Pros
In some jobs the pay is very good, and the pension arrangements are comparatively excellent. In many teams there is a great deal of team spirit, which makes hard work and long hours bearable. At its best, there is the feeling of making a real difference to the future of the country.
Cons
Unfortunately, there is a culture of bullying which is supported by HR. The bullies are usually protected and it is their victims who are forced to leave, often through dismissal on grounds of "ill health". Even on the very rare occasions when grievances are upheld, this is no impediment to the bullies being promoted and continuing to mistreat other staff. I know of one manager who was disciplined for bullying over 14 years ago, but has since been promoted and bullied at least 8 more people since then, 6 of whom were physically ill as a result. HR are terrified of compensation claims, and so lie and bully themselves in an attempt to cover up the problem. Any action that is taken is done secretly so as to protect the "reputation" of the bullies. The case with which I am most familiar was of a department in which over 20 people felt they had been mistreated, of whom a disproportionate number were woman and ethnic minorities, and although the main perpetrator left the company eventually, none of the victims have received an apology of any form as far as I am aware, and almost all have either left that department or Network Rail altogether.
