Is this an example of a cushy government job?

[Red]

My dad has been working for the IRS for about 25 years. He is about to turn 61 and retires next year.

He is a grade 15, step 10 and has had that grade level for about 15 years. He has made over $100k for as long as I can remember and when he retires next year his income will be about $145k. When he retires, his pension until death is something like 85% of his income.

Growing up, I went to work with him a few times and it just seems like he has a couple of meetings during the day and that's it. He has one of those jobs where he doesn't really do anything compared to jobs like police/fire/teaching/manufacturing/healthcare where you can see some tangible results.

My dad is intelligent, but it's not like he has any keen business skills or anything like that. Or social skills for that matter... he doesn't really have any friends, a lot of family members don't get along with him and I heard through the grapevine that people couldn't believe I was his "friendly" son because most people thought he was such an asshole at work.

I guess he just got lucky with a career choice!

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: Red
My dad has been working for the IRS for about 25 years. He is about to turn 61 and retires next year.

He is a grade 15, step 10 and has had that grade level for about 15 years. He has made over $100k for as long as I can remember and when he retires next year his income will be about $145k. When he retires, his pension until death is something like 85% of his income.

Growing up, I went to work with him a few times and it just seems like he has a couple of meetings during the day and that's it. He has one of those jobs where he doesn't really do anything compared to jobs like police/fire/teaching/manufacturing/healthcare where you can see some tangible results.

My dad is intelligent, but it's not like he has any keen business skills or anything like that. Or social skills for that matter... he doesn't really have any friends, a lot of family members don't get along with him and I heard through the grapevine that people couldn't believe I was his "friendly" son because most people thought he was such an asshole at work.

I guess he just got lucky with a career choice!

What is your dad's job title?

 

[Dacalo]

Generally, government jobs are really laid back compared to private. Promotion is based on tenure, so working hard isn't as effective in private. In fact, it's discouraged due to unions and co-workers may despise you (I have heard many instances of this from personal experiences from friends).

However, some people choose to go gov't due to great benefits and laid back environment.

 

[tfinch2]

I used to work for the IRS as a Software Developer. It seemed like the only people doing meaningful work were the younger employees and contractors. The way you describe your dad perfectly fits all of the older employees I encountered.

 

[Josh]

New Jersey:

14,448 State employees actually get paid more than 110% of their annual salary each year through overtime.

Of these overtime employees, 109 more than doubled their salaries through overtime, thereby allowing them in many instances to cause their annual pension payments to be twice their final salaries at the time they retire.

I hear its great to work as a state employee in good ol' N-E-W Jerz. To be a resident, not so much.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: Phokus

What is your dad's job title?

No idea =(

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Generally, government jobs are really laid back compared to private. Promotion is based on tenure, so working hard isn't as effective in private. In fact, it's discouraged due to unions and co-workers may despise you (I have heard many instances of this from personal experiences from friends).

A lot of that's completely dependent on the agency. Some departments really do promote on merit, and then of course there's plenty of nepotism in the gov't.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: Mursilis

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Generally, government jobs are really laid back compared to private. Promotion is based on tenure, so working hard isn't as effective in private. In fact, it's discouraged due to unions and co-workers may despise you (I have heard many instances of this from personal experiences from friends).

A lot of that's completely dependent on the agency. Some departments really do promote on merit, and then of course there's plenty of nepotism in the gov't.

I wish I would get some nepotism love =( I've applied to a few jobs with no luck. I guess they all think I'm an asshole like him, lol.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Federal jobs are the best.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: Red
My dad has been working for the IRS for about 25 years. He is about to turn 61 and retires next year.

He is a grade 15, step 10 and has had that grade level for about 15 years. He has made over $100k for as long as I can remember and when he retires next year his income will be about $145k. When he retires, his pension until death is something like 85% of his income.

Growing up, I went to work with him a few times and it just seems like he has a couple of meetings during the day and that's it. He has one of those jobs where he doesn't really do anything compared to jobs like police/fire/teaching/manufacturing/healthcare where you can see some tangible results.

My dad is intelligent, but it's not like he has any keen business skills or anything like that. Or social skills for that matter... he doesn't really have any friends, a lot of family members don't get along with him and I heard through the grapevine that people couldn't believe I was his "friendly" son because most people thought he was such an asshole at work.

I guess he just got lucky with a career choice!

thats pretty true. get yourself a govt job.

 

[tw1164]

I'm working a government job right now!

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Generally, government jobs are really laid back compared to private. Promotion is based on tenure, so working hard isn't as effective in private. In fact, it's discouraged due to unions and co-workers may despise you (I have heard many instances of this from personal experiences from friends).

However, some people choose to go gov't due to great benefits and laid back environment.

I only have experience with the federal government, and it's not that way at all. Promotion is not based on tenure, but on quality of work, and federal workers aren't allowed to unionize. Cities and states are probably very different. Making that distinction is important. Sounds like the OP's dad got lucky.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Josh
I hear its great to work as a state employee in good ol' N-E-W Jerz. To be a resident, not so much.

QFMFT

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy
Federal jobs are the best.

It's the ultimate get paid to nef job.

 

[JEDI]

Red
Diamond Member
Posts: 3642
Joined: 08/22/2002

wait.. thought u were a mod... hell a senior mod married to another mod?

 

[sohcrates]

My friends dad sat in an office and literally stamped "approved" or "denied" on papers for 25 years, making $140K when he retired at 55 !!!

now he lives in NC, bought his house in cash, and plays golf every day making almost $85K / year (under the OLD government retirement system)

not a bad gig


a lot of these old guys (and their jobs) are dying though. the goverment is very "top heavy" aka gs14's and up, but something like 50% of them are due to retire in the next 5-15 years. so it may be the end of an era.


i know now, other than my 401K, i get nothing from working for the government other than maybe social security\ when i retire.

 

[Svnla]

Do you know why the OP's dad didn't work hard? He DID NOT have to. After a person passes the probation period, he or she can settle down and cruise along.

Unless the dad screws up big time or does anything illegal, he couldn't be fired for any other reasons like private/public companies.

One more thing, you can get a full pension/retirement after 30 years in most state/city governments. Imagine retire at 52 and get a good paycheck until you die and if you are married, you wife will get it too until she dies.

 

[NoMoMoney]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Dacalo
Generally, government jobs are really laid back compared to private. Promotion is based on tenure, so working hard isn't as effective in private. In fact, it's discouraged due to unions and co-workers may despise you (I have heard many instances of this from personal experiences from friends).

However, some people choose to go gov't due to great benefits and laid back environment.

I only have experience with the federal government, and it's not that way at all. Promotion is not based on tenure, but on quality of work, and federal workers aren't allowed to unionize. Cities and states are probably very different. Making that distinction is important. Sounds like the OP's dad got lucky.

Um.. I'm sitting here, a fed, and part of the union. I think certain jobs might not be allowed to unionize, supervisory positions and above, no different than most places.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
federal workers aren't allowed to unionize.

Then maybe you should tell these guys that - American Federation of Gov't Employees. They've got locals in something like 17 fed. govt. departments and agencies.

 

[NoMoMoney]

i know now, other than my 401K, i get nothing from working for the government other than maybe social security\ when i retire.

Actually you should get a pension if you are a GS employee. It is 1% per year (versus 2% for the old system). At least that is the case for FERS employees (new system) versus CRSR(i forget the right acronym) employees. The old system does not receive or pay into social security and does not receive the 5% match for TSP.

 

[sohcrates]

Originally posted by: NoMoMoney

i know now, other than my 401K, i get nothing from working for the government other than maybe social security\ when i retire.

Actually you should get a pension if you are a GS employee. It is 1% per year (versus 2% for the old system). At least that is the case for FERS employees (new system) versus CRSR(i forget the right acronym) employees. The old system does not receive or pay into social security and does not receive the 5% match for TSP.

you are correct. i am in FERS. i guess 1% is so little that i dont really count it as income!

but truth be told, maxing out 401K from my mid-20's through 55 will be a very nice amount of money. i know a lot of retirees on the old system, although being paid well, said they wished that had that "big" load of money saved. a lot of those old guys didnt start 401k's (obviously) until the late 80's and 90's

 

[Vette73]

He could not get to a Grade 15 step 10 in 10 years unless someone was giving him WGI's left and right and that could come back to bite him if they were done illegally, i.e. HR would go back and start cutting something and he have to pay back.

Also he would be under the CSRS system, which means he does get that pension (all be it not 85%) but will not get social security as he did not pay into it.

I am thinking you really don?t know much about his job from what you posted as if he was a 15 he be a director or a very high up. What is his full name and I can tell you.

And if anybody thinks all gov jobs are easy, apply to passport or just about any other and see first hand.

<-- Works in Fed Gov.

 

[mh47g]

Originally posted by: JEDI
Red
Diamond Member
Posts: 3642
Joined: 08/22/2002

wait.. thought u were a mod... hell a senior mod married to another mod?

Red != Red Dawn

 

[NoMoMoney]

Originally posted by: sohcrates

Originally posted by: NoMoMoney

i know now, other than my 401K, i get nothing from working for the government other than maybe social security\ when i retire.

Actually you should get a pension if you are a GS employee. It is 1% per year (versus 2% for the old system). At least that is the case for FERS employees (new system) versus CRSR(i forget the right acronym) employees. The old system does not receive or pay into social security and does not receive the 5% match for TSP.

you are correct. i am in FERS. i guess 1% is so little that i dont really count it as income!

but truth be told, maxing out 401K from my mid-20's through 55 will be a very nice amount of money. i know a lot of retirees on the old system, although being paid well, said they wished that had that "big" load of money saved. a lot of those old guys didnt start 401k's (obviously) until the late 80's and 90's

If you plan on working for 35 years for the government it turns out to be 35% + 3.5% = 38.5% <== not too shabby of a pension! 1.1% is used per year instead of 1% if you have 20 years and retire at 62 or later,

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: sohcrates

Originally posted by: NoMoMoney

i know now, other than my 401K, i get nothing from working for the government other than maybe social security\ when i retire.

Actually you should get a pension if you are a GS employee. It is 1% per year (versus 2% for the old system). At least that is the case for FERS employees (new system) versus CRSR(i forget the right acronym) employees. The old system does not receive or pay into social security and does not receive the 5% match for TSP.

you are correct. i am in FERS. i guess 1% is so little that i dont really count it as income!

but truth be told, maxing out 401K from my mid-20's through 55 will be a very nice amount of money. i know a lot of retirees on the old system, although being paid well, said they wished that had that "big" load of money saved. a lot of those old guys didnt start 401k's (obviously) until the late 80's and 90's

It's not 1% total, it's 1% x years of service, so if someone worked 30 years, they'd collect 30% of the average of their highest 3 annual salaries.