Public vs. Private Sector

[peebola]

Originally Posted by juppiter

I think for most people, public sector is better. In NY public workers get good pay/benefits and the public employee unions CSEA, PEF, NYSUT, and NYSCOPBA are extremely powerful. But the public sector basically guarantees you a lifetime of mediocrity. For some, private sector is better because you have the chance to do more good (or evil). Most will not, but in the private sector you have the chance.

In NY state government jobs are highly coveted. Government workers in NY make great pay and have good benefits. Personally I have never met a NYS government worker who quit his/her government job to find a "better" job in the private sector.

Good luck getting a government job in NY if you don't know anyone who can get you in the system.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by peebola

In NY state government jobs are highly coveted. Government workers in NY make great pay and have good benefits. Personally I have never met a NYS government worker who quit his/her government job to find a "better" job in the private sector.

Good luck getting a government job in NY if you don't know anyone who can get you in the system.

You have to know someone to get a government job in NYC?

[L210]

Here's a comparison of federal compensation vs. private sector compensation.
Federal Pay vs. Private Sector Compensation - NYTimes.com

[joliefrijole71]

Originally Posted by WestPhillyDude75

You have to know someone to get a government job in NYC?

I remember when I was still in college, my mother was still working for the Post Office. She told me she could talk to a good friend who could get me a job where they both worked right after I graduated. I declined.

I've worked for both public and private sector. I agree about job security, great health benefits, and the PTO..right now, I have been working at my job for nine years, and I am about to get 4 weeks vacation plus 2 weeks sick come July 1st.

I am remaining in the public sector-I learned an added bonus recently. Because I have 100K in grad school debt loans, I qualify under Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Just pay on time for ten years, and the rest of my debt is forgiven.

[rothbear]

Originally Posted by Mightyqueen801

I have a public sector job, but I've never been in a union. The problem with that is that when it comes time, like now, for politicians in a bad economy to give those greedy public sector workers what-for in order to impress their constituents who imagine that the public sector employees sit at their desks playing solitaire all day, it's the non-union people who get their salaries and benefits cut. The union people are working without a contract now because any negotiations will mean that they also lose stuff, but since elections and campaigns have a schedule, the politicians can't wait around for that to be resolved.

It's not so bad for me because I've been there long enough that I'm OK as far as my pension and benefits go. The newer people do not get the same benefits we do and haven't for at least a decade. The people in power are making it as difficult and unpleasant as possible for long-time employees in order to force them out the door, and it's pretty much working.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I am really getting sick and tired of people thinking that ALL government workers are overpaid, lazy, union employees!

My daughter is a civilian employee with the Air Force, a DOD employee. She has a BS is software engineering and a MS in systems engineering, both from high level schools. She works hard, has been published, has received awards, and has been one of the youngest people put in charge of some important projects because she gets things done, and done correctly (she is currently not quite 30). She has top level security clearance and is currently working on cybersecurity fixes, as well as ways computers can keep our troops safer in the field and in the air. She is extremely busy with many top level projects, as well as having to deal with contractors and all the government red tape, and other crap (male & military egos) etc. She had several job offers right out of college, including Lockheed-Martin, but really wanted to be in civil service for the variety of experiences and responsibilities she would have. But since she has only been there since 2005, she does NOT.........REPEAT NOT.........have the huge pensions, etc. of the older workers. She has her own 401K, just like many private sector jobs as well as a very minimal pension. She hadn't gotten a raise in 2 years, and when she did it wasn't huge, as everybody assumes. She is NOT UNION either. Many, many of her friends from college in private sector are making much more than she is (Google, Amazon, Microsoft), but that doesn't bother her as she feels is is making a difference for the country and enjoys the actual work.......just not the political crap.

So yes, by all means, lets cut the pay and benefits people like my daughter. After all, we all KNOW that DOD employees are just a bunch of lazy, incompetent, overpaid government employees that are totally useless and do absolutely NOTHING for their country!!!! She is actually considering trying to move to another part of the government because of all the crap that she has to put up with as part of the DOD. Just exactly what this country, and our troops, need.........to lose people like her to other areas, or to the private sector.

[FBJ]

One thing I just learned about being a government employee is you don't see "medical" on the pay stub for deductions.

I been looking for the word medical for like 6 weeks and was finally told by my supervisor that you don't see medical on the stub in regards to health benefits.