Why federal workers are better off...

2015-03-06T08:25:23-05:00

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/why-federal-workers-are-better-off-than-the-rest-of-us/ar-BBih8Iu

Why Federal Workers Are Better Off Than the Rest of Us

The federal government is America’s largest employer, with more than 2.1 million workers (and another 1.3 million active duty military personnel). A new Gallup survey finds those federal workers have it...

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Mar 6 at 2015 8:27 AM

2015-03-06T08:27:05-05:00

USA Jobs website:

https://www.usajobs.gov/

USAJOBS - The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site

This is a United States Office of Personnel Management website. USAJOBS is the Federal Government’s official one-stop source for federal jobs and employment information.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 8:29 AM

2015-03-06T08:29:14-05:00

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.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 5:48 AM

2015-03-07T05:48:57-05:00

The GS system is quite generous. My father-in-law is a DAC. He's a retired LTC, who went directly into a GS position. He is now a Program Manager, and was just selected on the most recent CSL for a GS-15 PM position. Pretty cool. So, I looked up how much I could make as an entry-level GS employee with a bachelors (GS-7 is where I've seen most of these jobs before), and in my area, I would immediately get an $8000 raise a year. I've been teaching for 9 years, and an entry-level position would be an $8000 raise! So, I think it's quite generous.

Of course, money isn't everything. I have personally chosen to remain a private-school teacher for numerous reasons. And the headache of the GS world may not be worth the pay. I don't know; however, I can speak from my slice of the world. It's a generous compensation package.

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Mar 7 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-03-07T08:03:14-05:00

This is one of the larger problems we have in this country.

"The federal government is America’s largest employer, with more than 2.1 million workers".

The fact that the federal government has grown this large should be concerning to us all.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 7 at 2015 9:08 AM

2015-03-07T09:08:53-05:00

After reading the story it says that:
"Gallup’s figures were based on more than 80,000 interviews with American ages 18 and older who had full-time jobs. The interviews were conducted in the 12 months through Feb. 15."

What it did not say is where these interviews took place because as we know certain areas of the country GS employees receive location payments because of the high cost of living. Therefore, hypothetically if they interviewed a 18 year waitress at Billy Bob's Diner in West by God Nowhere Iowa and a GS-7 18 year old in Washington DC there is going to be a huge difference in pay and benefits.

Do I think the federal government system needs to be reviewed and changes made probably.

Response by SGT Rik Thibodeau made Mar 7 at 2015 11:05 AM

2015-03-07T11:05:46-05:00

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.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 7 at 2015 12:45 PM

2015-03-07T12:45:56-05:00

When John Kennedy was elected President he exhorted us to "Ask not..." You know that part, don't you. What you may not know was that the federal government was about to lose the top tier of its employees, most of whom had been hired following the end of WWII. Thus, Kennedy directed federal agencies to recruit the brightest and the best, and fast track them into supervisory roles.

Recruiters fanned out across the nation's colleges and help special exams.

I was one of those selected for the Social Security Administration. One of approximately 90 out of almost 800 who took the exam. Yes, I was proud. No, I wasn't going to earn a lot but there was a promising future with lots of security.

After two years, I couldn't get out of there fast enough. The Vietnam War was a godsend for me if not others. I enlisted.

You laugh.

The difference between military service and federal service is greater than you might think. Both are beset with rules and regulations. However, in the military there was a sense of mission-orientation. There is no such thing in federal service. Civil servants are expected to follow the rules. It doesn't matter if nothing is accomplished so long as the rules are followed. I'll save you the specifics. Simply accept that it was mind-numbing.

Today, things are still the same. Mind-numbing adherence to rules. Great job security and benefits. However, the pay is no longer niggardly. In fact, the average is greater than the average for civilian workers. For example, I have seen reports that when the Obama Administration began there was just one person in the Dept of Transportation earning more than $100,000. Now there are more than 1,000.

You would think that we should have the best government we could afford. In fact, we have the worst government that we can't afford. The reason: Public Service Workers Unions.

We need some new representatives who will bust those unions and restore federal service to its rightful place.

Response by SPC David Shaffer made Mar 8 at 2015 1:44 AM

2015-03-08T01:44:37-05:00

Good discussion. It's true that Fed jobs have more stability but these days I would still be worried.

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Mar 8 at 2015 3:32 AM

2015-03-08T03:32:03-04:00

I spend 5 days a week with federal employees and have decided that federal service is probably not for me. The union protects the lazy, unmotivated workers so that only a few actually do the work. It is highly inefficient and very top heavy. So if you just want job security and don't want to do anything or okay with being the only one who does anything...congrats, it is probably the right area for you.

*edited to include*
This is only my experience, I am sure not all federal service jobs are the same.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Mar 8 at 2015 11:13 AM

2015-03-08T11:13:03-04:00

If a federal job is not of interest, perhaps something at the state or local level is:

https://www.govloop.com/community/blog/13-tips-finding-state-local-government-jobs/?elq=0687ccadf61a49c886bf02903c919237&elqCampaignId=6332

13 Tips for Finding State and Local Government Jobs - GovLoop

Getting a job in state or local government isn’t always the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re looking for a management position. Some individuals work their way into the public sector through internships and fellowships, while others start as line staff and slowly work their way up. Here, are13 tips to help you on... Read more »

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Mar 8 at 2015 3:31 PM

2015-03-08T15:31:14-04:00

I think they are better off because they are working with/for the service members....and many times they are either retired military or have family members in the military (or with military experience).

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 9:13 AM

2015-03-11T09:13:34-04:00

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.