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A Treasure Trove of Goodies

Automatic enrollment

Worker
Federal government
Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:25 AM

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I am an outsider (CSRS) so I am not biased.
I am for automatic enrollment and it should be for the maximum amount that is matched (5%). However, the enrollment should be in the G fund. The reason is that the other funds can lose money. What if they do? Can the automatic enrollees then sue someone for enrolling them in a fund not meant for them? It would be a legal nightmare that is not worth it.
I am not endorsing any fund.

FERS Contributions

Management & Program Analyst
IRS
Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:01 AM

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If the change goes through to enable automatic enrollment, would "old timers" like myself be able to contribute extra dollars to make up for the one year I had to wait before "opting in"? Seems only fair...

If you have an answer, you can contact me at Kathy.M.Michki@irs.gov

Sick Leave

Head Mind Reader
Dod
Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:05 AM

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An excellent benifit congress should look at is allowing employees to transfer sick leave to other employees. Right now employees must transfer annual leave to deserving individuals who have an extended illness and that have exhausted their leave. Thoughts......

Re: Sick Leave

Worker
Federal government
Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:17 AM
I agree. The people who get the leave would qualify for using sick leave. So why can't we donate sick leave? I guess that is the law.

Sick Leave

LMT
DOD
Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:50 AM

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I couldn't agree with this idea more. This would be a great idea at present and I think most would more readily give up their sick leave than their annual leave however, if FERS employees do get "paid" for their sick leave in the future, you would not get as many people thinking that this would be a good idea. Most would look at it as "lost" money and not consider the benefit they would be giving.

At least part of the deal sounds good but...

IT Specialist
IRS
Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:41 PM

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Why should someone who voluntarily left the government reap the same benefit as those who have made a career out of their government job?

Re: At least part of the deal sounds good but...

Aviation Safety Inspector
FAA
Mon Apr 20, 2009 2:15 PM
IT Specialist: I don't understand your objection. They would get credit only for the years they worked. They would have to repay the retirement funds withdrawn with interest to get credit for those years. A benefit currently enjoyed by CSRS. No one would be reaping any benefits they haven't earned.

RE: At Least part of the deal sounds good but. . .

Worker Bee
Federal Government
Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:44 AM

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IT Specialist: Why would you leave a Fed Job? Try being a military spouse. It took me 10 years to become career status because I would have to leave my Fed job each time my husband PCSed (transfered). Each time, there would be a Hiring Freeze and it would take me 6 – 12 months to get another permanent position. During that time I would be kicked out of FERS and refunded any money. Now that my husband is retired from the military, and it took me 4 years to get back into a Fed job after a cross country relocation, I would love to be able to get credit for my prior FERS time.

Re: RE: At Least part of the deal sounds good but. . .

worker
Fed
Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:03 AM
People leave their federal jobs for a number of reasons:
Forget about now, but look at the atmosphere in the past.

(1) More pay now or an opportunity for more pay later
This may or may not be true but will be sold by the recruitor to the prospective employee;
(2) A currently bad work environment. This caqn be caused by a bad manager, bad management, or the political administration. For the last one look at the Reagan years. You can even look at the Bush years to a lesser degree.
(3) Outsourcing, layoffs, etc. Remember Bush tried to outsource many government jobs.
(4) Years of few or no promotions

These are a few of the reasons one leaves the government.

sick time and retirement

Registered Nurse
VA Healthcare
Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:57 PM

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Does anyone understand and able to explain how unsed sick time would be credited towards one's retirement?

Re: sick time and retirement

Quality Assurance
U.S.D.A.
Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:11 AM
As I read and understand it, you will be able to use your unsed sick leave as credit towards retirement. Example: you plan to retire with 30 yrs service. At 29 yrs you have accumilated 2087 hours of sick leave which equals one year. You can take that time and add it to your 29 yrs and you now have 30 yrs time and you can retire. They will compute your time at 1.1 x 30 = ? instead of 1.1 x 29 = ?.

Of course you could still do 30 years of real time and add the sick time to that for 31 years.

I hope this explains it and I did not confuse anybody.

Re: sick time and retirement

Manager
NIH
Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:53 PM
The law says that only people "otherwise eligible for retirement" can get sick leave credited towards retirement. The USDA QA person is right, but don't interpret that comment to mean anyone can retire earlier than normal using sick leave credit. That is clearly not allowed.

Re: sick time and retirement

Registered Nurse
VA Healthcare
Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:17 AM
Thank you both. These are the simplest, most helpful explanations I have read.
Total Comments: 13
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