It sucks to be a Federal Employee

[juggy4805]

[h2][/h2]
Sometimes it sucks to be a Federal employee. It seems to be the general consensus that all we do is sit around and correct a paycheck so many people are asking for a pay freeze across the board which is BS in my opinion. I know it is technically not many money, but I feel like the taking it from my pockets.

I am grateful I am not unemployed though.

[h2]Federal pay raise still up in the air[/h2] By Emily Long[email protected]November 15, 2010

Uncertainty remains in the debate over whether federal employees will receive a 2011 pay raise as Congress begins its lame-duck session this week.

On the heels of recent Republican proposals to freeze federal pay and hiring came detailed plans to slash government spending released on Nov. 10 by the chairmen of President Obama's bipartisan fiscal commission. Their plan would cut the federal workforce by 10 percent, freeze civilian pay and compensation for three years, and cap noncombat pay for military personnel at 2011 levels for three years.

"The federal workforce has some challenges in terms of the pay freeze," said Paul Rowson, managing director at the human resources association WorldatWork. "It is contemplating freezing pay when the private sector is considering increasing it. Our salary budget survey is telling us that the private sector this year is targeting anywhere from a 2.6 [percent] to 3 percent merit increase across-the-board. That's what they're budgeting for their entire workforce, double what the president had on the table."

Obama in his fiscal 2011 budget proposed a 1.4 percent raise for both civilian employees and military personnel. The Senate Appropriations Committee in July approved legislation that included a 1.4 percent civilian raise, but House appropriators have been silent on the issue.

On the military side, Senate Appropriations in September approved legislation granting a 1.4 percent pay raise for service members, matching the figure included in the Senate Armed Services Committee's Defense authorization bill. The House Appropriations Committee has not released the figure to be included in its Defense legislation, but the House in late May passed its Defense authorization bill with a 1.9 percent pay raise for service members. (An authorization bill represents what Congress intends to spend, but appropriators actually allocate the funds.) Obama has said he opposes the higher proposed increase.

Observers note a lot of uncertainty about how Congress will proceed on the pay issue.

"If Congress doesn't act, [federal employees] don't [automatically] get a pay raise," said Jessica Klement, government affairs director at the Federal Managers Association. "It's anyone's guess as to what they do during the lame duck."

Bill Bransford, general counsel for the Senior Executives Association, said there's a good argument to be made that federal pay could increase, but he also agreed the likely outcome is currently unknown.

"The proposed increase is substantially less than what it has been in the past," Bransford said. "Everyone recognizes the political climate. One of the problems is it has been fueled by" a recent spate of news articles critical of federal pay, "which are an unfair assessment of federal employees," he said.

According to Max Stier, president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, the problem is a lack of facts and a focus on whether federal workers are overpaid rather than the service they provide. Many bad choices have been proposed, but business as usual is unrealistic, he said.

"This is not something that is going away anytime soon," Stier said. "In any one scenario, even if we make the hardest and wisest choices, we're going to be facing challenges for a long time to come, and the pressures will exist on the federal budget and the federal workforce. I think we ought to be preparing for the long haul here."

But for federal employees to see no boost would be unprecedented, said Howard Risher, an independent compensation and performance management consultant. "To say we're going to freeze salaries where they are -- when no one has considered the consequences for agency staffing or performance, a blanket freeze could be costly."

 

[juggy4805]

[h2][/h2]
Sometimes it sucks to be a Federal employee. It seems to be the general consensus that all we do is sit around and correct a paycheck so many people are asking for a pay freeze across the board which is BS in my opinion. I know it is technically not many money, but I feel like the taking it from my pockets.

I am grateful I am not unemployed though.

[h2]Federal pay raise still up in the air[/h2] By Emily Long[email protected]November 15, 2010

Uncertainty remains in the debate over whether federal employees will receive a 2011 pay raise as Congress begins its lame-duck session this week.

On the heels of recent Republican proposals to freeze federal pay and hiring came detailed plans to slash government spending released on Nov. 10 by the chairmen of President Obama's bipartisan fiscal commission. Their plan would cut the federal workforce by 10 percent, freeze civilian pay and compensation for three years, and cap noncombat pay for military personnel at 2011 levels for three years.

"The federal workforce has some challenges in terms of the pay freeze," said Paul Rowson, managing director at the human resources association WorldatWork. "It is contemplating freezing pay when the private sector is considering increasing it. Our salary budget survey is telling us that the private sector this year is targeting anywhere from a 2.6 [percent] to 3 percent merit increase across-the-board. That's what they're budgeting for their entire workforce, double what the president had on the table."

Obama in his fiscal 2011 budget proposed a 1.4 percent raise for both civilian employees and military personnel. The Senate Appropriations Committee in July approved legislation that included a 1.4 percent civilian raise, but House appropriators have been silent on the issue.

On the military side, Senate Appropriations in September approved legislation granting a 1.4 percent pay raise for service members, matching the figure included in the Senate Armed Services Committee's Defense authorization bill. The House Appropriations Committee has not released the figure to be included in its Defense legislation, but the House in late May passed its Defense authorization bill with a 1.9 percent pay raise for service members. (An authorization bill represents what Congress intends to spend, but appropriators actually allocate the funds.) Obama has said he opposes the higher proposed increase.

Observers note a lot of uncertainty about how Congress will proceed on the pay issue.

"If Congress doesn't act, [federal employees] don't [automatically] get a pay raise," said Jessica Klement, government affairs director at the Federal Managers Association. "It's anyone's guess as to what they do during the lame duck."

Bill Bransford, general counsel for the Senior Executives Association, said there's a good argument to be made that federal pay could increase, but he also agreed the likely outcome is currently unknown.

"The proposed increase is substantially less than what it has been in the past," Bransford said. "Everyone recognizes the political climate. One of the problems is it has been fueled by" a recent spate of news articles critical of federal pay, "which are an unfair assessment of federal employees," he said.

According to Max Stier, president of the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, the problem is a lack of facts and a focus on whether federal workers are overpaid rather than the service they provide. Many bad choices have been proposed, but business as usual is unrealistic, he said.

"This is not something that is going away anytime soon," Stier said. "In any one scenario, even if we make the hardest and wisest choices, we're going to be facing challenges for a long time to come, and the pressures will exist on the federal budget and the federal workforce. I think we ought to be preparing for the long haul here."

But for federal employees to see no boost would be unprecedented, said Howard Risher, an independent compensation and performance management consultant. "To say we're going to freeze salaries where they are -- when no one has considered the consequences for agency staffing or performance, a blanket freeze could be costly."

 

[isole]

I'm not surprised at this notion at all but at least the benefits and pension (for those that have one) still in tact should at least help alleviate the lack of a pay raise. 3 years though?

Glad to see no crazy amount of lay-offs are going to happen, though.

The stereotype with Federal workers is true. You have the egotistical management that OD on power trips, entry-levels/management that don't do anything, separated by hard working people that actually care about their job...truth is though, this formula in the workhouse occurs in every damn profession.

 

[isole]

I'm not surprised at this notion at all but at least the benefits and pension (for those that have one) still in tact should at least help alleviate the lack of a pay raise. 3 years though?

Glad to see no crazy amount of lay-offs are going to happen, though.

The stereotype with Federal workers is true. You have the egotistical management that OD on power trips, entry-levels/management that don't do anything, separated by hard working people that actually care about their job...truth is though, this formula in the workhouse occurs in every damn profession.

 

[wawaweewa]

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

 

[wawaweewa]

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

 

[xavier]

stop complaining, and be glad u have a "federal job"

 

[xavier]

stop complaining, and be glad u have a "federal job"

 

[juggy4805]

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

 

[juggy4805]

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

 

[xavier]

yea pretty much if ur not happy.

leave

a lot of people would like to be in the spot your in and would appreciate it, let alone be happy to have a job in this horrid economy.

 

[xavier]

yea pretty much if ur not happy.

leave

a lot of people would like to be in the spot your in and would appreciate it, let alone be happy to have a job in this horrid economy.

 

[juggy4805]

Originally Posted by Xavier



a lot of people would like to be in the spot your in and would appreciate it, let alone be happy to have a job in this horrid economy.

Never said I wasn't happy with the job dude.

But seriously, if you are searching for a job good luck.

 

[juggy4805]

Originally Posted by Xavier



a lot of people would like to be in the spot your in and would appreciate it, let alone be happy to have a job in this horrid economy.

Never said I wasn't happy with the job dude.

But seriously, if you are searching for a job good luck.

 

[xavier]

naa i got a job but looking for federal job

you say your happy but your title is very misleading, just saying lol

 

[xavier]

naa i got a job but looking for federal job

you say your happy but your title is very misleading, just saying lol

 

[nesto0o0o]

i can only speak for ssa but we have too much work and not enough time to do it. we deserve a pay raise and we need more employees. 

 

[nesto0o0o]

i can only speak for ssa but we have too much work and not enough time to do it. we deserve a pay raise and we need more employees. 

 

[bigtomgetsgwap]

It's sweet from what I kno...if you live in the DC area and you have a federal job you're pretty much set for life if your play it right

A lot of people are making six figures after 30 AND some even have every other Monday off....Not to mention you do nothing

 

[bigtomgetsgwap]

It's sweet from what I kno...if you live in the DC area and you have a federal job you're pretty much set for life if your play it right

A lot of people are making six figures after 30 AND some even have every other Monday off....Not to mention you do nothing

 

[wawaweewa]

Originally Posted by juggy4805

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

I know because everybody knows.

It ain't exactly a secret. 
A family member works as a senior system admin for Lockheed Martin in the MD/DC area and was recommended for  a similar position at NASA. The pay and benefits package is significantly better even though the LM package isn't shabby. 

There are very few positions where the Feds pay/benefits package is inferior to a similar position in the private sector. 

btw, the sector where I'm employed is one of them.

 

 

[wawaweewa]

Originally Posted by juggy4805

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

I know because everybody knows.

It ain't exactly a secret. 
A family member works as a senior system admin for Lockheed Martin in the MD/DC area and was recommended for  a similar position at NASA. The pay and benefits package is significantly better even though the LM package isn't shabby. 

There are very few positions where the Feds pay/benefits package is inferior to a similar position in the private sector. 

btw, the sector where I'm employed is one of them.

 

 

[philly035]

Originally Posted by juggy4805

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

ummm

the last job i left had a pay freeze. this is going to be their 4th year of no pay increase. They also let go most of their staff in Chicago to move to the headquarters to Tennessee (cheaper). Only a select few were offered positions to transfer. They were paid $1000 bucks to help with their move. Yes, $1000 to sell their house and move their family down south. I interned there part-time for 2 years while attending school unpaid. Full time in the summer. After I completed school, they said I'm welcome to continue working (UNPAID), but they aren't going to hire me full-time.Economy is bad. You understand, but we'd love for you to stay. You're doing such an awesome job...

All of this while buying out other companies and beating their sales goals every year. Cut jobs, increase the work for other employees, but keep their pay the same.

Trust me, it doesn't suck to be a federal employee. Many other companies right now are straight up killing their employees because the economy is down and they can get away with it. If you're talented, you can easily move jobs. If you're average, good luck competing with the other hundreds of unemployed people looking for jobs.

 

[philly035]

Originally Posted by juggy4805

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

ummm

the last job i left had a pay freeze. this is going to be their 4th year of no pay increase. They also let go most of their staff in Chicago to move to the headquarters to Tennessee (cheaper). Only a select few were offered positions to transfer. They were paid $1000 bucks to help with their move. Yes, $1000 to sell their house and move their family down south. I interned there part-time for 2 years while attending school unpaid. Full time in the summer. After I completed school, they said I'm welcome to continue working (UNPAID), but they aren't going to hire me full-time.Economy is bad. You understand, but we'd love for you to stay. You're doing such an awesome job...

All of this while buying out other companies and beating their sales goals every year. Cut jobs, increase the work for other employees, but keep their pay the same.

Trust me, it doesn't suck to be a federal employee. Many other companies right now are straight up killing their employees because the economy is down and they can get away with it. If you're talented, you can easily move jobs. If you're average, good luck competing with the other hundreds of unemployed people looking for jobs.

 

[juggy4805]

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

Originally Posted by juggy4805

Originally Posted by wawaweewa

You can't be serious?

Whining about a pay freeze when the feds not only overpay for positions but have more employees then necessary?

Sounds like you are spewing typical stereotypes from the media. Did this info come from an article or have you observed this? How do you know the feds overpay for my position when you don't know what I do.


I said that I am happy for my job, but who doesn't want more money

. What am I suppose to say, its cool, I understand the country is doing bad so go ahead and freeze my pay for 3 years.

I'm sure that's what many of you would do.

I know because everybody knows.

It ain't exactly a secret. 
A family member works as a senior system admin for Lockheed Martin in the MD/DC area and was recommended for  a similar position at NASA. The pay and benefits package is significantly better even though the LM package isn't shabby. 

There are very few positions where the Feds pay/benefits package is inferior to a similar position in the private sector. 

btw, the sector where I'm employed is one of them.

 

I refuse to ever say I am overpaid and do no work. I will always feel as though I deserve a pay increase.


Are there any Federal employees or any employee for that matter that would agree with a pay freeze?