Biden wants RTO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like government workers, in part, because they’re my financial advisory clients. On average, my government workers are far, far better prepared for retirement than most of my other clients. The pension and subsidized health insurance are massively helpful. If a family has two federal workers, the 401ks hardly matter. I’m just saying that many - maybe not all - federal employees have it very good - especially in the long-run - compared to most DC folks. Perhaps, that helps soften the blow of RTO.

Explain to me how good I have it because I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college on two federal salaries without selling my real assets. Yes, I’ve maxed out my TSP. But that’s all I’ve got plus some equity in my house and the rental property we own. No unsecured debt really, but we aren’t saving. Retirement is 15-20 years away and with pay compression my earnings are essentially capped. I can’t depend on inheriting money like some. I can’t even depend on being employed or alive for the next 20 years. My view is to maximize earning while the earning is to be had. The days of working for government for 40 years are gone.

How is paying for college unique to feds? Private industry workers figure it out.

You pay what you can, or your kids take out loans, or they go to community college. Like everyone else.

You are a financial advisor? Or are you a different PP? As many, many, people have said: private sector pay is HIGHER.

I'm a DP.

Maybe if you're one of the ubiquitous lawyers in this thread, private pay is higher. Or if you can get a cushy consulting gig. But Feds by and large are not underpaid.

I'm a fed, married to a fed, and we have one in college now, and a second going to college in a couple of years.

I started a 529 when our oldest was born, when I was a GS-12, my husband a GS-7. Had a mortgage, daycare costs, no inheritance, still managed to contribute $400 a month. 18 years later we starting using it to pay for oldest's college. Is he at a $70K a year school? No. He knew what we could contribute and anything above that was on him. He chose accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ah e to leave this thread before I become unable to do my job. Someone having a lot of fun trolling feds who are justifiably concerned with a big change in their income/situation.

DCUM trolls don’t make Fed policy. There’s no need for you to get riled up. I’m going to wait for directions from my agency.

[Anonymous]

Govt office workers earn zero technically. They are no different welfare mammas.

Like saying I “earned” my welfare check.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Govt office workers earn zero technically. They are no different welfare mammas.

Like saying I “earned” my welfare check.

Can't even understand what you are saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like government workers, in part, because they’re my financial advisory clients. On average, my government workers are far, far better prepared for retirement than most of my other clients. The pension and subsidized health insurance are massively helpful. If a family has two federal workers, the 401ks hardly matter. I’m just saying that many - maybe not all - federal employees have it very good - especially in the long-run - compared to most DC folks. Perhaps, that helps soften the blow of RTO.

Explain to me how good I have it because I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college on two federal salaries without selling my real assets. Yes, I’ve maxed out my TSP. But that’s all I’ve got plus some equity in my house and the rental property we own. No unsecured debt really, but we aren’t saving. Retirement is 15-20 years away and with pay compression my earnings are essentially capped. I can’t depend on inheriting money like some. I can’t even depend on being employed or alive for the next 20 years. My view is to maximize earning while the earning is to be had. The days of working for government for 40 years are gone.

How is paying for college unique to feds? Private industry workers figure it out.

You pay what you can, or your kids take out loans, or they go to community college. Like everyone else.

You are a financial advisor? Or are you a different PP? As many, many, people have said: private sector pay is HIGHER.

I'm a DP.

Maybe if you're one of the ubiquitous lawyers in this thread, private pay is higher. Or if you can get a cushy consulting gig. But Feds by and large are not underpaid.

I'm a fed, married to a fed, and we have one in college now, and a second going to college in a couple of years.

I started a 529 when our oldest was born, when I was a GS-12, my husband a GS-7. Had a mortgage, daycare costs, no inheritance, still managed to contribute $400 a month. 18 years later we starting using it to pay for oldest's college. Is he at a $70K a year school? No. He knew what we could contribute and anything above that was on him. He chose accordingly.

18 YEARS? REALLY? Its not comparable.

Daycare costs and mortgage are double the total income % compared to 18 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Govt office workers earn zero technically. They are no different welfare mammas.

Like saying I “earned” my welfare check.

Incoherent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are being told WH COS memo is the driver.

Whatever happened to "agency heads will just ignore COS memo"? Some poster here was confident enough to guarantee it.

Even mid-week I95 I395 remain empty. The VRE is empty as is Metro. Slug Lots are empty. No one is RTOing.

It's not. You just don't know because you are WFH.

Actually it is. Everyone knows it is. No one is returning to the office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are being told WH COS memo is the driver.

Whatever happened to "agency heads will just ignore COS memo"? Some poster here was confident enough to guarantee it.

Even mid-week I95 I395 remain empty. The VRE is empty as is Metro. Slug Lots are empty. No one is RTOing.

It's not. You just don't know because you are WFH.

Actually it is. Everyone knows it is. No one is returning to the office.

We are going back. Stop talking with your a$$.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like government workers, in part, because they’re my financial advisory clients. On average, my government workers are far, far better prepared for retirement than most of my other clients. The pension and subsidized health insurance are massively helpful. If a family has two federal workers, the 401ks hardly matter. I’m just saying that many - maybe not all - federal employees have it very good - especially in the long-run - compared to most DC folks. Perhaps, that helps soften the blow of RTO.

Explain to me how good I have it because I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college on two federal salaries without selling my real assets. Yes, I’ve maxed out my TSP. But that’s all I’ve got plus some equity in my house and the rental property we own. No unsecured debt really, but we aren’t saving. Retirement is 15-20 years away and with pay compression my earnings are essentially capped. I can’t depend on inheriting money like some. I can’t even depend on being employed or alive for the next 20 years. My view is to maximize earning while the earning is to be had. The days of working for government for 40 years are gone.

How is paying for college unique to feds? Private industry workers figure it out.

You pay what you can, or your kids take out loans, or they go to community college. Like everyone else.

You are a financial advisor? Or are you a different PP? As many, many, people have said: private sector pay is HIGHER.

I'm a DP.

Maybe if you're one of the ubiquitous lawyers in this thread, private pay is higher. Or if you can get a cushy consulting gig. But Feds by and large are not underpaid.

I'm a fed, married to a fed, and we have one in college now, and a second going to college in a couple of years.

I started a 529 when our oldest was born, when I was a GS-12, my husband a GS-7. Had a mortgage, daycare costs, no inheritance, still managed to contribute $400 a month. 18 years later we starting using it to pay for oldest's college. Is he at a $70K a year school? No. He knew what we could contribute and anything above that was on him. He chose accordingly.

18 YEARS? REALLY? Its not comparable.

Daycare costs and mortgage are double the total income % compared to 18 years ago.

Sure if you *just* bought a house. But up until recently mortgage rates were crazy low. House prices weren’t ridiculously high a couple years ago. What’s your daycare cost? I bet mine wasn’t that much different 18 years ago.

I guess the answer for you, to afford college, will be to leave your low-paying federal job and go get one of the high-paying private ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Regardless of how many people leave the agency because of RTO there is always some turnover and there is no doubt that it is becoming harder to recruit good people and WFH flexibility is the last really good recruiting tool we have.

I can tell you we used to have our choice of the cream of the crop and now if I have to hire 2 people I am almost afraid to hire the second because I am lucky to get one really good candidate.

This. They might hang onto the established workers, but they're not going to bring in new workers, especially younger Millennials and Gen Z.

They can get the young ones before they have kids. They can also get the older mid-careers who don’t need flexibility. They can also get men. I’m most concerned about the impact this policy is going to have on women, who tend to absorb all of the extra family stressors to accommodate work. A lot are going to leave or stall.

Why do I feel like working moms are going to be deemed an acceptable sacrifice to the alter of the CRE Gods?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like government workers, in part, because they’re my financial advisory clients. On average, my government workers are far, far better prepared for retirement than most of my other clients. The pension and subsidized health insurance are massively helpful. If a family has two federal workers, the 401ks hardly matter. I’m just saying that many - maybe not all - federal employees have it very good - especially in the long-run - compared to most DC folks. Perhaps, that helps soften the blow of RTO.

Explain to me how good I have it because I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college on two federal salaries without selling my real assets. Yes, I’ve maxed out my TSP. But that’s all I’ve got plus some equity in my house and the rental property we own. No unsecured debt really, but we aren’t saving. Retirement is 15-20 years away and with pay compression my earnings are essentially capped. I can’t depend on inheriting money like some. I can’t even depend on being employed or alive for the next 20 years. My view is to maximize earning while the earning is to be had. The days of working for government for 40 years are gone.

How is paying for college unique to feds? Private industry workers figure it out.

You pay what you can, or your kids take out loans, or they go to community college. Like everyone else.

You are a financial advisor? Or are you a different PP? As many, many, people have said: private sector pay is HIGHER.

I'm a DP.

Maybe if you're one of the ubiquitous lawyers in this thread, private pay is higher. Or if you can get a cushy consulting gig. But Feds by and large are not underpaid.

I'm a fed, married to a fed, and we have one in college now, and a second going to college in a couple of years.

I started a 529 when our oldest was born, when I was a GS-12, my husband a GS-7. Had a mortgage, daycare costs, no inheritance, still managed to contribute $400 a month. 18 years later we starting using it to pay for oldest's college. Is he at a $70K a year school? No. He knew what we could contribute and anything above that was on him. He chose accordingly.

18 YEARS? REALLY? Its not comparable.

Daycare costs and mortgage are double the total income % compared to 18 years ago.

Sure if you *just* bought a house. But up until recently mortgage rates were crazy low. House prices weren’t ridiculously high a couple years ago. What’s your daycare cost? I bet mine wasn’t that much different 18 years ago.

I guess the answer for you, to afford college, will be to leave your low-paying federal job and go get one of the high-paying private ones.

DP but this is exactly the point of the thread! The fact some older employees managed to buy homes close to work and save for college years ago doesn’t negate that current employees and potential new hires with young children can’t afford to live near work and save for college on current federal salaries. I have an 8 year gap between my oldest and youngest and have been shocked how much daycare, diapers, etc. has skyrocketed since then so I find it really amusing when people with nearly grown kids give flippant advice to people with younger kids about how they managed to save so others should be able to as well.

Maybe you don’t care at the micro level whether this PP leaves, but qualified younger employees/potential new hires are not going to be chomping at the bit for a GS12/13 salary (including higher contributions toward FERS) with significant in office requirements. On a macro level that is going to be an issue, and people with hiring authority at a number of agencies are already sharing how hard it is to find actual qualified employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like government workers, in part, because they’re my financial advisory clients. On average, my government workers are far, far better prepared for retirement than most of my other clients. The pension and subsidized health insurance are massively helpful. If a family has two federal workers, the 401ks hardly matter. I’m just saying that many - maybe not all - federal employees have it very good - especially in the long-run - compared to most DC folks. Perhaps, that helps soften the blow of RTO.

Explain to me how good I have it because I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college on two federal salaries without selling my real assets. Yes, I’ve maxed out my TSP. But that’s all I’ve got plus some equity in my house and the rental property we own. No unsecured debt really, but we aren’t saving. Retirement is 15-20 years away and with pay compression my earnings are essentially capped. I can’t depend on inheriting money like some. I can’t even depend on being employed or alive for the next 20 years. My view is to maximize earning while the earning is to be had. The days of working for government for 40 years are gone.

How is paying for college unique to feds? Private industry workers figure it out.

You pay what you can, or your kids take out loans, or they go to community college. Like everyone else.

You are a financial advisor? Or are you a different PP? As many, many, people have said: private sector pay is HIGHER.

I'm a DP.

Maybe if you're one of the ubiquitous lawyers in this thread, private pay is higher. Or if you can get a cushy consulting gig. But Feds by and large are not underpaid.

I'm a fed, married to a fed, and we have one in college now, and a second going to college in a couple of years.

I started a 529 when our oldest was born, when I was a GS-12, my husband a GS-7. Had a mortgage, daycare costs, no inheritance, still managed to contribute $400 a month. 18 years later we starting using it to pay for oldest's college. Is he at a $70K a year school? No. He knew what we could contribute and anything above that was on him. He chose accordingly.

18 YEARS? REALLY? Its not comparable.

Daycare costs and mortgage are double the total income % compared to 18 years ago.

Sure if you *just* bought a house. But up until recently mortgage rates were crazy low. House prices weren’t ridiculously high a couple years ago. What’s your daycare cost? I bet mine wasn’t that much different 18 years ago.

I guess the answer for you, to afford college, will be to leave your low-paying federal job and go get one of the high-paying private ones.

18 years ago I was in college hand writing notes in class and downloading songs on Napster. I bet my experience wasn’t that much different than your child’s college experience.

/S

I am thinking you must be a troll b/c there is no way anyone thinks childcare costs from 2005 and comparable to daycare in 2023.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ah e to leave this thread before I become unable to do my job. Someone having a lot of fun trolling feds who are justifiably concerned with a big change in their income/situation.

DCUM trolls don’t make Fed policy. There’s no need for you to get riled up. I’m going to wait for directions from my agency.

Thanks. I was amping myself up before my job interview. It went well. I don’t think I can afford to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like government workers, in part, because they’re my financial advisory clients. On average, my government workers are far, far better prepared for retirement than most of my other clients. The pension and subsidized health insurance are massively helpful. If a family has two federal workers, the 401ks hardly matter. I’m just saying that many - maybe not all - federal employees have it very good - especially in the long-run - compared to most DC folks. Perhaps, that helps soften the blow of RTO.

Explain to me how good I have it because I don’t see how I’m going to pay for college on two federal salaries without selling my real assets. Yes, I’ve maxed out my TSP. But that’s all I’ve got plus some equity in my house and the rental property we own. No unsecured debt really, but we aren’t saving. Retirement is 15-20 years away and with pay compression my earnings are essentially capped. I can’t depend on inheriting money like some. I can’t even depend on being employed or alive for the next 20 years. My view is to maximize earning while the earning is to be had. The days of working for government for 40 years are gone.

How is paying for college unique to feds? Private industry workers figure it out.

You pay what you can, or your kids take out loans, or they go to community college. Like everyone else.

You are a financial advisor? Or are you a different PP? As many, many, people have said: private sector pay is HIGHER.

I'm a DP.

Maybe if you're one of the ubiquitous lawyers in this thread, private pay is higher. Or if you can get a cushy consulting gig. But Feds by and large are not underpaid.

I'm a fed, married to a fed, and we have one in college now, and a second going to college in a couple of years.

I started a 529 when our oldest was born, when I was a GS-12, my husband a GS-7. Had a mortgage, daycare costs, no inheritance, still managed to contribute $400 a month. 18 years later we starting using it to pay for oldest's college. Is he at a $70K a year school? No. He knew what we could contribute and anything above that was on him. He chose accordingly.

18 YEARS? REALLY? Its not comparable.

Daycare costs and mortgage are double the total income % compared to 18 years ago.

Sure if you *just* bought a house. But up until recently mortgage rates were crazy low. House prices weren’t ridiculously high a couple years ago. What’s your daycare cost? I bet mine wasn’t that much different 18 years ago.

I guess the answer for you, to afford college, will be to leave your low-paying federal job and go get one of the high-paying private ones.

18 years ago I was in college hand writing notes in class and downloading songs on Napster. I bet my experience wasn’t that much different than your child’s college experience.

/S

I am thinking you must be a troll b/c there is no way anyone thinks childcare costs from 2005 and comparable to daycare in 2023.

In fact, they are almost triple what they were for me in 2011!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are being told WH COS memo is the driver.

Whatever happened to "agency heads will just ignore COS memo"? Some poster here was confident enough to guarantee it.

Even mid-week I95 I395 remain empty. The VRE is empty as is Metro. Slug Lots are empty. No one is RTOing.

It's not. You just don't know because you are WFH.

Actually it is. Everyone knows it is. No one is returning to the office.

We are going back. Stop talking with your a$$.

Ohhhhhhhhh. Gotcha. Lol.