No COLA for Seniors and Disabled... but Federal Employees Get a Cost of Living Raise (pensions, blog)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by DanBev

Kind of nice that all government employee's are well taken care of.I have not had a cola increase increase in over 20 years,after working for Bell for 34 years.Most of us have not the same benefits of government.

Well, all I can say is that working for government was a knowing choice and a lot of it had to do with reasonable pay, great benefits, some sense of stability and fantastic retirements. I certainly don't apologize for that choice, nor does my wife. But we're both very thankful.

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Well, all I can say is that working for government was a knowing choice and a lot of it had to do with reasonable pay, great benefits, some sense of stability and fantastic retirements. I certainly don't apologize for that choice, nor does my wife. But we're both very thankful.

Amen, brother - my wife and I feel the same way about our government careers (both federal) and now our retirements ... very thankful that we made the right choice early on.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by MadManofBethesda

Yes.

Tens of thousands of federal employees have lost their jobs through reductions-in-force (RIFs) over the years.

So, you'll just have to direct your misplaced anger at some other target.

Not true. "Layoffs, called “reductions in force,” have occurred in the past, but they are uncommon and usually affect relatively few workers."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Federal Government, Excluding the Postal Service

This is just an aside to anyone who is interested. Google has a separate search engine for government websites. It's:
http://www.google.com/unclesam

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Not true. "Layoffs, called “reductions in force,” have occurred in the past, but they are uncommon and usually affect relatively few workers."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Federal Government, Excluding the Postal Service

This is just an aside to anyone who is interested. Google has a separate search engine for government websites. It's:
<Unclesam> - Google Search

The govt also tries to do other things to reduce the workforce that do not show up in the RIF statistics. Like using attrition as much as possible - someone leaves and their job is abolished or held open for months and sometimes years and not filled. RIFs also mean another agency might have to hire a RIF'ed person whether they are the best qualified or not.

[TuborgP]

We all have to make choices in life. Some folks opted for a base with more security and long term pay out and others went down another path. If the Chickens are now coming home we each must understand we built our own farm.

[TuborgP]

Originally Posted by GreenGene

Amen, brother - my wife and I feel the same way about our government careers (both federal) and now our retirements ... very thankful that we made the right choice early on.

Yah the amen's pile on and on and on.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by LauraC

Not true. "Layoffs, called “reductions in force,” have occurred in the past, but they are uncommon and usually affect relatively few workers."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Federal Government, Excluding the Postal Service

Au contraire. When you have a work force numbering in the millions, tens of thousands of workers could be called "relatively few." That doesn't change the fact that my statement, as written, was correct. Tens of thousands of federal employees have lost their jobs through RIFs over the years. That is incontrovertible.

[seeriously]

Originally Posted by TuborgP

We all have to make choices in life. Some folks opted for a base with more security and long term pay out and others went down another path. If the Chickens are now coming home we each must understand we built our own farm.

Absolutely, perfectly said! We went through the profitable 90's when our friends were pulling in 6 figures and my husband, equally talented with an MBA, was making $60,000. We kept our eye to the future. Luckily he soared in the last 6 years of his career and his high 3 ended up being pretty good. Many times we though of bailing from the gov but he stayed on. Choices reap results.

[texdav]

That is where there needs to be changes;it should be based like most on the working carreer contribtuions and not the last three years.Wityh teh coming deficits that is likely to change just as many other retirements have changed in other areas.

[MadManofBethesda]

Originally Posted by texdav

That is where there needs to be changes;it should be based like most on the working carreer contribtuions and not the last three years.Wityh teh coming deficits that is likely to change just as many other retirements have changed in other areas.

You may want it to change.

You may even think that it would be a good idea if it changed.

But one thing I can guarantee you....

it definitely is not "likely" to change.