Posted on 12/01/2009 7:28:11 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
I used to work for the federal government (30 years ago). The pay was quite good, at least for those put in the “professional” grades and its gotten better as Bush Sr. gave in to demands for “Pay comparability” with the private sector (”Pay comparability” should go hand in hand with the lack of job security in the private sector). In general, at least back then, you not only got the across the board percentage raise, but also a “step increase” amounting to a few percentage points (even though you didn’t advance in “grade”) in recognition of gaining another year’s seniority. The pensions were quite generous, you had virtual absolute job security. There were many very talented and hard-working employees in the federal government and unfortunately, many that thought only of sick days off, vacation, gaming retirement parties and other functions to avoid work, and their “looming” pension (what a way to spend the best years of your life, thinking about retiring when you’re in your twenties).
Disagree, FRiend. I've seen the pay scale...my wife's a GS-12. Her salary is keeping us afloat during these times.
Perhaps a secretary starts at 28K, but the benefits are far greater than she'd get in the private sector.
There's a lot to be said for the stability that goes with the positions, particularly in today's market.
I learned the hard way that the average life expectancy of a small company controller/CFO in Dallas is 18-24 months. After the experiences I've had in the private sector, I'm not turning my nose up at less "lucrative" opportunities in the public sector.
2% is nothing. I really think your comments are unfair and unjustified. I know alot of hard working federal employees that put their lives at risk to protect this country. Start where the problem lies, in congress.
I won’t be getting a raise this year, either - as a matter of fact, I’m lucky I have a job right now. We have college educated kids applying for minimum wage jobs here.
Must be nice to be a fed employee.
I think that the next time anyone proposes increases in the miminum wage, they should use Obama’s quotes that by increasing pay too much would lead to agencies reducing hiring since they couldn’t afford to pay it.
Other than the United States Military 90% of federal employees lives are at risk only if they fall out of their chairs while sleeping at work.
Join the club. :( this is my 2nd year in a row without a raise. Sucks, but I’m glad I still have a job.
I hope you get a job that makes even more than that. You are a homeschool mom aren’t you? If I am mistaken...sorry, but regardless you are one of the best FREEPERS on this site IMHO as your have proven time and time again.
>> 2% is nothing.
2% is a LOT compared to the private sector, where raises are nonexistent and salary cuts (and layoffs!) are COMMON. Why do you think government employees are owed a salary increase when TAXPAYERS are getting pounded?
>> I really think your comments are unfair and unjustified.
Of course. The union mantra has always been, and always will be, “UNFAIR”.
>> I know alot of hard working federal employees that put their lives at risk to protect this country.
And I know even more federal employees that sit on their fat butts and barely do their job at all, because there is utterly no bottom line for them to work to support. Lazy overpaid bureaucrats and “notmyjob” workerdrones abound in the federal government like rats abound in an abandoned food warehouse. By the way, I’m not talking about our military. I’m talking ONLY about federal civilian employees.
>> Start where the problem lies, in congress.
A vacuous comment. The problem does lie in congress, because they won’t cut spending. But what does cutting spending entail, exactly? CUTTING THE BLOAT FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY, that’s what! So we’re right back to where we started: CUT FEDERAL PAYROLLS BY 20%. For starters... MORE next year!
they should not be getting a pay raise.
he needs to save money. perhaps he should use the pay raise money for the troops
You are misinformed. Total compensation of government employees is much higher than comparable private sector employees especially at the low end. Highly talented individuals can certainly obtain higher compensation but most government employees have much higher total compensation especially now in this recession.
Oh my... thank you so much!!!! Yes, I do homeschool one, the other two go because they are higher up in grades and I so much suck at math!! I’ve heard there are groups where people swap out skills with other homeschool parents, but there aren’t a lot in my area. Heck, houses are a few miles apart and that’s just to call someone your neighbor! But I think I will try harder, however I’m happy to live in a very conservative and rural area. They still say the pledge every day including a ‘moment of silence’, they still have the honor program of flag guard, and I cannot tell you how fabulous Veterans day is! The whole day is used for programs set up with Veterans of all wars, from WW2 onward. The kids go around to each speaker who brings weapons, clothing, MRE’s from all major conflicts and wars. So I’m kind of proud of this system.
Anyway, I DO hope to get one soon. I didn’t mean to sound my frustration to you, but I was seriously asking, are there private jobs like that anymore? Because it’s so frustrating around here. And I do know you are correct, the big money isn’t in the average federal worker. I don’t want to sound like I begrudge our federal employees, because we need them a lot too. I think I am just frustrated at the seemingly lack of concern of Obama. I know when I go to government offices in Atlanta, they are probably 90% black employees and that is not a racist observation, but a factual one. However when I go, all I hear is the employees yammering on and on about how GREAT Obama is. I took my dad to the VA and mentioned the cuts and snorted about him and the (black) VA doctor went on a 10 minute tyrade about how he was the best President in the history of ever regarding the VA and blah blah blah.
Anyway, thank you SO MUCH. You have made my morning.
>> Fire the 25% of unneeded federal employees first, then I would say give the remaining ones a 2% increase.
That approach would be A-OK, too!
And I'm home with the flu. Next snappy comeback?
I hope your flu gets better. Seriously.
And now, let’s get real. Across the board, Federal government employees are less capable than their civilian counterparts — less productive — and overpaid.
You can bitch and moan about how unfair it is that everyone disses government employees all you want. But the “everyman” in the cold cruel world out there knows the score, and what’s more, everyone knows WHY: you don’t compete!
You simply don’t have the relentless pressure to produce against a bottom line. You don’t compete in the game where the rules say you’ll be out of business next year (or next month!) if you don’t produce and don’t win.
If if bugs you that the folks who DID and DO compete and HAVE taken it on the chin as a consequence, don’t think so highly of you comfy government drones — tough. Get used to it!
You never had to compete; you never WILL have to compete.
And you’re not fooling anyone if you claim otherwise.
Government employees get less respect because they have chosen the guaranteed soft life and the easy way out. You don’t deserve the respect of someone struggling in private enterprise, and no matter how much you think you should have it, you’ll never get that respect, except maybe from each other.
By the way, I spent a year in a shipyard. Interfaced with LOTS of government employees, and LOTS of union yardbirds. They weren’t always incompetent, but I can say, unequivocally, they were NEVER operating with a sense of urgency, and it didn’t really matter what the operational commitments were! And God help you if you’re in the way when the quitting whistle blows — that’s all I can say.
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