You took the right path in life. No joke. I'm off work sick with mono, but normally I work 40 hour weeks. At the end of the month I see a good 40% taken out my salary as income tax, not to mention all the other tax I pay; council tax, VAT, fuel duty etc.
It depends on your circumstances though, you have to weigh it up. For most people, only receiving 60% of their salary still leaves them financially better than on JSA, but it depends on how you value your time.
I've worked in hospitality (60 hours a week!), retail (underpaid and abused, living in a fear culture) and retail banking (which I was made redundant from). Banking was the most sinfully dull, but best paying job I've had (15k) for 35 hours a week. Since being made redundant I'm on benefits, but my housing is paid for and I have enough for necessities. It's not a terrible situation.
Before I left the bank, a senior colleague told me to make the most of my time and use it wisely. It was good advice, losing my job was worrying at first, but I'm using the time to try and start up my own thing, become financially independent. It's difficult without money though.
I think sometimes, you can get too comfortable having your soul devoured by monotonous routine, it's safe, it's secure, it's what we've been brought up to see as the way to function.
I'm not advocating being a doll monkey, or a scrounger. Think about what you want long term, and how you can achieve that. Think about financial independence, no longer living in fear that you could lose your job.
Just my $0.02
P.S. Bit of a lame quote, but holds true - "Don't get so caught up making a living that you forget to make a life."