Why does everybody think Feds are so underpaid?

[Anonymous]

My DH is in the office at 7:45 am every morning in order to read reports for an 8:15 am briefing every morning. He NEVER leaves the office until at least 6:30 am, and most days gets home just before DS goes to bed at 8 pm. And don't get me started with the blackberry on the weekend. I don't think he's ever had a 40 hour work week and he's been working for the federal government for almost 9 years with 2 master degrees. Just finally made six figures (barely) this last year. He could definitely make more elsewhere, but he feels like he's contributing to society in this job. I agree that the more educated professionals are underpaid, but a lot of the admin staff is overpaid.

[Anonymous]

PP here, meant 6:30 pm. And, no comp time for higher level professionals.

[Anonymous]

My office doesn't allow comp time or overtime; DH's office doesn't either. A previous agency we both worked at does. It guess it varies, but it's not a standard benefit by any means.

I work much more reasonable hours, but DH puts in a lot of extra (uncompensated) time; as soon as he gets home, he turns on his computer to keep an eye on things and then works once the kids go to bed until 11pm. He does this on weekends too and it's starting to affect our marriage. The one consolation is that I know he doesn't enjoy working the extra hours so it's not like he's doing it to avoid family life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My office doesn't allow comp time or overtime; DH's office doesn't either. A previous agency we both worked at does. It guess it varies, but it's not a standard benefit by any means.

I work much more reasonable hours, but DH puts in a lot of extra (uncompensated) time; as soon as he gets home, he turns on his computer to keep an eye on things and then works once the kids go to bed until 11pm. He does this on weekends too and it's starting to affect our marriage. The one consolation is that I know he doesn't enjoy working the extra hours so it's not like he's doing it to avoid family life.

What does he do that he has to put in so much extra time and keep an eye on things after hours? What is going on during that time that he has to be at the ready?

[Anonymous]

My agency doesn't allow comp time, nor DH's. DH only gets comp time when he's on travel because they often work 12-15 hour days on travel. But it has to be approved beforehand and you often don't know how long you'll be working before hand.

Comp time sucks though. You can only roll over 250 hours of annual leave, so most of the comp time is lost every year. (If you're getting that much comp time you probably can't take that many vacations to use it up!) I wish they could pay it out, even at a reduced rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we're"underpaid", but we are "paid less" than equivalent jobs in the private sector. Teacher salaries don't compare to those of Chemical Engineers. That's based on supply and demand.

However, I think we're paid fine given the hours of work. Per hour I probably make the same or more than others in my field.

Agreed. If people wanted to earn a private sector salary, they could work private sector hours. Working for the federal government is a conscious decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My office doesn't allow comp time or overtime; DH's office doesn't either. A previous agency we both worked at does. It guess it varies, but it's not a standard benefit by any means.

I work much more reasonable hours, but DH puts in a lot of extra (uncompensated) time; as soon as he gets home, he turns on his computer to keep an eye on things and then works once the kids go to bed until 11pm. He does this on weekends too and it's starting to affect our marriage. The one consolation is that I know he doesn't enjoy working the extra hours so it's not like he's doing it to avoid family life.

What does he do that he has to put in so much extra time and keep an eye on things after hours? What is going on during that time that he has to be at the ready?

PP here. I don't want to say too much b/c it might identify us, but he heads a team that works on one of the current biggest and most pressing humanitarian issues and he is severely understaffed. He has a small team to begin with and some of his staff have been pulled out of the office to the field and other responding agencies. He reports directly to his agency's Assistant Secretary; they email each other all night long, I'm sad to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Fed employees get awesome retirement packages that are almost non existent for private sector. They also can work 40 hour week.

Under the "old" system - you are right. However, I doubt that many Feds on this board are under that system. My DH's prviate sector retirement plan is much better than mine.

While I would say that my job is more fleixible than my private sector job was, I regularly work more than 40 hours a week. Depends on the job and the work.

Sure, but you get comp time for it, I'm sure. If you're not getting it, at least you have the right to make a request.

You CAN get credit hours, but you can only carry a certain amount - 3 days at my agency - and you can only accrue it within a certain hour range. If I have to jump on a call at 7:30pm with our West Coast regional office (which happens often), I can't get credit hours for that. Like I said, my workday is more flexible but the nature of my work means that I frequently work more than 40 hours. Sure, it is not as bad as it was when I was in the private sector, but I was also making 35% more.

Honestly, the bigger issue is because of the political climate and the budget cuts, we are currently understaffed by 3 FTEs in a 12 FTE section - and we have always been a busy division. We are all professionals who take pride in our work, so we all take it on - and I am in a revenue generating agency (not appropriated).

I would not say that I deserve a higher salary (I am fairly paid), but I earn every paycheck I get (as I should). I get the sense that a lot of non-Feds think we are justing having picnics everyday.

[Anonymous]

I do not believe that Feds are underpaid (or overpaid) in general. Some think they could earn more if they went to another employer but that is true for employees at every employer.

The government seems to have no trouble attracting applicants for open positions at current pay levels; the total package appears to be sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we're"underpaid", but we are "paid less" than equivalent jobs in the private sector. Teacher salaries don't compare to those of Chemical Engineers. That's based on supply and demand.

However, I think we're paid fine given the hours of work. Per hour I probably make the same or more than others in my field.

Agreed. If people wanted to earn a private sector salary, they could work private sector hours. Working for the federal government is a conscious decision.

Again, this idea that all Feds work fewer hours than private sector employees simply isn't true. Many do, but many also do not.

[Anonymous]

Generally, those GS-11 or maybe 12 and below are overpaid; those 12 or 13 and above are underpaid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not believe that Feds are underpaid (or overpaid) in general. Some think they could earn more if they went to another employer but that is true for employees at every employer.

The government seems to have no trouble attracting applicants for open positions at current pay levels; the total package appears to be sufficient.

This is not universally true. It can be very difficult to find qualified people willing to accept a gov't salary in some of the more lucrative technical fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Fed employees get awesome retirement packages that are almost non existent for private sector. They also can work 40 hour week.

Under the "old" system - you are right. However, I doubt that many Feds on this board are under that system. My DH's prviate sector retirement plan is much better than mine.

While I would say that my job is more fleixible than my private sector job was, I regularly work more than 40 hours a week. Depends on the job and the work.

Sure, but you get comp time for it, I'm sure. If you're not getting it, at least you have the right to make a request.

You CAN get credit hours, but you can only carry a certain amount - 3 days at my agency - and you can only accrue it within a certain hour range. If I have to jump on a call at 7:30pm with our West Coast regional office (which happens often), I can't get credit hours for that. Like I said, my workday is more flexible but the nature of my work means that I frequently work more than 40 hours. Sure, it is not as bad as it was when I was in the private sector, but I was also making 35% more.

Honestly, the bigger issue is because of the political climate and the budget cuts, we are currently understaffed by 3 FTEs in a 12 FTE section - and we have always been a busy division. We are all professionals who take pride in our work, so we all take it on - and I am in a revenue generating agency (not appropriated).

I would not say that I deserve a higher salary (I am fairly paid), but I earn every paycheck I get (as I should). I get the sense that a lot of non-Feds think we are justing having picnics everyday.

I bet SEC!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think we're"underpaid", but we are "paid less" than equivalent jobs in the private sector. Teacher salaries don't compare to those of Chemical Engineers. That's based on supply and demand.

However, I think we're paid fine given the hours of work. Per hour I probably make the same or more than others in my field.

I actually think that statement is only true for professional level jobs. I think admin level type jobs actually make more in government than in the private sector plus much more job security. The number of people making 6 figures in the Federal Government is pretty staggering.

Exactly. I can't believe what our admin people make.

Third this. And a lot of the admins were not kept fully occupied or even close with work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not believe that Feds are underpaid (or overpaid) in general. Some think they could earn more if they went to another employer but that is true for employees at every employer.

The government seems to have no trouble attracting applicants for open positions at current pay levels; the total package appears to be sufficient.

This is not universally true. It can be very difficult to find qualified people willing to accept a gov't salary in some of the more lucrative technical fields.

Which fields?