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Dancing and Playing to the Crowd: Predictions for Your 2007 Pay Raise

sad but true

HR Specialist
Navy
Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:10 AM

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I have to admit I enjoy reading the somewhat cynical slant of Ralph's articles. For those of us who have toiled in the federal government for decades, it is unfortunate that the articles ring true. I appreciate the non-conventional wisdom displayed in the articles and look forward to getting a small raise, probably based more on seniority than any meaningful performance appraisal, in January 2007.

2007 Pay Raise

Program Analyst
VA
Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:38 AM

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At this stage of the game, it is doubtful that any federal employee has seen a salary disbursement reflecting the pay increase for 2006. Yet, here we are pondering what the 2007 increase will be.
Is it any wonder why the public has such a low opinion of federal employees?

Re: 2007 Pay Raise

OAC
BLM
Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:29 AM
You're right about the 2006 increase. I work in Payroll & my collegues have been stopping me left & right asking when they'll see their pay raises. I wish I had the answer.
I'm definately not going to speculate about 2007 this soon.

Re: 2007 Pay Raise

LR Specialist
DHS
Wed Jan 18, 2006 2:07 PM
Federal employee pay schedules are set up so that an employee receives his or her pay check in the second week following the end of a pay period. In 2006, pay period one, and the new pay raise, began on January 8, 2006. Therefore, the 2006 pay raise will appear in the pay check that we receive during the week of January 29 through February 4, 2006. You can take that to the bank, but it will probably be absorbed by all the bank fees.

pay raise

hey you
VHA
Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:38 AM

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We serve at the pleasure of the citizenry. The citizenry does not want an increase in taxes. The government is bureaucratic! Daily, I assist at least one customer that failed to get good customer service from someone in the organization that I work for. How many go away never being assisted correctly? Image? Yes, the image is poor of the Federal employee and it is the fault of the government employees and the supervisors of those employees who do not demand good customer service. Customers can be told "no". It is how they are told that gives the poor image. It's all about training and expectations and enforcement and ultimately taxes. Once I had business with the SSA. The lady could not understand that military retirement was not an entitlement and therefore the allotment that I was sending my brother was not an entitlement. I was insulted. Some times government should listen to the customer and when in disagreement do some research. The are millions more such stories.

Re: pay raise

Investigator
DOL
Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:12 AM
My job requires me to say "no" a lot...I am one of about 200 Investigators who enforce the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other laws (FMLA, SCA, Davis-Bacon, etc) and on almost a daily basis I have to tell a citizen "no" for whatever reason....usually that I can not help them get their money from their employer. It is so heart wrenching for me to tell someone that I can not help them get the money they should have earned because we are only allowed to enforce federal minimum wage of $5.15 when we can establish coverage from the law. But as you said it is the way you tell a customer "no" that counts. If I have even a tiny thought that the state Dept of Labor can help them I refer....but I still wish I could have done more.
But to work for the gov as a civilian or military that is a choice/sacrifice we make that others do not and most of us deserve a raise....and just remember you pay taxes too!

2007 Pay Raise

Budget Analyst
Navy
Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:59 AM

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I take offense to your stereo-typing government employees. In reality we are little old people in tennis shoes verging on substance abuse. Seriously I have been here a long time, control literally millions of dollars and receive no where near the wages you are sure we get. I earn what I get paid and happy for the minor raises we get. Where can I find the "secure lifetime employment?" Not under this administration, many of us (1000's) are losing our jobs this year, and it will be a great loss to the taxpayer. But... Bush will contract everything eventually and fill the pockets of the personnel in his adiminstration and they will all be happy. The taxpayer will pay through the nose for less and never know.

Re: 2007 Pay Raise

manager
DoD
Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:06 AM
I think you may have misread the article. I didn't see where the author was stereotyping any federal employee. Rather, he described a common stereotype that is held by some people, perhaps by many people, to make a point.

Re: 2007 Pay Raise

General Engineer
DOT
Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:49 AM
By showing the stereotype and then not indicating how hard many federal employees work only helps promote the stereotype

Pay Raise

Program Assistant
VA
Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:09 AM

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For those individuals who are GS-7 and below, that nominal pay raise doesn't really do much for them. They will be lucky just to see maybe a $3.00 increase compared to those individuals who are GS-9 and above who does see an increase in pay. With the increase cost of health insurance going up significantly along with everything else, those individuals who are GS-7 and below may not see anything at all.

Re: Pay Raise

DHHS
Program Analyst
Thu Jan 19, 2006 9:00 AM
A 3.1% pay increase equates to only $3 for GS 7 and below? That means these folks are only earning $100 per pay period. Yeah, right! And if the government gave raises in the form of dollar amounts, those at the bottom of the grade scale would still get lower total dollar amounts. We all know where the bulk of those merit increase pools ends up, and it certainly isn't in the paychecks of support staff!

I enjoy Ralph's articles, too - honest and frequently a bit cynical. But to start worrying about the 2007 raise before the 2006 has showed up in my paycheck? That's why my family and I shake our heads at "our tax dollars at work." Ooh - time to get back to surfing the Internet or playing solitaire!

2007 raise

manager
HHS
Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:25 AM

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People tend to respond based on perceived self interest. The simple truth is that most people hate paying taxes and make a direct negative association between taxes, big Government and Government employees. Why not ask them who they choose to give the pay raise to: lawyers, auto mechanics or Government employees? You might find long-suffering Feds are the most popular people around.

pay Increase

Supervisor & Past AFGE L-Pres
DOD, DAF
Wed Jan 18, 2006 11:19 AM

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Since my hesitant return to the federal government, (3yrs out working for myself) in 1983 the blue collar wage has been capped by the president and his pay agents. It has been as high as 18% behind the local economy (businesses surveyed in the area) and never below 10% behind. I am referring to my PAY. Sir, if you would like to just attempt to perform my work, tolerate the ignorance of regulations, guidance, directives, instructions and interference of getting the job done at lees pay than legislated should be then help yourself. Yes I came back at a weak moment in life when leadership asked me to and am still dedicated to my country, the work we accomplish and the outcome gained from our work. But I can and will when I retire go back to work for myself to gain greater satisfaction, more pay and common sense about what I do.

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