Federal Workers: Looking for Sympathy? Check the Dictionary, Between…

Hey Federal Workers, no raise this year? Join the club. I heard you weren’t getting a raise and that it’s been two whole years.  Maybe you don’t know that many of us outside government haven’t seen a raise in so long we can’t remember. And yes, we have to pay for all the same things as you. In fact…

It used to be that government work paid a little less but was a good steady job. Today the Congressional Budget Office tells us that in most cases federal employees more than private sector employees and significantly more when adding in benefits. In a time when many small businesses had to cut back and even lay-off employees the number of federal employees has grown.

It’s true that Congress is now asking you to pay a portion of your retirement. You do realize giant retirement plans in much of the private sector went out the door years ago. Yes, it was tough, but the rest of us had to make these adjustments.

Sure you’re unhappy that you might have to pay more for health insurance. But cry me a river… After checking the federal plans it appears insurance cost is about the same for group coverage. The big difference is that the government (i.e. the taxpayer) pays up to three-fourths your cost and most of the deductible. Many of us working for small business pay all or almost all of our family coverage. Health care cost is so expensive many have to choose between making ends meet health insurance.

Does the general population realize you can retire at age 55 and in many cases earlier? We taxpayers start paying your pension from the first day, even if you’re only 50 years old. You can go back to work at another job and we still pay your retirement. Early retirement doesn’t happen very often in the private sector. It doesn’t make me happy that I work to pay your generous retirement and yet don’t qualify for the same.

Of course, you’ll tell me you are too busy working hard to read this post. But wait a minute; were you off for President’s Day? MLK Day? Columbus Day??? Outside of government and banks many of us feel lucky to get the major days off.

But hey, even if you are a slacker, you found a career for life. It’s much harder to be fired as a federal worker than in the real world.  Buck up. It is still a good time to work for Uncle Sam.