Enjoying my last day as a contractor....

[rudder]

For tomorrow I get converted to a State Government employee. The Governer feels that they will save money in the long run by not paying contractors and make everyone work for the State.

The IT job market still sucks so I guess this is a good as place an any to ride out the bad market. Good job security and after six months, I can never be fired! The 7.5 hour days are not bad either.

There is a bad side, I will probably not get to go on any more training trips for a while and no more overtime. Just comp time. At least I think the powers that be realize that continuing training is necessary in this field so hopefully that initiative won't get sidetracked.

 

[TommyVercetti]

Originally posted by: rudder

The 7.5 hour days are not bad either.

.

Don't count on that. Friend's coworker got laid off from a state job.

 

[Nightfall]

Sounds like there are upsides and downsides to your situation. Every company has em, including the one I work for. The key is to weigh those and decide if you want to stay or not. It is always easier to get a new job when you already have one. The job market is rough out there now.

 

Don't you get awesome benefits as a state employee?

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Don't you get awesome benefits as a state employee?

12 holidays a year, 2 weeks vacation, and two weeks sick leave. Plus my insurance bill is dropping from $600/month to $150/month and I don't have to pay $85 a month for parking anymore. But I have to take pay cut so basically I that negates those savings, so I am still taking home the same amount of $$$.

And to answer tommyvercetti, yes there is always a possibly of being laid off. But in the past the state has just eliminated positions that were unfilled to cut costs rather that lay people off. Right now our department has 3 vacancies so those will likely get eliminated first. But this year the tax revenues for the state are much better than last year. So I doubt any position will be on the chopping block.

 

[wyvrn]

I am going to apply for a state job when I graduate. I like the benefits and easier work hours. It will allow me to moonlight and spend more time with family. Flexibility is a good thing in my book.

 

[Ogg]

wow I think most states in the south are or have been under a general hiring freeze for years.
Im a federal contractor that is in turn contracted out to do work for the state. Does that make sense?
The state of Louisiana contracts out much of their natural resources agency work because its SAVES them money.
So whos wrong? Yeah probably Louisiana. Backwards mf's

 

[Yossarian]

how does cutting unfilled positions cut costs? wtf, no money was ever spent in the first place.

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
how does cutting unfilled positions cut costs? wtf, no money was ever spent in the first place.

He probably meant budget.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
how does cutting unfilled positions cut costs? wtf, no money was ever spent in the first place.

Money is allocated for those positions though. Plus the cost of advertising the job.

 

[Gyrene]

Watch out. The TN government doesn't know what the hell they're doing with money. I would shudder to become an employee of the state.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: dtyn
Watch out. The TN government doesn't know what the hell they're doing with money. I would shudder to become an employee of the state.

Well if they can fix that black hole which is called Tenncare (which I think will consume 40% of the states budget in coming years). Plans are in the works to reform that program which provides low cost or free medical care to people who can't afford insurance or can not be insured because of existing medical problems. The only problem with fixing it is the people getting something for nothing will fight tooth and nail to keep it.

And wyrvn is right, although you may make less as state employee, I always know what time of the day I will be off and what days I will have off. My coworker wants to leave for a pressure cooker job where he is tied to a beeper. But he does not have children so I hope he gets it.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
how does cutting unfilled positions cut costs? wtf, no money was ever spent in the first place.

You are talking governmental accounting here, which is totally different than real-world accounting.

Just watch the news when the speak of annual budget "cuts". What they're really referring to is less increase.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
how does cutting unfilled positions cut costs? wtf, no money was ever spent in the first place.

as cpa said. The salaries this year were already paid for in last years budget. So to reduce the budget for next year salaries they eliminate vacant positions.