't have the ability to pass their exams were given "second" chances time and time again, to the point of absurdity. In the end, tutors were told to "make allowances" and pass those students anyway (because failures look so bad on the performance charts). He argued, explained, tried his level best to get the company managers to see that giving people an education is not the same as making and selling nuts & bolts. He came close to getting sacked (except he was still technically a civil servant and it's very difficult to sack a public employee). In the end, it was a student who was the last straw (ironic, considering DH had worked for years to get his students a better deal). "You don't care about us," said the student, "You just take your nice fat salary and think to hell with how we're going to get through the system." DH dismissed the class early (total anathema to him, actually), walked to his office and wrote out his resignation. We had a tough few years without his "fat salary" but it was worth the pain. At least DH has been able to live with his head held high. Since then, all universities and colleges put money, bums on seats and pass quotas first, whether they've been sold off to the commercial sector or left in the hands of academics. It makes me sick, which is why this posting is so long and tedious! Thanks for listening...

Yes, worked in a school in a very demanding job (exam officer), difficult head but when a new deputy head joined she was so impossible to work with and wanted me to work her way ( after 15 years of managing perfectly well) had a blazing risk with her on the last day of the Autumn term and thought ‘ I don’t have to put up with this anymore ‘, typed my resignation letter, went to the head and told him I wasn’t coming back.

A difficult couple of months followed, but I am so glad I did it.

Blazing row

I certainly had such a moment at work and on an absolute whim checked out my pension status and promptly applied for early (55) retirement. My husband and I retired within a month of each other.
It turned out to be the best decision ever as he only had a few years of his and at least we were able to spend these years together.

The majority of us seem to have our “F”
moments when new management arrive and drive us out with their new ideas etc. I retired from the work l loved, as a public health nurse managing a small hardworking team when my new line manager who had no idea what we did reorganised the whole team’s role. I decided that my mother would appreciate my help and support far more and I retired at 64. The lovely consultant I worked with also jacked it in 3 months later !

JackyB

PS: I never use that word either. I've never seen the point.

The word isn't the point here.

JackyB

PS: I never use that word either. I've never seen the point.

Good for you!!!!!

I don't use that word either!! Does that .make 3 or 4 of us who have the appropriate grammar?😊

No, because the word f* is one of the best words for using in such a variety of ways.

Delia22

I don't use that word either!! Does that .make 3 or 4 of us who have the appropriate grammar?😊

Like I said, the F-word isn't the point of this thread! And having worked with words my entire life, I like to think that my vocabulary is as broad as anyone's, but there are times when only certain words will do!

Let's say, a fiddlesticks moment.

I worked until State Pension age, though I would have loved to give up a couple of years earlier, when I was stressed and exhausted. I could not afford to leave before my pension kicked in as a single person.

It’s an interesting question, so I had a look at the figures, and the need for effort to get unemployed people back to work is definitely age biased, in that it is the younger people, under 25, who are the biggest group of unemployed. Over 55s who class as unemployed have been returning to work, probably driven by the rise in the cost of living.
www.statista.com/statistics/974421/unemployment-rate-uk-by-age/
I presume the over 55s who have given up work are mainly not claiming universal credit, so they aren’t in the figures - if they can afford not to work, there isn’t much any government can do to get them back, other than increase taxes and the cost of living to force them into it?

The statistics for younger people show 16-24 which is quite misleading as under 18s are supposed to be still in compulsory education or training so will not be working, except maybe part-time and cannot claim benefits. Even at 18, many are still at school. These young people cannot be counted as unemployed.

My understanding is that the graph only show employment benefit claimants, so students can’t claim it can they?

I presume the over 55s who have given up work are mainly not claiming universal credit, so they aren’t in the figures - if they can afford not to work, there isn’t much any government can do to get them back, other than increase taxes and the cost of living to force them into it?
They could increase the number of years needed to get a full state pension. This would benefit those who start work in their teens, who are, perhaps, less likely to have good occupational pensions, and cut the pension bill for those who spend longer in education and take early retirement. It wouldn't be popular, but it would be hard to argue that it was unfair, if they phased it in rather than do it with immediate effect.

MissAdventure

No, because the word f* is one of the best words for using in such a variety of ways.

Oh yes!

Well fiddle dee dee, GrannyG... I can't imagine you having one of those naughty word moments.

MissInterpreted

Delia22

I don't use that word either!! Does that .make 3 or 4 of us who have the appropriate grammar?😊

Like I said, the F-word isn't the point of this thread! And having worked with words my entire life, I like to think that my vocabulary is as broad as anyone's, but there are times when only certain words will do!

I agree. And not only that, but I know the difference between vocabulary and grammar, and can swear grammatically when I choose to.

MissAdventure

Well fiddle dee dee, GrannyG... I can't imagine you having one of those naughty word moments.

I actually have frequent those moments

Sometimes it is just what’s needed.

I am not worried if others want to judge me, I know you won’t

Nah, f*%#$ that!

Are you really going to care what some random on the internet thinks of you?

If you go over to Mumsnet its used liberally and by people (some of whom) are extremely well educated. It can come across as very funny.

However when I watch some historical series on TV and the characters are saying "F" every few minutes it does begin to grate. It seems to be a fashion.

My father worked on the Liverpool docks during the war and must have been used to robust language. I never once heard him use the word. Nor the "C" word either.

Quite a few F word virgins on here😄 it’s not great worked into everyday speech but is brilliant for certain moments.
Posted the top comment too soon and almost said F😁

I think there is a time and a place. I do swear, but only when I am confident that people around me (online or off) won't be offended.