Anonymous wrote:Yes, my family thinks we get free health care too. When I tell them how much our monthly premiums are, they don't believe it because it's higher than their family premiums in the private sector by a lot. They think I'm exaggerating because they had some relatives work for the federal government (of course 40-50 years ago, but I digress) who didn't have to pay anything or something really minimal (their words). This is fly over country and I've heard it from several different relatives in different states. I'm sure a lot of people outside of federal service believe it too.

Do you mind sharing what your premium is?

I just checked my paycheck and I got a whopping $5 more this pay period

My mom got more paid maternity leave 30 years ago, working for a nonprofit than I do today working for the federal government. People don't believe it. Where this phantom free health insurance myth started, I don't know.

They changed the federal pension system in the mid 80s- almost 30 years ago- and we're still hearing about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

How do we fight misinformation? I've been told numerous times that my pension will be greater than my salary when I retire at 50. Umm no.

The problem is all politics is local.

In state and local government, lavish benefits and pensions are still the norm (which is part of why there are so many municipal bankruptcies), and it is rife with corruption and nepotism.

But for the vast majority of people, distinguishing between federal government and their overpaid county bureaucrats is too much trouble.

Um, no. I'm in state government. You are doing the same thing that is done to the feds, just assuming that someone else has great benefits and pensions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

How do we fight misinformation? I've been told numerous times that my pension will be greater than my salary when I retire at 50. Umm no.

I really don't know. I think people all over the country just assume Washington is crooked and all us Feds are sucking the teat of the taxpayer dollar. A long time ago a rumor (true or not) got started about all the perks of being a federal employee and certain news channels love to run with those "facts."

Part of the problem is probably the unions who go too far to protect bad employees. One story gets out about some slacker being placed on paid leave and that sticks in people's minds. I would gladly give up some of my protections if it made it easier to get rid of the bad apples and in return we could be eligible for more merit based promotions, better family leave, etc.

I'm on board! Great idea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

How do we fight misinformation? I've been told numerous times that my pension will be greater than my salary when I retire at 50. Umm no.

Sigh. This just goes to show how f*cked the rest of the workforce is

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

How do we fight misinformation? I've been told numerous times that my pension will be greater than my salary when I retire at 50. Umm no.

I really don't know. I think people all over the country just assume Washington is crooked and all us Feds are sucking the teat of the taxpayer dollar. A long time ago a rumor (true or not) got started about all the perks of being a federal employee and certain news channels love to run with those "facts."

Part of the problem is probably the unions who go too far to protect bad employees. One story gets out about some slacker being placed on paid leave and that sticks in people's minds. I would gladly give up some of my protections if it made it easier to get rid of the bad apples and in return we could be eligible for more merit based promotions, better family leave, etc.

I thought my raise came in my last paycheck. If not, that's awesome! I doubled my FSA dependent care and thought not as much was taken out of my check b/c it was mitigated by the 1% increase.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.8 Percent Federal Pay Raise in 2016 Proposed by Lawmakers

http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/1321.cfm

All of the bill sponsors are D. It's a bit disheartening being so reviled by 50% of the country, including family members.

+1. I'm a government attorney and have been asked by a family friend when I'm going to get a "real" job.

I've been told it's ridiculous that I get free healthcare.

Uh....wow, that would be super nice if it were even remotely true.

That one percent raise will just disappear into increased healthcare premiums.

exactly. And I just love the misinformation out there about our benefits....

Anonymous wrote:3.8 Percent Federal Pay Raise in 2016 Proposed by Lawmakers

http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/1321.cfm

election year

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

How do we fight misinformation? I've been told numerous times that my pension will be greater than my salary when I retire at 50. Umm no.

The problem is all politics is local.

In state and local government, lavish benefits and pensions are still the norm (which is part of why there are so many municipal bankruptcies), and it is rife with corruption and nepotism.

But for the vast majority of people, distinguishing between federal government and their overpaid county bureaucrats is too much trouble.

Anonymous wrote:
Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

How do we fight misinformation? I've been told numerous times that my pension will be greater than my salary when I retire at 50. Umm no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:3.8 Percent Federal Pay Raise in 2016 Proposed by Lawmakers

http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/1321.cfm

All of the bill sponsors are D. It's a bit disheartening being so reviled by 50% of the country, including family members.

+1. I'm a government attorney and have been asked by a family friend when I'm going to get a "real" job.

I've been told it's ridiculous that I get free healthcare.

Uh....wow, that would be super nice if it were even remotely true.

Lol, I am pregnant and have had several people tell me how lucky I am to get paid maternity leave (this is news to me)! And this was before Obama's EO letting us take advanced sick leave. There seems to be a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there about how amazing our benefits are.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, my family thinks we get free health care too. When I tell them how much our monthly premiums are, they don't believe it because it's higher than their family premiums in the private sector by a lot. They think I'm exaggerating because they had some relatives work for the federal government (of course 40-50 years ago, but I digress) who didn't have to pay anything or something really minimal (their words). This is fly over country and I've heard it from several different relatives in different states. I'm sure a lot of people outside of federal service believe it too.

Yes! My DH's uncle makes $$$ in pension and he's still working as a contractor. The rest of our family thinks I get all these crazy good benefits. I'm so sick of hearing about it. I love my job and don't complain, but I'm sick of hearing about how great it is. I wish it was half as good as people think. All 4 of our parents have better health insurance for less. And my parents had paternity leave 30 years ago.