Feds... do you plan on staying forever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a FERS generation Fed who retired in 2013 after 26 yrs because early out/buyouts were offered due to sequestration effects (bad government in action, forced by Congress (primarily Rs), into which Obama got suckered (stupidly).

It's hard for me to see how anyone who came in recently or within the last 10 years will want to put up with the dismissive and disrespectful shit that too many want to heap on federal employees.

Perhaps when their tax refunds come slowly and their social security checks get slowed down and their VA benefits and service go down the shitter as a result of the service and personnel cuts that have started, and which will continue, they will understand that it's easy but ignorant to just blame all the country's woes on paying Feds a reasonable (and hardly exorbitant despite ginned up numbers to make it look that way) salary.

+1 When I attend the awards ceremonies at my husband's agency, I am so proud of him and all the other amazing work done by the Fed Govt. It's a shame that story isn't told to the broader public. I met an idiot at a VC event who was shocked when I told him my Dh is a government scientist. "The government has scientists?," he asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a FERS generation Fed who retired in 2013 after 26 yrs because early out/buyouts were offered due to sequestration effects (bad government in action, forced by Congress (primarily Rs), into which Obama got suckered (stupidly).

It's hard for me to see how anyone who came in recently or within the last 10 years will want to put up with the dismissive and disrespectful shit that too many want to heap on federal employees.

Perhaps when their tax refunds come slowly and their social security checks get slowed down and their VA benefits and service go down the shitter as a result of the service and personnel cuts that have started, and which will continue, they will understand that it's easy but ignorant to just blame all the country's woes on paying Feds a reasonable (and hardly exorbitant despite ginned up numbers to make it look that way) salary.

+1 When I attend the awards ceremonies at my husband's agency, I am so proud of him and all the other amazing work done by the Fed Govt. It's a shame that story isn't told to the broader public. I met an idiot at a VC event who was shocked when I told him my Dh is a government scientist. "The government has scientists?," he asked.

The government scientists at my husbands agency are fleeing in droves. He is a recent fed who wanted to stay until retirement, but those headhunters who are contacting him monthly are looking very tempting after the debacle last year. They even have a class at his agency that they need to take when leaving for the private sector--so there are no ethics problems. It's full for the next 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a supervisory 15 just counting the minutes. Staff acts like babies, some don't want to work, and the management administrivia is soul-crushing. I keep thinking I can make it better or fix it but then something else happens that just sucks the heart out of me. Between upper management shenanigans, congress, and immature staff it's just awful.

I am trying to plan my escape.

Escape to management, if possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a FERS generation Fed who retired in 2013 after 26 yrs because early out/buyouts were offered due to sequestration effects (bad government in action, forced by Congress (primarily Rs), into which Obama got suckered (stupidly).

It's hard for me to see how anyone who came in recently or within the last 10 years will want to put up with the dismissive and disrespectful shit that too many want to heap on federal employees.

Perhaps when their tax refunds come slowly and their social security checks get slowed down and their VA benefits and service go down the shitter as a result of the service and personnel cuts that have started, and which will continue, they will understand that it's easy but ignorant to just blame all the country's woes on paying Feds a reasonable (and hardly exorbitant despite ginned up numbers to make it look that way) salary.

+1 When I attend the awards ceremonies at my husband's agency, I am so proud of him and all the other amazing work done by the Fed Govt. It's a shame that story isn't told to the broader public. I met an idiot at a VC event who was shocked when I told him my Dh is a government scientist. "The government has scientists?," he asked.

I would think that ethical rules apply to contacts with headhunters too, perhaps.

The government scientists at my husbands agency are fleeing in droves. He is a recent fed who wanted to stay until retirement, but those headhunters who are contacting him monthly are looking very tempting after the debacle last year. They even have a class at his agency that they need to take when leaving for the private sector--so there are no ethics problems. It's full for the next 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread, but have ? for those who have left or plan on leaving sometime in your 50s--what are you doing for medical benefits? i am trying my best to save as much a possible for retirement so I can leave in my late 50s, but not sure how the medical benefits work in retirement under FERS. Thanks.

If you are in your fifties and your spouse isn't a Fed, you would be insane to resign and not wait to retire. Health insurance for life. My DH just retired and we still have minor kids and their health insurance is covered until they are eligible to get their own -- in their twenties. They'll be covered if he should die. He also retired under FERS with enough years in (he went to a service academy, so he's been a fed since he was 18, but switched to FERS in the 80s and bought out his military time) that he gets a guaranteed check of 65k+ (plus whatever COLAs retirees get) for life. That's not even touching the thrift savings or social security that he'll get. It's not enough for us to live on alone here, but it's a nice cushion if life circumstances change and no one is able to work. I'm younger, but I'm also a FERS fed who started when I was very young and I'll get the same deal. We may not be making quite the same as many of the people on this board and didn't when everyone else was flush around us, but we also aren't panicked about our old age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread, but have ? for those who have left or plan on leaving sometime in your 50s--what are you doing for medical benefits? i am trying my best to save as much a possible for retirement so I can leave in my late 50s, but not sure how the medical benefits work in retirement under FERS. Thanks.

If you are in your fifties and your spouse isn't a Fed, you would be insane to resign and not wait to retire. Health insurance for life. My DH just retired and we still have minor kids and their health insurance is covered until they are eligible to get their own -- in their twenties. They'll be covered if he should die. He also retired under FERS with enough years in (he went to a service academy, so he's been a fed since he was 18, but switched to FERS in the 80s and bought out his military time) that he gets a guaranteed check of 65k+ (plus whatever COLAs retirees get) for life. That's not even touching the thrift savings or social security that he'll get. It's not enough for us to live on alone here, but it's a nice cushion if life circumstances change and no one is able to work. I'm younger, but I'm also a FERS fed who started when I was very young and I'll get the same deal. We may not be making quite the same as many of the people on this board and didn't when everyone else was flush around us, but we also aren't panicked about our old age.

Does his post retirement health insurance also cover you, the spouse for the duration of life. Or, do you have your own policy.

[Anonymous]

Just like other have mentioned the need for government scientist. Now a days being technical in the Feds is desirable especially since baby boomers will be leaving in the next 5-10 years.

Bottom line, you will be get promoted.
I am halfway thru GS-15 schedule and I can't imagine becoming an SES. So, after I top out in 10 years will try to get a job at SEC who have high pay bands.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started as a general engineer as well.
I am now operations research. The good news is that their will be an increase vacancies and in particular your series will be harder to fill/eliminate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's your job series?

I was a GS-15 by the time I was 29 but had to take promotions outside of current Fed agency.

Anonymous wrote:I'm starting as a GS-7 right out of college. My track has potential to a GS-13. I plan to at least stay that far, if it doesn't take a huge amount of time. Do you think that is possible in 10 years? Then, I will think about private sector.

I am in series 0801. I have a feeling when I get to the 12-13 range I will have to take promotions outside of my agency, because of seniority and budget reasons.

I'm not sure how I feel about operations research. A bit too math heavy. I would rather do something chemistry-heavy. Why do you say there is an increase in vacancies in our field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love this thread, but have ? for those who have left or plan on leaving sometime in your 50s--what are you doing for medical benefits? i am trying my best to save as much a possible for retirement so I can leave in my late 50s, but not sure how the medical benefits work in retirement under FERS. Thanks.

If you are in your fifties and your spouse isn't a Fed, you would be insane to resign and not wait to retire. Health insurance for life. My DH just retired and we still have minor kids and their health insurance is covered until they are eligible to get their own -- in their twenties. They'll be covered if he should die. He also retired under FERS with enough years in (he went to a service academy, so he's been a fed since he was 18, but switched to FERS in the 80s and bought out his military time) that he gets a guaranteed check of 65k+ (plus whatever COLAs retirees get) for life. That's not even touching the thrift savings or social security that he'll get. It's not enough for us to live on alone here, but it's a nice cushion if life circumstances change and no one is able to work. I'm younger, but I'm also a FERS fed who started when I was very young and I'll get the same deal. We may not be making quite the same as many of the people on this board and didn't when everyone else was flush around us, but we also aren't panicked about our old age.

Does his post retirement health insurance also cover you, the spouse for the duration of life. Or, do you have your own policy.

I have my own, but it does cover surviving spouses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am GS-15 in my mid 30's have been Fed for over 10 years now. I plan to be a Fed for at least another 20 years. At times it is demoralizing, and frequency of management reporting is soul robbing but I have family to care for and mortgage to pay.

After I retire, I will become a high paid contractor.

Don't mean to sound ungrateful. Feel very blessed.

I'm also a 15 in my mid-30s. I actually like my job and am grateful for it, but the commute is crushing and I have a hard time imagining myself doing the same thing for the next 20+ years. No desire to be SES but also feel like I "bought into" FERS when I left the private sector and took that huge pay cut in exchange for flexibility: if I leave before full retirement I will have lost money in a sense. I'm looking for a Fed job with a better commute, but nothing has been right, yet.

[Anonymous]

I have about 12 years of fed service. I plan on staying b/c it allows me to balance family and work. My agency pays well and we have a lot of flexibility (e.g., telework). I am tempted to take the first available retirement (earliest would be at 57); however, given that my kids would be in college then it probably wouldn't be the wisest time to do it.

[Anonymous]

I'm a GS-14 in my mid 30's with two small kids and about six years of service. Did 6-7 years of contracting before I converted for the stability and the great health insurance. I wouldn't say I "love" my job but I like it enough that I don't dread waking up and going to work. The staff are for the most part easy to get along with. Upper management has their moments but nothing terrible.

I'd hit my 30 year mark at age 59 or so. Kids would be out of college (assuming they go to college) when I'm at years 23 and 25. TSP is being built up as much as I can, so I suppose I could shoot for an early retirement, but who knows what the economy, or even my agency and office, will look like in 15-20 years. Right now, I like it enough to stick with it.

[Anonymous]

I left after 12 years. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I worked with a lot of incompetent people who didn't give two shits about the work they did. The work was boring & most supervisors were insufferable. Our agency has poor management that is widely unliked. I had no interest in being promoted bc I would have had to deal with so much bureaucratic bs, not to mention, manage people people who didn't think they should have to do any work. And my pay would have been the same. I SAH for now. I may go back to work (not to the govt) one day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left after 12 years. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I worked with a lot of incompetent people who didn't give two shits about the work they did. The work was boring & most supervisors were insufferable. Our agency has poor management that is widely unliked. I had no interest in being promoted bc I would have had to deal with so much bureaucratic bs, not to mention, manage people people who didn't think they should have to do any work. And my pay would have been the same. I SAH for now. I may go back to work (not to the govt) one day.

May I ask which agency you used to work for? Thx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left after 12 years. I just couldn't stand it anymore. I worked with a lot of incompetent people who didn't give two shits about the work they did. The work was boring & most supervisors were insufferable. Our agency has poor management that is widely unliked. I had no interest in being promoted bc I would have had to deal with so much bureaucratic bs, not to mention, manage people people who didn't think they should have to do any work. And my pay would have been the same. I SAH for now. I may go back to work (not to the govt) one day.

Must've been DOL . I feel the same way except I'm stuck here until something better comes along.

I hope I'm not a fed for life. I can't imagine another 30 years of this crap.

[Anonymous]

I've been a fed for a decade. I don't know if I'll stay another 20-25 years until retirement, but for now, I'm happy. I love the work that I do, and I work with a bunch of smart, hard-working people.

I do still keep an eye on what's available outside the govt, but right now it would take a pretty amazing opportunity to take me away from my current agency.