Not Minding the Gap
I'm not going to make a judgement on whether the 2.0 percent pay increase is the right one or not. But this statement from the White House, "the 2010 pay increase for Federal civilian employees, 2.0 percent, is responsive to the current economic climate, bringing Federal pay and benefit practices more in line with the private sector," does seem to ENTIRELY ignore that a gap exists between public and private sector pay. It's probably just bad phrasing. But the phrasing seems a little clueless.
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Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
..I have not seen the data. But word on the street is that public sector jobs offer substantially better hours, job security, health and retirement benefits. If that is the case, then any putative gap between headline wages in public and private sectors may be entirely justified.
What does the literature say?
erm.. Posted Thursday, February 26, 2009 5:21 PMShow me where the pay gaps exist. Show me how the private sector is getting better benefits than government employees. I say there are a few examples of people coming to work for the government for less than the private sector. However,for the majority of us government workers, we are paid well for the work we do. If the data is out there, let's see it!
Clancy Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 9:00 AMI live in the boondocks, took a pay cut to work for the government and now make more money. The one thing I have to say is that the little that I do make I earn every penny plus. There have been many cut backs in the past years especially with administration jobs that there are very few people doing the same amount of work (let's say 60/100). Even with that statement I'll take the few penny's that come with the increase. It is a lot better than a lot of folks are going to get.
Rural America Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 10:26 AMAlyssa, don't let the facts ever fool you. Every study published by the Dept of Commerce reflects that CS are paid FARRR better than their private sector counter parts. The 2007 study reflected the average CS pay was $117K while the private sectors' was $55K. In order for this to balance out CS should see a pay freeze for the next 20 years
dan ketter Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 11:42 AMI agree that there is a pay gap. As a government employee, my compensation is much better than it would be in the private sector.
Dennis Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 12:18 PMLet me be brutally honest here. I am a high performer as determined by my previous 5 outstanding performance evaluations, routine awards, and other incentives. As a high performer, whose civilian counterparts earn in excess of $40,000 a year more than I do, excluding benefits, I find the 2% raise to be an insult to my intelligence.
It has been my experience that most employees (not all) citing their comfort with such a raise, regardless of external circumstances (economic), are generally not top performers and in many instances are simply happy they are not working at a gas station. Good for them. They do not speak for me.
Now, once aspect in which the Feds have the private sector beat is comparative, not absolute, job security. I am reasonably confident I will not face a RIF regardless of economic circumstances other than a complete collapse of government and social order (which cannot be ruled out at this point- look at Iceland).
Any federal employee that "appreciates" this raise and believes the lower raise is for the common good needs to have their head examined. This stimulus package will result in gross expenditures, money to illegal aliens (healthcare, education, unemployment assistance), and a myriad of other wastes. The amount of money simply unaccounted for in this stimulus will exceed the difference between this 2% raise and a 5% raise.
Specialist/ DVA Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 1:03 PMAgain, Dan Ketter states that the average pay for a civil servant is $117K. The average pay grade in most agencies is between a GS-7 and a GS-9. Their pay is less than half of the $117K. I guess Mr. Ketter only knows people at the GS-15 level or in the SES ranks. Anyone can view the federal pay schedule. Mr. Ketter, I suggest you take a really good look at it. Plus, the "normal" GS employee pays the same amount for health insurance that the SES'ers pay. That is a good chunk of money which doesn't affect the take out home of the SES'er, but has a big impact on the GS employee.
jfb Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 2:09 PMJFB, it would help if you would read what the dept of Commerce says about CS pay. Posting blather isn't a rational response.
dan ketter Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 3:04 PMAH! "Don't let the facts ever fool you". another fine Ketterism??????
W D Jackson Posted Friday, February 27, 2009 5:35 PMClancy-here's an example for you. An accountant with 5+ years experience is in the range of $75K-$100K in the private sector. My husband, an accountant for DOD with just over 5 years experience, makes about $58K. Having his master's would have no impact on his salary in DOD, in private sector would definitely put him in a range of $100K-$120K.
I think the best approach to address pay gaps in government is to look at each career field individually. Not to look at civil service in one sweep.
I'd love to know what career field makes $117K in government. might be time for a new job series.
JV Posted Monday, March 2, 2009 1:21 PM