I can't say this to anyone in real life but ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm irritated by the fact that my neighbor made over $150K at her Fed job, retired, and now collects 80% of that while pulling in several hundred thousand more as a lobbyist.

I fully support retirement for federal employees but I think this double dipping is unconscionable, particularly as she's drawing on her contacts for profit.

Whew, I feel better!

OP, I 100% agree. And its not just Feds. Many state and local governments offer similar deals. I think they should be eligible start collecting retirement benefits at 65 like everyone else. Instead, they start at 22, "retire" 25 years later at 47 and then head on to career #2, raking in the big bucks with all of their government connections.

But then again, I hate the idea of lobbying companies in general. I do not think lobbying should be allowed. Extreme opinion, especially in these parts, I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The lack of knowledge of the day-to-day work of a federal worker is pretty obvious, here. The fed-bashing of the jealous are, sadly, not surprising.

I work hard at my job and at all hours (often through lunch at in the evenings; over the holidays). The 9-5 gig is no longer present in any fed job I've had. I get no overtime. None.

I've put in my years (almost 15) when others couldn't be bothered with the salary I drew (now those big firm lawyers are trying to come to the fed side in droves - I know, I've interviewed them). So, yeah, when I receive my retirement (FERS, not the more generous CSRS) I'm going to take it gleefully. And, if I can use my contacts for something else, you best believe I will do it and without apology.

You can call me whatever you want. I made a smart choice. And am not apologizing for it.

So you are saying that my friends who work 9-5 and have flexible work agreements are lying to me then?

[Anonymous]

Your neighbor was probably on the old FERS system which is/was a pretty sweet deal. The "new" fed. workers won't have such a generous farewell.

Retirement age is relative. With people living longer it almost doesn't make sense to entirely retire from the workforce at 65.

OP - I'm guessing you are in favor of increasing the age at which people can get social security if you are this annoyed about your neighbor double dipping?

And really, OP, if you were in your neighbor's shoes, wouldn't you get a second career - double sweet if it's a high paying job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The lack of knowledge of the day-to-day work of a federal worker is pretty obvious, here. The fed-bashing of the jealous are, sadly, not surprising.

I work hard at my job and at all hours (often through lunch at in the evenings; over the holidays). The 9-5 gig is no longer present in any fed job I've had. I get no overtime. None.

I've put in my years (almost 15) when others couldn't be bothered with the salary I drew (now those big firm lawyers are trying to come to the fed side in droves - I know, I've interviewed them). So, yeah, when I receive my retirement (FERS, not the more generous CSRS) I'm going to take it gleefully. And, if I can use my contacts for something else, you best believe I will do it and without apology.

You can call me whatever you want. I made a smart choice. And am not apologizing for it.

PP, salaried employees outside the government don't typically get overtime either.

Exactly. So back at ya, smartass - you obviously lack knowledge of the day-to-day work of a private sector employee. THAT'S pretty obvious to me. Good luck on the second career, honey - you'll be in for a shock!

[Anonymous]

I'm really angry about these football and baseball players who get paid 10 million dollars for their athletic prowess.

Whew! I feel so much better now.

[Anonymous]

I am a Dem and in favor of gradual increases in the retirement age, as is the President.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really angry about these football and baseball players who get paid 10 million dollars for their athletic prowess.

Whew! I feel so much better now.

How is this relevant? Do professional sports stars get paid with federal tax dollars?

No? Didn't think so.

[Anonymous]

I'm not from this area, and don't deal at all with Feds. I don't know a single Fed. All I know about Feds is from this board. And you come off as whiny assholes. If anyone is bashing you, it's probably your own fault. Every time there's a cloud in the sky there's a Fed on here wishing and hoping for a snow day. A former President was sick last week and a Fed was hopeful he'd die so he wouldn't have to take a "use it or lose it" vacation day. Your salaries aren't awesome, I guess, but you could basically come to work drunk and naked every day for a year before they could even come close to firing you, so you have the security that not many private sector jobs don't. And FWIW, my private-sector DH is often out of town for weeks at a time working on long-term projects, and putting in 85 hour work weeks not only with no overtime, but with pushback *from his bosses* for accurately reporting his time and thus driving up their costs for the project. So I'm really not sorry if you have to bring home your laptop at 6 pm to do a little extra work!

[Anonymous]

The compensation plan is what the market requires in order to attract people to Federal Government jobs.

Most likely your neighbor would have earned a higher salary in the private sector, but she chose to go for more security and long term compensation instead. If not, people would be banging down the doors for these jobs, and the government wouldn't lower the salary requirements.

[Anonymous]

You einsteins realize that the governement is not the only industry in which people are sought after for their "contacts" -- u do get that right?
what needs to be overhauled is the fact that freaking lobbys have some much acess and influence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know because she told me. Late fifties.

I am a fed-42 years old and that is my same salary too. I've been with the govt since I was 25. If it makes you feel better I won't retire until at least 67.

Btw, FEDS my age do not have the pension like my 71 year old father. We have "thrift savings plan' which is basically a 401K. It is like private sector and NOTHING like Fed retirement of our elders...which is why I will be working until 67..

Military retire aft 20 and the officers have a great retirement and then go into private sector as you describe.[/quote

+1

ATTENTION ALL ASSHOLES: the fed pension program was phased out long ago.

Those of us 45 and younger do not have a pension. We have a 401k like the private sector.

[Anonymous]

We have a 401k and a smaller pension than the old system.

We also can't access the pension until we're in our 60s generally, and pay penalties if we take it early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+1000

Once I met a woman, who told me that she was retired from Fed government years ago in her late 40s (she was 52) and was now considering what her 3rd luxury car should be. BTW, she only had a high school diploma and no other qualifications.

Feds do get perks and excitement too. Remember the meetings in vegas? Many are paid to attend conferences of their choosing usually in great locations and I know because I work for the Fed govt and have these travel perks. I have been to confeences in Hawaii, vegas, the Carribean and each location and meeting was my choice as long as it is career development.

OP is absolutely right. No wonder the budget is in the red and USA is borrowing money from China. Partly to pay pensions to relatively yiung "retirees" who use the govt contatcs in a second career with high salary. Better start learning Chinese.

Don't believe you. Either you are lying or she is lying. Under the old federal retirement system, you had to meet the rule of 85. Even if you met the 85 rule, full retirement was age 55 and early retirement with penalty was 52.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighbor is collecting 100% FED salary as pension, as well as spouse's.

I hate to think that our children will be paying for a long time.

How is that possible? I'm a fed and have never heard of a pension that high.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I think the 30% thing sucks! As I said, I support retirement for Feds, I just think it's not right that people then go on to a lucrative second career trading on their Federal contacts.

I would support a system where your Federal retirement decreases commensurate with outside earned income at a certain point.

I don't want my taxes going to retirement for lobbyists. But if someone wants to retire from a Fed job and be a teacher or something like that, I would 100% support it.

100% agree with this. And no, I have no jealousy, I just think that the scenario OP describes is absolutely not what was envisioned when the pension system was designed. I think what OP suggests is fiscally and ethically responsible.

+1000

Once I met a woman, who told me that she was retired from Fed government years ago in her late 40s (she was 52) and was now considering what her 3rd luxury car should be. BTW, she only had a high school diploma and no other qualifications.

Feds do get perks and excitement too. Remember the meetings in vegas? Many are paid to attend conferences of their choosing usually in great locations and I know because I work for the Fed govt and have these travel perks. I have been to confeences in Hawaii, vegas, the Carribean and each location and meeting was my choice as long as it is career development.

OP is absolutely right. No wonder the budget is in the red and USA is borrowing money from China. Partly to pay pensions to relatively yiung "retirees" who use the govt contatcs in a second career with high salary. Better start learning Chinese.

OMG you met a federal worker who drives a luxury car? The NERVE of her! These bastard feds, sucking at the teat of the government, wasting precious hours of taxpayer-funded time on DCUM... Wait a second. You are one of them? Why don't you do all of us a favor and quit? Something about your post screams sock puppet troll.

Exactly. Not to mention, she admitted wasting govt money to attend conferences in nice locales herself. You're part of the very "problem" you're complaining about!