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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I suspect many agencies will need to cease hiring just to fund GS step increases. An across-the-board raise on top of step increases is a lot of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Usually yes but it can be overruled in the budget bill. Presumably with top line spending agreed to they will be able to pass a budget in a relatively timely manner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is it a bad thing for more people to walk at the higher levels? I feel like it has become the DC equivalent to rest and vest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Is it a bad thing for more people to walk at the higher levels? I feel like it has become the DC equivalent to rest and vest.

My point is that the good young talent will not be there to backfill the retirees.
Pennywise pound foolish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

I'm suggesting they pay something and most do not.
I'm not referring at the poverty level either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

I'm suggesting they pay something and most do not.
I'm not referring at the poverty level either.

You said they pay 2.3% of all federal taxes. Bottom 50% has a little more than 1% of the wealth. Seems like they’re overpaying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

I'm suggesting they pay something and most do not.
I'm not referring at the poverty level either.

You said they pay 2.3% of all federal taxes. Bottom 50% has a little more than 1% of the wealth. Seems like they’re overpaying.

Of course they are overpaying. It’s the people earning over the SS Cap who are underpaying. Expect that to change in the next 5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

I'm suggesting they pay something and most do not.
I'm not referring at the poverty level either.

This is a talking point that is peddled in ultra right wing circles, where they say that everyone must pay taxes to have skin in the game or some such nonsense. So even if you are really poor, they want you to pay a chunk of your meager income in taxes. It's such a profoundly dumb argument, but I think the point is to detract from the fact that the rich pay much less in taxes than at any time in history. Rather than trying to squeeze poor people to the bone, the country would generate far more revenue from just taxing the ultra wealthy a little more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

I'm suggesting they pay something and most do not.
I'm not referring at the poverty level either.

This is a talking point that is peddled in ultra right wing circles, where they say that everyone must pay taxes to have skin in the game or some such nonsense. So even if you are really poor, they want you to pay a chunk of your meager income in taxes. It's such a profoundly dumb argument, but I think the point is to detract from the fact that the rich pay much less in taxes than at any time in history. Rather than trying to squeeze poor people to the bone, the country would generate far more revenue from just taxing the ultra wealthy a little more.

Such drivel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't y'all just get a 4% increase in addition to the step and grade increases already built into your salaries? No one else I know is guaranteed a promotion/salary increase every year.

I know right. GS 13 here. If this increase goes through next year my salary will be 154K. Even if it gets knocked down to 4%, salary will be 152. Let’s go!!!

Honestly if you're a 13/10 what's stopping you from getting another job and moving up? I feel like I know a lot of people like you who are unwilling to take on more responsibilities and supervision/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn't y'all just get a 4% increase in addition to the step and grade increases already built into your salaries? No one else I know is guaranteed a promotion/salary increase every year.

I know right. GS 13 here. If this increase goes through next year my salary will be 154K. Even if it gets knocked down to 4%, salary will be 152. Let’s go!!!

Honestly if you're a 13/10 what's stopping you from getting another job and moving up? I feel like I know a lot of people like you who are unwilling to take on more responsibilities and supervision/

As a GS 13 step 10, there is little point in moving up to GS 14. 14s and 15s need to supervise for the most part (90% in my org), and supervising is not my cup of tea. Yes, unwilling to take on more responsibilities just for 10-15k extra. I’ll be retired between age 50-57 as a GS 13 while the higher management keeps working into their mid 60s.

[Anonymous]

the raise is likely to be 2 percent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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".

That’s an indication of just how little money they make. What is their “fair share” in your view? Should the top 1% only pay 1% of the taxes even though they have 33% of the money?

I'm suggesting they pay something and most do not.
I'm not referring at the poverty level either.

This is a talking point that is peddled in ultra right wing circles, where they say that everyone must pay taxes to have skin in the game or some such nonsense. So even if you are really poor, they want you to pay a chunk of your meager income in taxes. It's such a profoundly dumb argument, but I think the point is to detract from the fact that the rich pay much less in taxes than at any time in history. Rather than trying to squeeze poor people to the bone, the country would generate far more revenue from just taxing the ultra wealthy a little more.

Such drivel.

When you call out the ultra right wingers on how vacuous their talking points are, they don't even try to mount any defense, as there is none.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the raise is likely to be 2 percent

Bite your tongue