Federal Employee Pay Freeze

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like someone to explain this to me:

How can you argue that it make sense to freeze my pay for the next two years (I work on national security issues, so I think what I do is somewhat important) or the pay of someone making $40k a year as a GS-8, while also arguing that people making over $250k a year need a tax break?

WHy am I being forced to sacrifice for the good of the nation while someone making twice as much as I am is not being asked to do the same? If you think $250k is not a significant HHI, then how about raising the taxes on HHI of $500k or more?

Are you really this dumb (actually I'm sure you are, you are a Fed employee).

People in private making 40K/yr are seeing job CUTS, pay CUTS, benefit CUTS, furloughs, and hours CUT. These people pay your salary. If you don't like it, then quit and get a job in private, or even at the state or county level.

What are you sacrificing? You are not on the front lines of war. You are probably just another paper pushing, rubber stamping, bureaucrat. I get it, you think the person making the HHI of 250K+ should pay even MORE taxes to support you. This is why the country hates our government, a bunch of blood suckers on the backs of everyone else.l

[Anonymous]

I am not complaining about my situation. My company has whacked bonuses, frozen wages and so my income is 75% of what it was a few years ago. And right now the only way to make even $1 more than last year is to get promoted, a tough thing to do when everyone above you is afraid to leave the company due to the recession. Ya know what? That is entirely rational on my company's part.

It is also rational for the government. But you can still get your within grade increases. You don't have 25% of your income tied to a corporate earnings target or board approval. All you have is a 1.4% pay increase withheld and you are up in arms.

This is why people are saying you are acting entitled.

I don't have 25% of my income tied up in corporate earnings because I chose to work in a more stable job. Own your choices. Don't complain to me because your choices turned out to be bad financial decisions.

This is why everyone thinks you are acting like a "woe is me, my situation is soooo much worse than yours" whiner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am not complaining about my situation. My company has whacked bonuses, frozen wages and so my income is 75% of what it was a few years ago. And right now the only way to make even $1 more than last year is to get promoted, a tough thing to do when everyone above you is afraid to leave the company due to the recession. Ya know what? That is entirely rational on my company's part.

It is also rational for the government. But you can still get your within grade increases. You don't have 25% of your income tied to a corporate earnings target or board approval. All you have is a 1.4% pay increase withheld and you are up in arms.

This is why people are saying you are acting entitled.

I don't have 25% of my income tied up in corporate earnings because I chose to work in a more stable job. Own your choices. Don't complain to me because your choices turned out to be bad financial decisions.

This is why everyone thinks you are acting like a "woe is me, my situation is soooo much worse than yours" whiner.

Again, I am not complaining. I said "Ya know what? That is entirely rational on my company's part".

You chose a stable job. No one promised you guaranteed pay increases for life. You need to accept that your employer has budget pressure, just like anyone else. If your employer were a company, losses in 2010 are 49% larger than revenues.

[Anonymous]

49% of revenues.

[Anonymous]

Again, I am not complaining. I said "Ya know what? That is entirely rational on my company's part".

You chose a stable job. No one promised you guaranteed pay increases for life. You need to accept that your employer has budget pressure, just like anyone else. If your employer were a company, losses in 2010 are 49% larger than revenues.

No one said feds were promised anything. No one is claiming they are entitled to these things. YOU are saying people feel that way.

I am saying that this sucks. Sucks does not equal entitled in any thesaurus I know of. Sometimes, people get angry when they have bad news. Sometimes they say "This sucks! This is unfair!" This doesn't mean they are trying to undermine your much much much worse predicament (I haven't forgotten that you win first prize for Most Harmed By The Economy). You are just still bitter over your own situation so you need to make sure everyone knows how much worse you have it, because heaven forbid people commiserate with someone that hasn't been as injured as YOU.

Well you know what? When your job had cuts, no one gave a crap because it was like all 8 of you who were upset. This announcement impacted 600,000 people in the DC metro area. So yeah, it is going to make the news when 600,000 people get bad financial news on the same day in the same area.

[Anonymous]

No one guaranteed me pay raises for life. They did, however, guarantee me a modest COLA every year until I reached the highest step in my grade.

Those of you celebrating our misfortune are those that couldn't hack it in the private sector. They either cut your pay or cut you loose as soon as things went sour. And the federal government? Doesn't want you.

But you know what? We'll be fine. It will probably only end up being a one-year freeze, anyway.

You're right. You're much worse off. And, since you've shown yourself to be a shitty person, I think you deserve it much, much more than the thousands of Feds you do not know yet insist on stereotyping.

[Anonymous]

You know what else that the collective you have been right about?

My job is cushy. I got one raise and three bonuses this year. My job is secure. I telecommute, I flexiplace, and I could work a compressed schedule if I wanted to. I have a huge office and I let my phone go to voice mail whenever it suits me. All of my supervisors and colleagues are congenial. Our benefits are top-notch, and I make a pretty good salary.

I work on interesting, cutting-edge issues, and I'm good at it.

Bite me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Again, I am not complaining. I said "Ya know what? That is entirely rational on my company's part".

You chose a stable job. No one promised you guaranteed pay increases for life. You need to accept that your employer has budget pressure, just like anyone else. If your employer were a company, losses in 2010 are 49% larger than revenues.

No one said feds were promised anything. No one is claiming they are entitled to these things. YOU are saying people feel that way.

I am saying that this sucks. Sucks does not equal entitled in any thesaurus I know of. Sometimes, people get angry when they have bad news. Sometimes they say "This sucks! This is unfair!" This doesn't mean they are trying to undermine your much much much worse predicament (I haven't forgotten that you win first prize for Most Harmed By The Economy). You are just still bitter over your own situation so you need to make sure everyone knows how much worse you have it, because heaven forbid people commiserate with someone that hasn't been as injured as YOU.

Well you know what? When your job had cuts, no one gave a crap because it was like all 8 of you who were upset. This announcement impacted 600,000 people in the DC metro area. So yeah, it is going to make the news when 600,000 people get bad financial news on the same day in the same area.

I never said I was most harmed by the economy. I am not bitter. I am not upset. My company is not as profitable, and therefore the same goes for me. I think it makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one guaranteed me pay raises for life. They did, however, guarantee me a modest COLA every year until I reached the highest step in my grade.

Those of you celebrating our misfortune are those that couldn't hack it in the private sector. They either cut your pay or cut you loose as soon as things went sour. And the federal government? Doesn't want you.

But you know what? We'll be fine. It will probably only end up being a one-year freeze, anyway.

You're right. You're much worse off. And, since you've shown yourself to be a shitty person, I think you deserve it much, much more than the thousands of Feds you do not know yet insist on stereotyping.

We are not celebrating anything. We are trying to figure out how you feel entitled to be shielded -- down to the very last 1% -- from the impact of the economy. Why are we entitled to have a feeling on the subject? You are a civil servant. You work for the people. If that bothers you, find an employer that you like better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know what else that the collective you have been right about?

My job is cushy. I got one raise and three bonuses this year. My job is secure. I telecommute, I flexiplace, and I could work a compressed schedule if I wanted to. I have a huge office and I let my phone go to voice mail whenever it suits me. All of my supervisors and colleagues are congenial. Our benefits are top-notch, and I make a pretty good salary.

I work on interesting, cutting-edge issues, and I'm good at it.

Bite me.

Then stop complaining. You have what you want.

[Anonymous]

We are not celebrating anything. We are trying to figure out how you feel entitled to be shielded -- down to the very last 1% -- from the impact of the economy. Why are we entitled to have a feeling on the subject? You are a civil servant. You work for the people. If that bothers you, find an employer that you like better.

Please provide the post where a poster said he felt entitled to be shielded from the economy. I do believe the source is in your warped little head.
Stop projecting your feelings of insecurity on others. We aren't saying it. It is in your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We are not celebrating anything. We are trying to figure out how you feel entitled to be shielded -- down to the very last 1% -- from the impact of the economy. Why are we entitled to have a feeling on the subject? You are a civil servant. You work for the people. If that bothers you, find an employer that you like better.

Please provide the post where a poster said he felt entitled to be shielded from the economy. I do believe the source is in your warped little head.
Stop projecting your feelings of insecurity on others. We aren't saying it. It is in your head.

OK, so what portion of your compensation do you feel should not be shielded from the effects of the economy? If not the COLA, then what? Should they forego step increases? Put a freeze on promotions or stop backfilling vacated positions? What portion of your job should be affected by the economy?

I am not insecure. I have said time and again that I am comfortable with my company making cuts in this environment. I think it is rational. What is insecure about that?

[Anonymous]

Please provide the post where a poster said he felt entitled to be shielded from the economy. I do believe the source is in your warped little head.
Stop projecting your feelings of insecurity on others. We aren't saying it. It is in your head.



OK, so what portion of your compensation do you feel should not be shielded from the effects of the economy? If not the COLA, then what? Should they forego step increases? Put a freeze on promotions or stop backfilling vacated positions? What portion of your job should be affected by the economy?

I am not insecure. I have said time and again that I am comfortable with my company making cuts in this environment. I think it is rational. What is insecure about that?

Umm, so your response to my request for evidence that federal employees have said they are entitled to be shielded is to . . . . ask me what portion of my income I think should be shielded??

Are you that thick, or do you just not get it?

NO ONE said feds should be shielded. NO ONE. No one, nowhere, at any time said that.

All anyone ever said was that news of the freeze sucks. Some have said it is also unfair because the upper class is unlikely to get tax increases, so they aren't being asked to do "their part" as we all are. But those sentiments don't equal a feeling of entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what else that the collective you have been right about?

My job is cushy. I got one raise and three bonuses this year. My job is secure. I telecommute, I flexiplace, and I could work a compressed schedule if I wanted to. I have a huge office and I let my phone go to voice mail whenever it suits me. All of my supervisors and colleagues are congenial. Our benefits are top-notch, and I make a pretty good salary.

I work on interesting, cutting-edge issues, and I'm good at it.

Bite me.

Then stop complaining. You have what you want.

I want that. And I want the COLA that I AM ENTITLED to. And before you start celebrating, just remember: All Congress has to do is nothing, and I will get the COLA, along with the locality adjustment.

Then you can all really shit your pants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one guaranteed me pay raises for life. They did, however, guarantee me a modest COLA every year until I reached the highest step in my grade.

Those of you celebrating our misfortune are those that couldn't hack it in the private sector. They either cut your pay or cut you loose as soon as things went sour. And the federal government? Doesn't want you.

But you know what? We'll be fine. It will probably only end up being a one-year freeze, anyway.

You're right. You're much worse off. And, since you've shown yourself to be a shitty person, I think you deserve it much, much more than the thousands of Feds you do not know yet insist on stereotyping.

We are not celebrating anything. We are trying to figure out how you feel entitled to be shielded -- down to the very last 1% -- from the impact of the economy. Why are we entitled to have a feeling on the subject? You are a civil servant. You work for the people. If that bothers you, find an employer that you like better.

Because we have always gotten it; we are entitled to it, and no legitimate purpose will be served by freezing it.