Federal employee bonuses

[Anonymous]

+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

[Anonymous]

Last year got 1 week leave and about $1500

[Anonymous]

1 week leave and about $1500

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got $1600 this year. I am a GS-13.

Woa - I want to work where you work !

Labor. I think I did a good job this year since we were under-staffed but I am not a rock star or anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

I am currently a fed and in my opinion, the federal health benefits just aren't that great of a deal compared to what we (my wife and I) have personally seen in the private sector. We use my wife's private employer sponsored health plan because it's cheaper for equivalent coverage terms. I know this is just anecdata, and I don't know what is the norm across the private sector as a whole, but this was also true for my previous employer (private law firm) as well as my wife's previous 2 employers (non-legal private sector).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

I am currently a fed and in my opinion, the federal health benefits just aren't that great of a deal compared to what we (my wife and I) have personally seen in the private sector. We use my wife's private employer sponsored health plan because it's cheaper for equivalent coverage terms. I know this is just anecdata, and I don't know what is the norm across the private sector as a whole, but this was also true for my previous employer (private law firm) as well as my wife's previous 2 employers (non-legal private sector).

My DH is in the private sector in a non-legal job and while his offerings are better than law firm pricing, it comes with a high family deductible. His precious big corporate job at Comcast also had a high deductible. Both plans offered had a deductible. Our fed plan has no deductible. That alone is golden for children/pregnancy etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

I am currently a fed and in my opinion, the federal health benefits just aren't that great of a deal compared to what we (my wife and I) have personally seen in the private sector. We use my wife's private employer sponsored health plan because it's cheaper for equivalent coverage terms. I know this is just anecdata, and I don't know what is the norm across the private sector as a whole, but this was also true for my previous employer (private law firm) as well as my wife's previous 2 employers (non-legal private sector).

My DH is in the private sector in a non-legal job and while his offerings are better than law firm pricing, it comes with a high family deductible. His precious big corporate job at Comcast also had a high deductible. Both plans offered had a deductible. Our fed plan has no deductible. That alone is golden for children/pregnancy etc...

NP. There are lots of fed plans to choose from. Some DO have high deductibles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

I am currently a fed and in my opinion, the federal health benefits just aren't that great of a deal compared to what we (my wife and I) have personally seen in the private sector. We use my wife's private employer sponsored health plan because it's cheaper for equivalent coverage terms. I know this is just anecdata, and I don't know what is the norm across the private sector as a whole, but this was also true for my previous employer (private law firm) as well as my wife's previous 2 employers (non-legal private sector).

My DH is in the private sector in a non-legal job and while his offerings are better than law firm pricing, it comes with a high family deductible. His precious big corporate job at Comcast also had a high deductible. Both plans offered had a deductible. Our fed plan has no deductible. That alone is golden for children/pregnancy etc...

NP. There are lots of fed plans to choose from. Some DO have high deductibles.

The point is choice. The private plans we have dealt with offered either a single choice or two BOTH with deductibles. We have the ability to get a much lower cost plan, NO deductible, and excellent coverage. That’s been our experience.

[Anonymous]

My DH is a Fed and got like $500. We weren't expecting it at all, so it's nice to have help paying for Christmas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

I am currently a fed and in my opinion, the federal health benefits just aren't that great of a deal compared to what we (my wife and I) have personally seen in the private sector. We use my wife's private employer sponsored health plan because it's cheaper for equivalent coverage terms. I know this is just anecdata, and I don't know what is the norm across the private sector as a whole, but this was also true for my previous employer (private law firm) as well as my wife's previous 2 employers (non-legal private sector).

Yes, it is just anecdata, and the norm in the private sector is to have worse health benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1 to 10:29. Our health benefits might have been superior to the private sector at one time, but no more. I pay more for less coverage than I did 10 years ago. Pay increases have not kept up with inflation. The only thing that remains is our pensions, but I will be shocked if those are not drastically reduced or eliminated before I retire.

Our family plan was $1,700 last month at a law firm. Included a $250 emergency room copay and not great coverage in general. I paid $162 each paycheck for top notch federal plan for the family. $100 copay for ER and just all around better coverage. I have a toddler and am currently pregnant. Would take federal plan any day of the week.

+1. I am a fed and DH is at a firm. My benefits are much cheaper for at least as good, probably better, coverage. My agency even kicks in a little extra each pay period beyond the usual contribution, but it would be much better even without that.

There are some companies that match or even exceed Fed benefits, but Fed benefits are better than most options in the private sector.

I am currently a fed and in my opinion, the federal health benefits just aren't that great of a deal compared to what we (my wife and I) have personally seen in the private sector. We use my wife's private employer sponsored health plan because it's cheaper for equivalent coverage terms. I know this is just anecdata, and I don't know what is the norm across the private sector as a whole, but this was also true for my previous employer (private law firm) as well as my wife's previous 2 employers (non-legal private sector).

Yes, it is just anecdata, and the norm in the private sector is to have worse health benefits.

Is it? Hasn't been my personal experience either. But, who knows if my experience is the norm. Is there data on this?

[Anonymous]

$1600. Gs-14, but was acting as a 15 all summer/fall. It’s not a year end or holiday bonus, it’s a performance award based on our review in September, it just gets paid out in the last pay period of the year. I scored outstanding, which is the highest rating.

Oddly, my biggest award ever was back in 2010 when I was a gs 13, $2500. And my rating was only exceeds that year.

[Anonymous]

The most I have ever gotten is 7500 performance award in 2011. Last year wasn’t too bad at 4500. This year, 40 hours of leave.