Fed pay catch up with inflation?

[Anonymous]

I am lucky because I got a QSI this year, but if I hadn’t, my pay would not be in line with inflation.
Add that to DC real estate getting more and more expensive. How is this sustainable? We are losing employees left and right for better pay elsewhere. I stay put largely because I’ve been able to get far in spite of not having advanced degree, I am appreciated, and as a single mom, the remote work thing is huge.
But I’m seeing an exodus and it’s causing huge problems.
Will Biden turn make up for this next year or are we stuck with what is effectively a permanent pay decrease?

[Anonymous]

I doubt it. Look at this year. 2.7???? All you need to see and this will come up during elections.

[Anonymous]

OP I’m in the same boat as uou with the qs increase, but yes, we are seeing max exodus af our agency, and we are one of the good ones. I’m also seriously considering other options - if I wasn’t dealing with health issues, I would be more proactive about leaving.

[Anonymous]

Too politically unpopular to admit the scale of inflation, not gonna happen. Also, no one in congress, D or R, really cares that much about the issue of fed pay beyond a few reps in states with feds (VA, MD, PA and perhaps HI). They offer a token bill each year but don't bother making the effort to gain support for it so it goes no where.

[Anonymous]

Biden may track it with next year's military raise. So I don't think that 4.6 percent is out of the question. Or at least over 3.5 percent. The 2022 raise was a joke.

[Anonymous]

Please remember that it’s ultimately Congress, not the President, who determines our raises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am lucky because I got a QSI this year, but if I hadn’t, my pay would not be in line with inflation.
Add that to DC real estate getting more and more expensive. How is this sustainable? We are losing employees left and right for better pay elsewhere. I stay put largely because I’ve been able to get far in spite of not having advanced degree, I am appreciated, and as a single mom, the remote work thing is huge.
But I’m seeing an exodus and it’s causing huge problems.
Will Biden turn make up for this next year or are we stuck with what is effectively a permanent pay decrease?

ha ha... no. this topic doesn't have political push to get over. how many americans would feel sorry for a fed making 150+? other than other feds in this area, not many.

[Anonymous]

My DH’s company- government contracting, gave everyone 2%. My DC’s Beltway bandit company announced the average increase will be 3%.

It sounds like Feds will fare better.

[Anonymous]

Active duty military may get the bump, but they are politically popular. Feds will get 2.something.

[Anonymous]

My company zero raises. We don’t give them. We do amp up stock grants for playas.

[Anonymous]

Don’t foresee a meaningful increase. Agree that people will leave the federal government. It’s just not sustainable here in dc. People can’t live too much further out. For agencies that can do a lot of remote work it may not be such a big deal. But national security agencies are already getting into a lot of trouble because of the combination of low salaries and lack of remote work. Morale has plummeted and people are looking for ways to get out.

[Anonymous]

How would they sell that to the American public if the rest of the country is not getting inflation raises?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would they sell that to the American public if the rest of the country is not getting inflation raises?

Most are. You may not, but most are. Look for a better job?

[Anonymous]

i know lots of relatively younger GS-scale employees already stuck forever renting in this area. its going to be tough if rent starts jumping on the scale that many news articles predict.

[Anonymous]

My agency is moving to remote work and I will take advantage of it. I'm a city guy, so I won't be going to the middle of nowhere. but may consider Chicago or Austin. My nice GS 15/10 salary will go much further in both of those cities. I've already identified AWESOME real estate options in both cities for under $300k. The same space and "views" would be a minimum of $700k. I never EVER wanted to do remote work. But I'm 36 and would like to buy a house some day BEFORE turning 40.