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Sick Leave, FERS, and Delaying Retirement

Good point

Meteorologist
NOAA
Fri Oct 9, 2009 8:47 AM

Post Reply

I agree with the main point of your article (Why should I retire?). I've always planned to retire at 67; I can't imagine anything that make you put that off by a year, little less 4. At some point you just have to cut your losses...especially if you're not even sure they will end up BEING losses!

Re: Good point

Manager
In The System
Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:09 AM
Not the main point of the article.

Re: Good point

Meteorologist
NOAA
Fri Oct 9, 2009 12:30 PM
I took the main point to be decide why and when you want to retire, but don't base your decision on chasing the latest legislation. As I stated, I plan to retire at age 67 (I have my reasons). If I were 67 right now no amount of additional money would be worth the extra four years of working I'd have to put in to get it (or 1 year, or however many years)....I'd rather enjoy the retirement years I'd already planned for. And that was the point....base your decision on what YOU think is important, and only follow the extra money if that IS the most important thing to you.

Should I retire?

Federal
Employee
Fri Oct 9, 2009 9:29 AM

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I am 49 with almost 30 years of federal employment. I desperately want to retire when I reach 30 years, which I will not be 55. I want to do something else that is much more important to me. If the FERS change comes or not, I am going as soon as I can!!!

Re: Should I retire?

HR
DoD
Fri Oct 9, 2009 11:57 AM
Now you didn't tell us which retirement system you have. With "almost 30 years of federal employment", you should be a CSRS employee. FERS came out around 1983. 2009 minus 30 years equal 1979 or almost 1980/1.

Re: Should I retire?

HR
Navy
Fri Oct 9, 2009 1:12 PM
Hired after January 1984 = FERS

Re: Should I retire?

Former Benefits Specialist, Now Union Steward
DOD
Mon Oct 12, 2009 6:25 AM
Counting chickens before they hatch........I was reemployed in 1982 and had CSRS for 5-1/2 yrs when FERS started up in 1985. Who knew what would happen with FERS. I stayed with CSRS and I'm very happy about it. I'm age 56 and have to work 18 more mos before I reach 30 yrs of service. I will be age 60 before you reach 30 yrs. Your "almost 30 yrs" seems a little off the mark. Do you have any uncovered service or military time to pay for? Maybe you are working at a deadend job. Or you are already wearing "golden handcuffs". I had a pair once but a couple of on-the-job injuries and elder care took all my sick leave away. Then a couple of really mean supervisors and horrible NSPS gave me incentive to get away from the ratrace. I like where I work now and plan to stay until I retire, that is, if our current A76 study keeps our jobs governmental through 2011. Always watching and waiting for all those promised changes..............

Re: Should I retire?

Fed
Govt
Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:46 AM
I also have almost 30 years of service (CSRS) and just turned 49 a few days ago and I would love to retire when I get my 30 years in. In order for that to happen I would have to be given an early out and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Credit

Civil Engineer
VA
Fri Oct 9, 2009 9:31 AM

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I suspect that the $$ amount of the extra amount isn't as important as the idea that you're at least receiving some type of credit for this unused leave. There's something that goes against the grain to just see it all flow down the drain for naught.

No Time to Expand Benefits

Info Tech Specialist
Navy Supply Information Systems Activity
Fri Oct 9, 2009 9:45 AM

Post Reply

Why is congress hellbent on expanding retirement benefits when we are approaching a 2 trillion dollar deficit this year? FERS was set up in the first place because the CSRS retirement plan is too costly and unsustainable. I am not advocating taking anyone's benefits away, but how does it help the country to be adding benefits to us Feds at this point?

Great Article

Technician
LANL
Fri Oct 9, 2009 10:25 AM

Post Reply

As usual, Smith hits the nail on the head and tells such penny wise and pound foolish Feds that a decision to retire or not is not predicated on this sick leave issue. I mean really. $400 a year difference for a FERS Fed making $60K a year and who leaves 1500 hours (close to 75 percent of a year) on the table. Do the math folks, 1500 hours of leave taken is worth $43,124 in gross wages ($60,000 / 2,087 hours per year times 1,500 hours). Plus, guess what, you got service credit time while being paid full salary not to be at work for 1,500 hours.

I am amazed sometimes just how foolish some Feds are about some of the most trivial things. I am likewise amazed at how many HATE it toward the end of their careers and just want out. Why? Has it really been that bad (sometimes it is, but why leave on such a note).

As to the article, however, great point. Make up your mind about retirement without regard to tinkering up on the Hill.

Re: Great Article

Gee, man
DHS
Fri Oct 9, 2009 3:33 PM
I agree with this comment. Take your friggin' leave! You will feel better, you won't make your co-workers sick and guess what: You won't be missed (that much).

I have a guy getting ready to retire 2200 + hours of sick leave. he doesn't do much while he's at work, but you can depend on him to come in hacking away and grousing about how bad he feels.

Ah, just go home, folks. Use it if you need it.

Re: Great Article

N/A
State
Fri Oct 9, 2009 6:30 PM
How do you propose to take all 1,500 of those hours? I think that if you're sick you should take the leave. Not everyone will have that much leave, whereas I'll have much more. I'm not suggesting that everyone that takes a lot of leave is faking illness, but some are. I'd rather be honest by not abusing the system than taking leave just to take it.

Re: Great Article

Aerospace Engineer
DoD
Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:22 PM
I know people who are at least 10 years past retirement age who come in to work every day madder than an alley cat and do everything they possibly can to spread their misery around. And these are people who have stayed in the same exact workcenter for over 20 years with absolutely no inclination to get another job within DoD.

I'll never understand why some people do the things they do.

Re: Great Article

employee
fed govt
Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:33 AM
Thank you Gee, man DHS...

Ya, can't work when you are sick people! Geez. I seen them they drag themselves in here so sick...just to, hopefully, save a dime! Absolutely pitiful.

Good article and advice

Claims Authorizer
SSA
Fri Oct 9, 2009 3:50 PM

Post Reply

Whether your are CSRS or FERS, here are 2 points to remember:
1) No one on their death bed ever wished that they had spent more time at the office;
2) Every additional day you work is one less day you have to enjoy retirement.
I have over 30 years in and am looking forward to my retirement in a few years.

Retirement Credit for Unused Sick Leave for FER`s

Head Custodian
USPS
Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:10 AM

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Of all the silly debates I`ve seen discussed is this one of un-used Sick Leave for FERS Employees. Should I or should`nd I wait 4 more years to get a nickle on the dollar for my sick leave? How about just getting FMLA the last year or two before retirement and burning it up and getting full dollar value before you retire? Now thats an idea...duh! You can stay home for 6 months getting full pay and using up your sick leave and get a feel of what retirement is like before your actually retired. Bet you have a hard time tying your shoe laces too.

Re: Retirement Credit for Unused Sick Leave for FER`s

Hydrologist
USGS
Fri Oct 30, 2009 10:27 AM
your comment gives Gov't workers a bad name. Sick leave is to be used when your sick not to help you coast your last year.
Total Comments: 26
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