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Transition
Employment
Civil Service
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 12
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I have a few thoughts on this;
1. In the DoD, a large percentage of civilian employees are also military retirees which means they are also receiving their military pension in addition to their regular paycheck. So that increases the odds of federal workers being better off financially, at least statistically.
2. Being a federal employee certainly has its benefits, pay and stability being chief among them, but it has its drawbacks as well. For one thing, every time the idiots in Washington start bickering about the budget, we face the possibility of furloughs and sequestration. We got furloughed last year and word is, it's going to happen again this year or next. So much for pay and stability.
3. When I was active duty, I used to look at DoD civilians with envy and hoped to get out eventually and get a GS job. I was lucky in that my job was very specialized and there were some openings and so I got out after 7 years active duty (and 7 reserves) and actually worked as a contractor for a little over a year until I was able to land a GS position. I made much more money as a contractor but I switched to GS because of the aforementioned stability. I'm now a GS12 (step 6) and to be honest, I don't particularly enjoy working for the government these days; I would quit in a second if I could but the reality is that there is nothing I could do in the private sector that would pay me as much as I make now. My job just does not translate to the private sector, it's very military specific. A lot of GS positions are like this which is why they pay a little more, because they are harder to fill on average and require specialized experience that can't found in the private sector.
4. There are definitely some bad apples that give federal employees a bad name, there is no denying that. But most of them are integral to the military's mission (at least in the DoD) and do a good job. I like to think I'm one of them but that's for other people to judge.
1. In the DoD, a large percentage of civilian employees are also military retirees which means they are also receiving their military pension in addition to their regular paycheck. So that increases the odds of federal workers being better off financially, at least statistically.
2. Being a federal employee certainly has its benefits, pay and stability being chief among them, but it has its drawbacks as well. For one thing, every time the idiots in Washington start bickering about the budget, we face the possibility of furloughs and sequestration. We got furloughed last year and word is, it's going to happen again this year or next. So much for pay and stability.
3. When I was active duty, I used to look at DoD civilians with envy and hoped to get out eventually and get a GS job. I was lucky in that my job was very specialized and there were some openings and so I got out after 7 years active duty (and 7 reserves) and actually worked as a contractor for a little over a year until I was able to land a GS position. I made much more money as a contractor but I switched to GS because of the aforementioned stability. I'm now a GS12 (step 6) and to be honest, I don't particularly enjoy working for the government these days; I would quit in a second if I could but the reality is that there is nothing I could do in the private sector that would pay me as much as I make now. My job just does not translate to the private sector, it's very military specific. A lot of GS positions are like this which is why they pay a little more, because they are harder to fill on average and require specialized experience that can't found in the private sector.
4. There are definitely some bad apples that give federal employees a bad name, there is no denying that. But most of them are integral to the military's mission (at least in the DoD) and do a good job. I like to think I'm one of them but that's for other people to judge.
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Sgt Spencer Sikder
Federal service isn't what it used to be with the new FERS retirement system. It also isn't the security that it once was, given the frequency of RIFs. Many feel that the pay is inadequate and maybe it is in some career fields. But for the most part, it is a generous system. Unfortunately there is too much complacency and in some agencies, nepotism. The federal system is also the only one in which union officers are paid tax payer dollars to perform union duties. I'm not opposed to unions, btw. I'm just not sure why the taxpayers are footing the salary of these officers. Shouldn't it be the union dues?
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MAJ James Hastings
I am a retired federal employee under FERS. I bought 12 yrs active duty into the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and finally retired as a GS-15 in March 2013. While FERS is not as generous as the old CSRS—if a FERS employee aggressively invests in the TSP (guvment version of a 401k), they can be quite comfortable in retirement.
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MAJ James Hastings
Additionally, at least in the Intelligence Community, salaries are high due to education requirements and or unique experience to successfully perform the job!
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I'm going to start off by saying I'm a federal worker, and I personally take tremendous pride in doing a great job and doing great work to help serve the citizens of this fine nation. With that being said, I've personally witnessed first hand the abuses and laziness and the ineptitude many others here have expressed. I will say that it's not as prevalent as it used to be and while it still exists, there are many more folks who are stepping forward and doing great things. I'm personally proud and honored to be a part of the federal web community where great folks are doing amazing things to make information, access to services, and access to data more readily available to the public. I've worked hard to earn my awards. I wished I made more money quite honestly, as living in the DC area is very expensive. I pray that the next furlough doesn't happen but honestly I expect it so I'm trying to build up a nest egg. I came in to my agency at a time when they desperately needed a web developer. My skills and prior experience running a design firm came in handy and was a much needed change for me. I'm grateful to have my job and it's benefits, and try not to take it for granted.
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COL John Rosnow
Very good comments about the abuses, laziness and the ineptitude and I am glad that you see it getting better. The Army was the same way in the past, and I can say I have seen a marked improvement in both our NCO and Officer Corps over the last several years.
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As a federal worker, I am grateful for job security.
As for compensation, let me just say this. I am a GS-8 step 6. My gross compensation is very generous, however my health insurance is preposterously expensive - more than my mortgage monthly.
My take home pay is only slightly better than my wife's, and she delivers newspapers.
It isn't the gravy train many people think it is.
As for compensation, let me just say this. I am a GS-8 step 6. My gross compensation is very generous, however my health insurance is preposterously expensive - more than my mortgage monthly.
My take home pay is only slightly better than my wife's, and she delivers newspapers.
It isn't the gravy train many people think it is.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
They certainly are. I know a guy in my home town who somehow managed to be classified as 100% disabled (though he gets around better than I do) --- for the past 20 years he has been pulling in a nice income (thanks to Social Security) for doing nothing. He "makes" more per year than my sister-in-law who lives in the same town and works her butt off.
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SSgt June Worden
I despise those that abuse SSD! There are many legitimate veterans deserving of compensation stuck on a hamster wheel waiting for their claims to be reviewed. How does he look himself in the mirror each morning...?
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Sgt Spencer Sikder
There was a recent article in the news regarding military retirees who collect VA Service Connected disability as well as Social Security disabilities. Thus the dilemma. If the individual worked in the private sector his/her whole career and was able to retire, they wouldn't get disability, they would get their retirement. However, if they got disabled on the job, they would get their disability and not necessarily their retirement until they reach their retirement age. So the premise that one can retire and get SSD seems odd. Now when we inject the prospect of a military retiree, who gets VA disability he/she should be able to get concurrent pay, their retirement as well as their VA S/C compensation. When we see that this same retiree is collecting SSD with VA disability, is that essentially double dipping into the "disability" well? Depends on the two disabilities I would think, but it does not. If a vet is let's say 100% for PTSD, he/she can still do some work. If the ability to do the work is harmed, let's say back injury separate of the PTSD, he/she should be able to collect SSD because of the inability to work, no? Confusing and complex, yes.
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Sgt Spencer Sikder
Not all VA S/C veterans can qualify for SSD. If the veteran hasn't worked in a job that collected SS within the previous 5 years of filing for SSD, they may not qualify.
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