Spoonbill, you must be mad (I must ask you for some of those pills, only joking)?
Compared to the private sector life within NATS is fantastic for me having experienced years of being 'shafted' by my previous employer.
There are a many excellent non-NATS units, but the view of ATC by senior management from my own experience is usually based upon the costs involved in running the unit. Well paid staff who sit on their ar*es all day long.
My previous employer had an HR manager who was angry that I was on a higher salary than he/she was!
A shocking attitude especially as if he/she made a mistake it would probably only have a 'small' financial penalty where as if I make a mistake............
Nuff said.
Now where is my bonus?