Government Workers -the benefits they receive

It boggles my mind when the average "Joe" critisizes the State Worker for having too much vacation or sickleave-benefits in general

Next time, "Joe", you decide to make a comment, consider this-were you making these comments when the economy was blooming and you were making really good money while the State worker had not gotten a raise in nearly five years? In the 90's the Government Engineer was making approimately 30% less than the engineer with the same credentials working for a well known private company.

Also consider this: did you know that when an engineer works for a private entity, he/she usually works with an editor, word processor, a CAD/microstation operator, a secretary, etc...all being paid a good salary, while as a State worker that same engineer does all of those jobs himself/herself? In addition,to reitturate when the economy is at it's height of success, that same engineer is getting paid at least 20% higher than that same engineer working for the State? use this reasoning in the argument of private entities taking over all of the State jobs-it will actually cost you more money to do the same job.

Also, think about this: Don't most jobs have their perks? for example, the idea of commission, employee discounts, maybe a gym, business expense reimbursements (usually abused to be used for personal expenses, such as computers, etc)...so look at the vacation that the government worker gets as their little perk/bonus for doing the work for average pay.

It should be known that in the last two years, the CA State worker has received a 15% pay cut-starting in April their pay should be increased to approximately six percent of what was taken away...so they have suffered a good chunk with everyone else suffering in this economy.

Granted, this comparison should be made with the guy working for "private", given the same education and credentials. That's another thing-when making comparisons, please compare the benefits that a Registered Civil or Electrical Engineer, for example, working for the Government, with the same Registered Civil/Electrical engineer working for private-

More over, in the 90's when the Civil Engineer was working for a successful Private company for 120,000 dollars/year,, he/she "CHOSE" to work for the government for >$80,000/year...because of the pension, vacation/sickleave benefits...so consider that!!

And here is another thought-if you work for the Government and you are for "smaller government", then get the hell out and go work for you private company...that really kills me-! practice what you preach and stop being hypocritical.


Hope you get it now...and for what it's worth, it will get better for all of us-hang in there!