word floating around the Army areas of the Pentagon is that the Army will furlough folks 2 hours a day, four days a week and have one full 8 hour day, that way the Army will be able to show it can work every day despite the furlough. And I’m not joking on this one. The Navy and the Air Force want to close all operations every Friday.
I am a federal employee for the Air Force and as a result of my post, I got roasted by about 50-60% of those who responded. Unfortunately I got lumped in people who do waste the dollars, people like those who have a military retirement, a federal civilian retirement, and who are still working part-time for the federal government.
Yes, I agree, there are many who abuse the system. I work with several of them so I see the waste, but I am not one of those causing it. Matter of fact, the reason I am still in a GS-04 spot is because I raised the issue with management and they blacklisted me from getting any higher paying positions because I did choose to speak out.
In my defense, for those who are still not convinced, there are many people working in the federal system who are going to be hurting really bad, really soon. Take me for instance, I do not have a military retirement (I separated after 10 years), I worked 3 years on STEP (Student Temporary Employment Program) and I've been a full-time employee since June 2007. I am only a GS-04. My take home pay right now is about $1800 a month. The 20% deduction in my pay will take that down to about $1400.00 a month.
I hope to lump my military and civilian time together but even it that happens, my retirement pay in 2022 will be (drumroll please), a whopping $415.00 a month BEFORE TAXES! I know people like the ones I described above who bring home over $3,000 a month in retirement who are still working!
So before everyone goes off saying that the "everyday" federal employee is milking the system, keep in mind that is the ones like I described above who are milking the system, not the thousands of others like me who struggle to make ends meet every day.
Are you talking about civilian employees or the actual Soldiers? I haven’t heard a peep about the latter.
“word floating around the Army areas of the Pentagon is that the Army will furlough folks 2 hours a day, four days a week and have one full 8 hour day, that way the Army will be able to show it can work every day despite the furlough.”
I can’t think of a better way to royally piss off the civilian workforce. Bad enough they’re taking an unnecessary 20% cut in pay, but now they would make them work that kind of schedule.
Besides, it’s not totally the pentagon’s decision. How the furlough is implemented must be negotiated with the federal unions.