Biden to propose 5.2% federal pay increase, largest in pay raise in 43 years

[Anonymous]

We will get something regardless.

[Anonymous]

We’ll see what Congress enacts but I would expect something similar to the Obama years. Agencies need to accommodate automatic step increases and there is no room for a COLA when your budget is flat. If agencies must provide a COLA, won’t program funds get cut? And what about GS promotions? I’m guessing those will be limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are we going to stop throwing money at glorified secretaries (government employees). Anybody can enter a few lines into a spreadsheet, write a memo, and send an e-mail. Feds have no special skills and should not be compensated as if they do

Sounds like you are bitter from being rejected by the feds.

I find it shocking how many companies are funded through federal dollars and none of these people understand how the money shows up in those accounts, how their social security checks are sent, how the national parks remain clean, how their mail is delivered, how their bank deposits are insured, how their roads remain drivable, how their passports are issued……

Those bitter imbeciles were rejected for a reason.

Agree. Anti-Feds want to live in a country with dirty air, dirty water, elderly poor people sitting on the side of the road (or moving in with them), no public transportation, terrible roads, an uneducated populace, Russia or some other foreign adversary launching missile strikes, terrorist incidents on a daily basis, no airport screening, planes flying wherever and whenever they want, the power grid going down on a regular basis, dams overflowing and flooding entire communities, etc.

I also don’t think they realize a lot of us Feds take these jobs in large part because we do care about these functions. I’m an attorney and I have always known I wanted to work in the public sector because I am more motivated to do something that I know helps people in my country than defend some large insurance corporation in litigation or help international companies acquire another. I grew up working class compared to a lot of DCUM and was the first in my family to go to law school (on a merit scholarship). My priorities have never included working as a private sector lawyer. I’m a high performer at my agency and I just roll my eyes at the anti fed rhetoric. I know what I do affects the lives of many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are we going to stop throwing money at glorified secretaries (government employees). Anybody can enter a few lines into a spreadsheet, write a memo, and send an e-mail. Feds have no special skills and should not be compensated as if they do

Sounds like you are bitter from being rejected by the feds.

I find it shocking how many companies are funded through federal dollars and none of these people understand how the money shows up in those accounts, how their social security checks are sent, how the national parks remain clean, how their mail is delivered, how their bank deposits are insured, how their roads remain drivable, how their passports are issued……

Those bitter imbeciles were rejected for a reason.

Agree. Anti-Feds want to live in a country with dirty air, dirty water, elderly poor people sitting on the side of the road (or moving in with them), no public transportation, terrible roads, an uneducated populace, Russia or some other foreign adversary launching missile strikes, terrorist incidents on a daily basis, no airport screening, planes flying wherever and whenever they want, the power grid going down on a regular basis, dams overflowing and flooding entire communities, etc.

I also don’t think they realize a lot of us Feds take these jobs in large part because we do care about these functions. I’m an attorney and I have always known I wanted to work in the public sector because I am more motivated to do something that I know helps people in my country than defend some large insurance corporation in litigation or help international companies acquire another. I grew up working class compared to a lot of DCUM and was the first in my family to go to law school (on a merit scholarship). My priorities have never included working as a private sector lawyer. I’m a high performer at my agency and I just roll my eyes at the anti fed rhetoric. I know what I do affects the lives of many people.

Well said. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are we going to stop throwing money at glorified secretaries (government employees). Anybody can enter a few lines into a spreadsheet, write a memo, and send an e-mail. Feds have no special skills and should not be compensated as if they do

Sounds like you are bitter from being rejected by the feds.

I find it shocking how many companies are funded through federal dollars and none of these people understand how the money shows up in those accounts, how their social security checks are sent, how the national parks remain clean, how their mail is delivered, how their bank deposits are insured, how their roads remain drivable, how their passports are issued……

Those bitter imbeciles were rejected for a reason.

Right. These things won't just happen by osmosis and no, robots and AI can't replace all of these functions either. SOMEONE has to do these jobs.

[Anonymous]

So now that they came to a debt ceiling agreement does anyone know what the increase will be for 2024? I’m really hoping for that 5.2 bc my COL has dramatically increased the last 2 years, and I make about $30-70K less than I would in private sector (but w more flexibility).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now that they came to a debt ceiling agreement does anyone know what the increase will be for 2024? I’m really hoping for that 5.2 bc my COL has dramatically increased the last 2 years, and I make about $30-70K less than I would in private sector (but w more flexibility).

No one will know until a budget is passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone in hiring, trust me you should want fed pay raised. Right now the people running your government can’t afford to live anywhere near their offices, and new hires don’t put up with low pay just for the honor of serving their nation. They google cost of housing and childcare in dmv and nope right on out of the process. Starting pay grade at my org is the same it was when I started 23 years ago. Usg is in for a rough few decades in hiring given inflation coupled with low pay

Agree. I barely make enough for Fed work to be worth it, but I really enjoy my job and the telework flexibility. Truthfully I could only take this job because I’m married to someone that makes more money.
I’m so glad rich people got their tax cuts under Trump so now we all have to have a pay freeze.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see how they hold domestic spending flat while giving employees a five percent pay raise. Looks like it’s back to the Obama years.

[Anonymous]

When are they going to fix the wage compression at the GS15 ladder which renders upper step increases to be zero?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see how they hold domestic spending flat while giving employees a five percent pay raise. Looks like it’s back to the Obama years.

Could do a hiring freeze. For easy math say everyone makes $100K. If you don't replace one person that's about 20 raises you can give (a little less if you include step increases). There are a lot of retirements coming up and those senior folks are usually the highest paid since they're at the top of the step ladder so you could potentially squeeze in a few more raises by not backfilling. Probably not a 5% raise but probably not 0 either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When are they going to fix the wage compression at the GS15 ladder which renders upper step increases to be zero?

Won’t happen before the next economic boom. Increasing pay for people making $183k isn’t exactly popular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone in hiring, trust me you should want fed pay raised. Right now the people running your government can’t afford to live anywhere near their offices, and new hires don’t put up with low pay just for the honor of serving their nation. They google cost of housing and childcare in dmv and nope right on out of the process. Starting pay grade at my org is the same it was when I started 23 years ago. Usg is in for a rough few decades in hiring given inflation coupled with low pay

Agree. I barely make enough for Fed work to be worth it, but I really enjoy my job and the telework flexibility. Truthfully I could only take this job because I’m married to someone that makes more money.
I’m so glad rich people got their tax cuts under Trump so now we all have to have a pay freeze.

You do realize that the bottom 50% of federal tax payers pay just 2.3% of all federal taxes correct?
The bottom 50% do not pay their "fair share".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When are they going to fix the wage compression at the GS15 ladder which renders upper step increases to be zero?

Won’t happen before the next economic boom. Increasing pay for people making $183k isn’t exactly popular.

Then talent will continue to walk.
Seeing that happen a lot especially young, educated feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now that they came to a debt ceiling agreement does anyone know what the increase will be for 2024? I’m really hoping for that 5.2 bc my COL has dramatically increased the last 2 years, and I make about $30-70K less than I would in private sector (but w more flexibility).

No one will know until a budget is passed.

I thought that the President verbally gets what he proposes in the spring.