Posted on 08/31/2009 2:37:14 PM PDT by gartrell bibberts
I can tell you that while the private sector is cutting back on things such as 401k matching and other compensation. (401k matching is being dropped in the private sector at a very rapid rate). Benefits to government employees at ALL levels are doing nothing but expanding. Just do some research on postal employee compensation and benefits. Mailmen are not engineers but some are paid like they graduated from MIT. There are many many burger flipping government jobs. Ever been to the DMV? Now think abut them making $20 per hour and a full complement of other compensation, to include every government paid holiday in the book.
Nope, not even close to being right.
Really? want to show me some of the “cutbacks” you are refering to. Wage cuts, cuts to retirement compensaton, 401k matching gone, reduced holiday pay, reduction in medical benefits, anything. Show me a link to a news artical where federal employees have had reduction in compensation. The private sector is seeing all of this.
What federal jobs are getting pay cuts?
Why don’t you do your own research. You can try google for new stories about state and municipal cutbacks.
I was just figuring you had something specific in mind. You said I was not even close to right. I’m not aware of any cuts in wages or compensation to any significant degree to federal employees. I’m keenly aware of these cuts in the private sector. It’s amazing how these things happen in the private sector where compensation is directly tied to making a profit.
So you are saying federal employees are not getting high end pay, Cadillac health care plans, gold plated retirement packages with very large matching contributions, Job security that simply can’t be compared to the private sector. I could go on.
I’m still not sure where you get I’m not even close to being right. I think you need to do some research. Yes I know the argument about the burger flippers but when you look close it’s a moot point. We are coddling federal employees like they are little CEOs and simultaneously wondering why the government just keeps getting bigger.
Here in the private sector, my company lays people off daily. They are very quiet about it. You never know when you are safe.
In the Fedgov it's pretty well telegraphed ahead of time when you're going to lose your job.
In the mid 90's I was involved with the base realignment and closure (BRAC) of Mare Island Naval Shipyard and I was tasked to transfer one their unique functions to another shipyard.
Anyway, about 6000 people lost their jobs at that shipyard (other shipyards closed too) and they had just about a year to prepare, find other jobs, sell their houses, etc.
A couple of years before that all the shipyards went through a RIF (reduction in force) as part of the "peace dividend". It was first in first out.
There have been smaller RIF's from time to time throughout the years.
So, anyway, there are certainly advantages to government employment and if you're willing to put up with some serious BS it's not bad.
As for Cadillac bene's here's what I get:
Health care: I get to choose between a half dozen insurance companies and HMO's that are allowed to operate in my state. Gov pays half, I pay half.
TSP (like a 401k): Gov puts in 1% then matches up to 5%.
Social security: I pay my 6.5%, gov pays their 6.5%
Navy retirement: I pay 1%, it's basically a pension that is designed to make up 1/3 of your retirement. There is a double dipping penalty to make sure you don't go over a maximum, so social security payments will be reduced by whatever amount that is.
Retirement age depends on the year you were born. For me it's 56 with 30 years. For those born after 1970 I think it is, it is 60 and 30.
Leave: 4 hours sick, 8 hours annual leave (I'm an old timer so I get 8 hours, it starts at 4) per pay period.
I don't complain. Better than most but it's not like I'm a Congressman. I guess it's more of an Oldmobile than a Cadillac.
"Benefits to government employees at ALL levels are doing nothing but expanding."
See the ALL? Now you want to direct the topic to Fed only and pretend the ALL doesn't exist anymore.
Forget it, discussion over...
not all. Hubby works for the VA system. Lotta soldiers coming home and needing services. He takes care of the HVAC and refrigeration in a hospital.
the truth hurts....public employees get better pay and benefits and wonderful retirements....no more can you complain about how awful it is to be a public worker....
its like the teacher thing...they actually get pain very well, have excellent benefits and retirement and work a partial year with many, many, many days off....and yet we always hear how horrible they get paid.....just pure bs....
Umm,no. I will go with ALL levels. Show me any report of government workers losing benefits to any significant degree. The effect is just worse at the Fed level.
If the discussion is over it’s because you can’t come up with any documentation to support your argument.
“oh stop it....if there is menial work, its in the public sector.....
the truth hurts....public employees get better pay and benefits and wonderful retirements....no more can you complain about how awful it is to be a public worker....
its like the teacher thing...they actually get pain very well, have excellent benefits and retirement and work a partial year with many, many, many days off....and yet we always hear how horrible they get paid.....just pure bs....
“
Glad to see someone gets it!!
How long do you have to work in the private sector before you have 3 months worth of vacation a year! Gimme a break.
And don’t forget School administrators and how horrible they have it. What a tough job that is. Yeah Right!
GAWD - you’re an embarrassment to FReepers everywhere! You will spend the time and energy to defend your ignorant assumptions but you won’t lift a finger to do basic research...Wow!
Here - I’ll hold your hand:
1. Go to GOOGLE
2. Type in STATE AND MUNICIPAL CUTBACKS 2009
3. Read all about it
See how easy it is?
You need to run just that exact search yourself. What did you come up with? Budget cuts? Cuts in municipal funding? That's not the same thing as Pay cuts or cuts to individual compensation packages now is it.
So again you respond with NOTHING to support your argument. Show me just one an example of a position that retirement matching (401K equivalent) has been eliminated from a public sector job.
Show me the school teachers, admins, law enforcement, city councilmen, tax assessor collectors, tax board-man, street sweeper, DMV employees that will receive a pay cut or cut in health care benefits.
I'm sure some exist but this is going to be exceedingly rare and thus the widening gap in benefits and compensation in the public vs private sector.
Since you claim to know how to use Google try this:
state and municipal layoffs 2009
I would imaging that getting fired will effect your laundry list quite a bit.
Moving the goal posts?
This conversation is about COMPENSATION, not employment.
Now you are talking about Layoffs. Talk about moving the goal posts!
However if you want to try to deflect the discussion towards employee retention in the public vs private sectors all I can say is good luck with that. Do you really think you can even compare job loss statistics in the two?
It is an undisputed fact that public sector job security is simply unequalled in the private sector.
So I guess all your google searching did not turn up much to the effect of “employers drop 401k matching” in the public sector.
That’s cause it does’nt happen.
You are looking silly trying to defend the defenseless.
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