Posted by Robert* on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 2:17 PM:
We appear to be close to a government shutdown. And now we are hearing sob stories of how 800,000 federal workers will be affected by a shutdown. We are told how they will be unable to pay bills and feed their families!
First of all, these are not minimum wage employees. They are not living a hand to mouth existence. They have already been promised that their checks will be delayed. All this will be is a temporary inconvenience for them.
In the private sector how many of us have been given a layoff notice and promised that we will be reimbursed for any time off when we are called back to work? The mentality in this country has to change and this would be a good time to start!
Replies (11)
When I was in the Navy, we were payed twice monthly. Now, as many of you know, many sailors, especially single ones, tend to live hand-to-mouth as far as paychecques are concerned, usually sending a stipend home so as to have it 'unreachable' and thus 'unspendable' if they should find themselves short between paychecques.
Because of the fifteen-day cycle on paychecques, it occassionally befell us poor swabbies to have to go three weekends on a single paychecque, instead of the usual two. Periodically, that would even befall us on a holiday weekend, and we would be penniless and thirsty.
One thing we discovered was that business were sometimes to extend us credit (with interest, of course) for extra weekends, they feeling sympathy with our plight and anxious that we should not go thirsty. This gave rise, I suppose, to the 'payday loan' outfits that are so prevalent today, though I do not recall seeing such facilities so commonly back then. These were usually legitimate businesses, grocery stores, taverns, laundramats, taverns, appliance stores, tavers, etc., that acting as pawn shops, requiring something of value (such as a car title) to be left as collateral.
My experience was that, while sympathetic to our thirst, these institutions were not particularly fond of sailors. I see no reason to believe they would not extend the same courtesy to other public-sector employees as they did to we saltier types. I suspect they would consider it their patriotic duty.
In short, I see no reason to believe those government employees who do find themselves living hand-to-mouth, as we sailors did, would not be able to find a friendly businessman willing to float them some credit, with interest, until such time as their employment situation should improve.
-- Posted by Shapley Hunter on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 3:11 PM
There has been no promises made that we will be paid for time off. Congress has to approve that once a budget is finally passed. I strongly believe that this time around there will be no retroactive pay for time off. When a furlough occurs we are given a paper to sign stating that we understand we are being furlough and being put on leave without pay in a sense. Yes, the military and those deemed "essential" will still work and get paid eventually. But this is not the case for all federal employees. It is believed in this case that there will be no back pay. This shutdown is different as we are dealing unprecedented deficits created by Obama.
-- Posted by truetiger98 on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 4:14 PM
Be sure to stock up on food, water, and ammo before you turn in tonight, there may be no government in the morning to protect you...
-- Posted by Shapley Hunter on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 4:16 PM
I don't know if this is true or not but I was told that federal employees of today average salary is $72,000.00 per year not counting benefits. We have 4.4 million federal employees on the payroll today increased by nearly 200,000 the past 26 months. That is one huge payroll we are dishing out each month. The federal government needs to do what the States have been doing for the past three years it is called DOWN SIZING trim it down some when the federal payrolls exceed the big 3, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble and UPS all combined we got problems.
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 4:32 PM
truetiger98 be careful what you say about your boss now. Just kidding
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 4:37 PM
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 4:32 PM
Average salary doesn't mean much, I know many who make less than half that. I don't know where these figures come from, but they sure are not accurate around here.
-- Posted by Acronym on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 5:49 PM
truetiger98,
If they don't get retroactive pay, at least they qualify for unemployment like everyone else.
-- Posted by Robert* on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 6:21 PM
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 4:32 PM
Average salary doesn't mean much, I know many who make less than half that. I don't know where these figures come from, but they sure are not accurate around here.
-- Posted by Acronym on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 5:49 PM
True but the bottom line is whether you make $20,000 or $200,000 you should live WITHIN your means. Same holds true for the government.
I know many who live paycheck to paycheck. They brag as if it is a badge of honor as they drive their new leased cars. Miss one or two checks and puff goes the car or home.
I say shut it down and start the cutting.
As I posted on another article today, the cuts will have to be done and there will be some painful choices to be made. The only question is do we as a nation, you know the one that is home of the brave, have what it takes to work through it to make it happen. By all the articles I have been reading for the past few days and weeks about federal employees, park that may close, etc. it makes me wonder.
-- Posted by gman on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 7:07 PM
gman: I believe that was the Bureau of Labor statics, not for sure will have to do some research to confirm.
-- Posted by swampeastmissouri on Sat, Apr 9, 2011, at 7:12 AM
-- Posted by gman on Fri, Apr 8, 2011, at 7:07 PM
I did not say they should be treated differently or live differently than anyone else.
-- Posted by Acronym on Sat, Apr 9, 2011, at 8:13 AM
Chanel No. 5 covers a number of unpleasant odors.
-- Posted by voyager on Sat, Apr 9, 2011, at 2:03 PM
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We appear to be close to a government shutdown. And now we are hearing sob stories of how 800,000 federal workers will be affected by a shutdown. We are told how they will be unable to pay bills and feed their families!
First of all, these are not minimum wage employees. They are not living a hand to mouth existence. They have already been promised that their checks will be delayed. All this will be is a temporary inconvenience for them.
In the private sector how many of us have been given a layoff notice and promised that we will be reimbursed for any time off when we are called back to work? The mentality in this country has to change and this would be a good time to start!
Replies (11)