Do the new benefits approved for FERS employees give them a better deal than their older colleagues under the CSRS retirement plan? Senior Correspondent Mike Ca...
In this business you learn (or should learn) real fast that the best columns are nearly always those written by readers. That’s not false modesty, that’s fact! Readers bring actual experience, historical perspective and ground truth to the table.
Case in point…
Friday’s column was about how feds feel that their younger or older colleagues have the better deal, based on the retirement plan (CSRS or FERS) they are in. As in the grass-is-always-greener.
We asked people if there was anything like a civil war in their offices.
Wow! We hit a nerve!
Lots of e-mails. So many that we’ll have to run another batch later.
But they bring a perspective my rather simplistic question.
“…folks, like me, who came in under CSRS should shut up and enjoy the benefit package they signed up to. Those folks who came in under FERS should shut up and accept the benefits arrangement they signed up to. If the lawmakers take something away from the government workforce that they initially signed up to, then of course there is injustice. If not, FERS and CSRS folks should do their job or find another in private industry…. People need to concentrate more on their profession and family activities.” Ron S.
As far as the pay raise goes, 2% is more than generous in this economic climate. But if 2% is good enough for the civilian workforce, it should also be good enough for the military.” Rich R., 17yr FERS employee in the IC
“The giving FERS the sick leave credit is a mirrors and lights benefit. Regardless of if you are CSRS or FERS, having an elective surgery or other reason to use your sick leave and be paid 100% for it, plus have the days added to your career will always be a better financial deal than just adding the days to the length of career calculation. Barry at IRS
To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com
Nearly Useless Factoid
by Suzanne Kubota
The Smithsonian Magazine notes the first soldier laid to rest in Arlington cemetery, Pvt. William Christman, 21, of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry, “never knew a day of combat. Like others who would join him at Arlington, he was felled by disease; he died of peritonitis…”
Why this is “Nearly Useless”: without this kind of forum, that factoid is really, really hard to work into conversation.
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