Civil War, Part Deux

Should older feds put in their papers so that fresh, young tech-savvy coworkers can liven things up and move higher up the federal food chain?

In yesterday’s column a self-described old-timer said he’d love to bail if Uncle Sam would give him a $25,000 buyout payment as an incentive. He said the over-the-hill generation should make way for new talent. A mass exodus of 55-and-older folk, he said, would ease age-tensions in many offices.

Boy, did we get e-mail!

Check these for starters:

This long time fed is a cry baby. Almost everyone in my office is 50 or older and with few exceptions we are alert, competent and better than ever at what we do. He/she definitely does not speak for most of us older workers.

And some call the younger folks the “me” generation. You are retirement eligible at 55, have 35 years plus sick leave, an indexed pension, a TSP, and you want, i.e. think you are due, a buy out. It doesn’t sound like you’re all that interested in the next generation. I say go ahead and “work” as long as you want, waiting for that last payout that will never come, while you waste some of the best years of potential retirement that you will never get back. PK

I think they should let everybody under CSRS go. It would be one happy day. I am 52 and have 35 years of service am counting the days until I am 55. No need for a buyout, just an early out. I do think that the younger workers are envious of our much better retirement system, however, the ones I talk to seem resigned to work until they are much older. I think they would be glad to see some of us older workers go and free up higher graded permanent positions. M.M.

There is no age civil war at GSA. The guy you wrote about is a real whiner – he is just looking for a gift and an easy way out. Assuming he makes (say) $80,000, he will earn the $25,000 that he is whining about by simply working an additional 4 months.

I am 66 and plan to work for another 2 years. Sure, I’d like some money to fall into my lap, but I do not expect my employer to just “buy me out”. I too, have arthritis (hands, knees, neck and back), but I feel that I pull my weight here as well as younger employees.

I participated in a labor-intensive project in Colorado in June to rehab an historic Forest Service Ranger Station. There were 14 of us,average age 69. We re-roofed and painted…will return next year to finish the job. Others participate in trail maintenance programs in the West. Check out what we did and then tell me that this guy is not whining!

There are battles, subtle stuff just below the surface in all the government offices I have served in; first military and for the past few decades the USPS. In my office in LA there are always arguments between Hispanic, Asian and Caucasian employees about funny smells from cooking lunch in the microwave, music to be played on the loudspeaker, (etc.). Yes there are age, FERS Vs. CSRS problems as well. We are starting to see a lot of older workers go out on sick-leave. They call in sick a lot, take months of sick leave but can’t be replaced and it is a big problem. They can retire but the system keeps them working with seniority in the best jobs with the best vacations and schedules. The USPS should do something. If some people have to go it should be the older ones first. They don’t want to learn the newest technology as they plan to leave “soon” and they are ill so give them something and let’s get going on the right track! Bob

More to come, this civil war is far from over!

Nearly Useless Factoid

According to 50 years, 50 giant leaps: How NASA rocked our world, we have the agency to thank for really good shades. “NASA invented a special coating using a form of diamond-like carbon to protect its astronauts’ helmets from being scratched by space particles. A modified form of this substance – which decreases surface friction and therefore reduces scratching – has since been used by many sunglasses manufacturers, including Ray-Ban, since 1988.”

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

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