Based on a recent USA Today article, when benefits are included, Federal employees make about 45% more than people in the private sector in equivalent jobs. A pay freeze is absolutely appropriate and it should stay in place until there is pay/benefit parity between the Federal employees and their counterparts in the private sector.
m1kael - 13 years ago
I am retired military and haven't had a COLA increase in two-years now, since we are indexed the same as social security. I also work for a private sector employer and haven't had a pay increase in that job for a few years now. In the private sector, if you don't make sufficient profits, you feel fortunate to just be getting paid rather than "down-sized". Unlike the public sector, the private sector needs to earn revenue to make payrolls.
I feel the federal workers pain, but it's just that many of us in the private sector have been living the pain for a while now, welcome to the jungle...
Based on a recent USA Today article, when benefits are included, Federal employees make about 45% more than people in the private sector in equivalent jobs. A pay freeze is absolutely appropriate and it should stay in place until there is pay/benefit parity between the Federal employees and their counterparts in the private sector.
I am retired military and haven't had a COLA increase in two-years now, since we are indexed the same as social security. I also work for a private sector employer and haven't had a pay increase in that job for a few years now. In the private sector, if you don't make sufficient profits, you feel fortunate to just be getting paid rather than "down-sized". Unlike the public sector, the private sector needs to earn revenue to make payrolls.
I feel the federal workers pain, but it's just that many of us in the private sector have been living the pain for a while now, welcome to the jungle...