Obama to freeze federal wages for 2 year

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bfdd

Lifer
Feb 3, 2007
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You're thinking of individual contractors, but I don't think the federal government hires people like that at all. They use companies like Blackwater, and they pay a lot more.

Think of how much you pay the car dealer to work on your car. $80/hr? $100/hr? The mechanic only makes a fraction of that. If you needed a mechanic full time, would you contract out to the dealer or hire a mechanic directly?

The company I worked for in Houston did a lot of contract work for oil companies. They charged them between $50 and $150 for our work, but paid us about $22-$25. If they could hire us directly or as individual contractors for twice the pay they would have... and they did after we had some layoffs (voided the no compete clause). But good luck trying to add socialist federal jobs in place of capitalist free market contractor ones.

I can vouch for that.
 

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
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Contractors are nearly always cheaper. People miss the hidden benefits of their job as pay. Contractors usually don't get medical insurance, paid vacation/sick time, paid holidays, and many other such benefits. People always seem to think that contractors are paid more because their is a different number in their paycheck.

I know what my company pays for contract resources to supplement my work, and I guarantee you, contractors are far more expensive than my total compensation package and I have a very generous package.
 

JS80

Lifer
Oct 24, 2005
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As long as the execs running those cost centers are canned too, but unfortunately, bad execs seem to be like cockroaches -- they don't die, they just turn up in another dark corner of the company after a "realignment."

They are certainly the hardest ones to get rid of, but the triumphant joy it brings me when we do is great.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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I'm sorry, but that is a decision you made. If money is more important to you, you're free to move to a different position in a different industry.

My wife, for example, was a Director at our state energy department, asnwering to the head of the agency directly. She resigned to go to a non-profit and ended up making 50% more money.

Yes it's a decision you took the job, but the pay package was part of the decision.

It's not about money being important... but about being able to afford to live. Not only do we have 10% unemployment right now, but a lot of those federal jobs are way out here in rural America. When Maui County cut my pay to where I was losing money every month, I started looking for other jobs, and there were none... unlike cities where you at least have the luxury of deluding yourself into thinking you might get one of those jobs you apply for.
 
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dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
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Could be that he does not have the authority to freeze salaries of Congressional staff since they are not under Civil Service. I believe they are employees of the Architect of the Capitol and controlled by the House and Senate.

You're probably right about that. Well here's to hoping that congress will lead by example and accept a pay freeze as well! (I know I know lol)
 

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
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Yes it's a decision you took the job, but the pay package was part of the decision.

It's not about money being important... but about being able to afford to live. Not only do we have 10% unemployment right now, but a lot of those federal jobs are way out here in rural America. When Maui County cut my pay to where I was losing money every month, I started looking for other jobs, and there were none... unlike cities where you at least have the luxury of deluding yourself into thinking you might get one of those jobs you apply for.

That's interesting, but if you're speaking directly to me, I can tell you that the IT job market in Indy is healthy and I have little doubt I could have a new job in a matter of weeks if I wanted to move. Heck, a friend of mine got canned from here and has had multiple job offers since being let go (less than 2 months ago) and she is, quite frankly, incompetent.
 

ericlp

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
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Private sector employees have had the same challenges (in fact, much more so, federal employees haven't been getting hammered in terms of health care benefits reductions like everyone else)


Healthcare? What the fuck?

Why would you care? Hammered? Arn't you the idiot that doesn't want national health care?

Suck it up buckwheat. Get your credit card out and Pay. Oh and PAY some more!

I guess we gotta freeze the pay so we can afford to extend bush's tax cut for the top 2%.
 

Generator

Senior member
Mar 4, 2005
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You're probably right about that. Well here's to hoping that congress will lead by example and accept a pay freeze as well! (I know I know lol)

Laugh.

That would be the sort of softball Rand Paul could knock out of the park. To bad he's a hack...
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
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That's interesting, but if you're speaking directly to me, I can tell you that the IT job market in Indy is healthy and I have little doubt I could have a new job in a matter of weeks if I wanted to move. Heck, a friend of mine got canned from here and has had multiple job offers since being let go (less than 2 months ago) and she is, quite frankly, incompetent.

I did pretty much what Throck did and knew going in that I was taking a big cut. It was worth it to me since I no longer spend 13 hours of my day getting paid for 8 hours of work (counting the obnoxious 1.5 hour each way commute). I am now back making what I was in 2004 and have much better job security despite all the rounds of budget cutting. We had no COLA/Step increase this year and that is fine with me, I am still employed and still only drive 6 miles each way to work and home. It was my decision going in to trade off the salary for security and benefits and I don't regret it at all.
 

IceBergSLiM

Lifer
Jul 11, 2000
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Everyone else has been suffering wage freezes and furloughs the past two years. Its about time they get on board with the rest of us.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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That's interesting, but if you're speaking directly to me, I can tell you that the IT job market in Indy is healthy and I have little doubt I could have a new job in a matter of weeks if I wanted to move. Heck, a friend of mine got canned from here and has had multiple job offers since being let go (less than 2 months ago) and she is, quite frankly, incompetent.

From my experience being temporarily laid off in early 2009, from what I hear from my peers, and the unemployment %, that is the exception.

There are jobs to apply for but a LOT of people applying for them
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
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Hey, more power to you if that's what you decide. I've often thought of going the same route myself.

Notice I am not bitching about the cutbacks, it is part of the game in state and local government. States and local governments have to balance their budget and during lean times that pretty much means salary freezes. Not all that much different than private in that respect except that because it is government and they have to do it all out in the open the savvy person can watch the budget and figure out in advance what is likely to happen.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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BTW I don't think there's anything wrong with the pay freeze (I wish I had a pay freeze and not a cut)... but I just take issue with the "well they can go to the private sector" line.
 

IBMer

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2000
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I know what my company pays for contract resources to supplement my work, and I guarantee you, contractors are far more expensive than my total compensation package and I have a very generous package.

I think you'd be surprised. There is a reason they use contractors and don't just hire someone.

I also draw a line between what is a contractor and what is a consultant.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
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Yeah, the reason gov and private companies hire contractors is that they can get rid of them quickly and easily
 
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Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
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I think you'd be surprised. There is a reason they use contractors and don't just hire someone.

I also draw a line between what is a contractor and what is a consultant.

One of those reasons is that the pols can say they have "reduced the size of government" by pointing to less employees on the payroll. What they don't mention is they have replaced those employees with contractors.