brain drain

Ever since the late 1990s some experts on government matters have been predicting a tidal wave of retirements from key federal agencies. That sparked fears of a brain drain as experienced feds fled their jobs heading for the shuffle-board courts.

On a more cosmic level, the record-long 35 day shutdown raises lots of questions about the future of government service and civil servants. The issue is whether a lot of people quit or retire in disgust?

Will the government shutdown of 2018-19 trigger the massive brain drain some experts have been predicting since the late 1990s? Or, has it already happened, thanks to four shutdowns in a 12-month period?

When it comes to programs designed to benefit federal workers and the taxpayers too, the biggest loser may be the phased retirement program launched six years ago.

Guest columnist Nancy Crosby writes that talk of cuts to federal retirement benefits is nothing new, but the rumored tsunami of retirement has been reduced to a slow and steady leak of attrition.

Federal benefits expert Bob Braunstein will answer your questions about phased retirment. July 10, 2013

Avue Technologies Co-CEO Linda Rix, joins host Derrick Dortch to talk about what’s ahead for federal human resources managers. August 10, 2012

The Partnership for Public Service and Booz Allen Hamilton have teamed up for a report on the state of succession planning in the federal HR community. Ron Sanders is a senior executive advisor for Booz Allen Hamilton.

With a 2-year pay freeze in place and politicians looking at your job and retirement benefits are you suddenly nervous in the civil service? Given the economic outlook are you ready to pull the plug or hang in there until better times. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey is hearing it both ways.

It’s been more than 10 years since experts started issuing their annual warnings of a government brain drain. The fact that it hasn’t happened yet is of little important because this time, we are assured, it’s for sure. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey reads the tea leaves.