A recent headline in a Rasmussen Report survey read, "66 Percent Say Private Sector Employees Work Harder Than Government Workers."
The survey concluded, "Most Americans still believe government workers work less and make more money than those employed by private companies."
Do you agree? Disagree? Why? Comment here.
Read the survey here.
25 comments:
Government employees are an easy target for those who have not walked in our shoes.
Carrying mail appears easy (by the professionals) to those who have not done it.
I can't speak to government employees in general, as USPS personnel who have gone on to work in other Federal agencies inevitably come back to say how much easier their new job is, but I know that I and those I work with put in an extraordinary effort each day. Not once have I felt that we were complacently feeding at the government trough.
I work in computer support. I'm just now preparing to go home tonight, and it's after 7pm. My workday began at 9am this morning.
I stayed so I could reach a logical breaking point in what I was working on today. This makes it much easier to continue the task tomorrow. Plus, I was eager to capture in writing some new things I figured out today.
I stayed because I'm eager to do the best I can - and I was really excited with the progress I made today! I'm not on-call. I don't get paid overtime. I'm reflecting the strong work ethic my parents instilled in me.
I think it all depends on WHO you are, at least that is the way it is in my work place. I work my *** off every day but there are a few clerks in my office that stand around on OT and get away with it AND they constantly want to come in on their day off also. We are now working in an enviroment that could be very unhealthy because of the 78 degree stand. If you move around and do presort and throw parcels it can get very HOT very quickly SO I think I work hard for being a "government" worker (which we are supposedly are NOT)
only 66% ?
I make good money and I earn every dollar. I think there is a lot of jealousy directed toward federal workers, but to those "civilians" I will say this - you could have tried for the same job I have, so don't resent me for going after the best paying job I could get.
Let the 66 percent enjoy a glass of salty sweat off my balls. I have an endless supply of it since I'm in the freaking heat all day walking my route. Walk a mile in my shoes, ride a mile in my oven called an LLV....
I agree that Management,CEO's and Leaders in Banks, Political arena and other federal organizations are paid more ( I cannot guarantee about work as tell me how many think that Larry Ellison, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or any of those highly paid management in Big fortune private work for their money), however technical and labor are paid less and hence they retain less talent also. Most that gets done are those true to work and contract or paid extra for performance. What is the motivation for people when they are paid less and even given this kind of reputation that they don't work. I have seen federal employees especially mail handlers and delivery work in hot and severe weather conditions based on great work ethics. Don't take their well earned respect. These surveys are done by couch potatoes who did not even lift more than 5 pounds if it is not theirs to keep.
I feel that employees of the USPS are, on the whole, a hard-working, deicated work force. I began in 1992 as a PMR and did everything I could possibly do to help 5 Postmasters make our level 11 office productive, efficient and professional. After almost 12 years, 7 OIC assignments, and almost EVERY SATURDAY MORNING on the clock, I became a Postmaster. The town was THRILLED, as most of them saw my progress and willingness to work as a team with whomever was "sent" into our community as a Postmaster. I was THRILLED, needless to say, to FINALLY have a STEADY, good-paying job, and HEALTH INSURANCE (after raising 4 sons, with my husband who has heart problems), without ANY insurance. What was PATHETIC...some (in-law) FAMILY members, and THEIR PROBLEM with JEALOUSY! NONE...and I repeat....NONE of them work as hard at their occupations as I did to become a Postmaster. BOTTOM LINE....HARD WORK WILL GET YOU A GOOD JOB....JEALOUSY will get you NO WHERE.
I pretend to work, they pretend to pay me. My "government" job pays so little, I will qualify for state subsidized health care, once the 'exchanges' are put into place. I currently hold three jobs on top of that of "maytag repairman". Pu-leze.
I have been a USPS employee for 33 years and have thoroughly enjoyed my career over the years. I have put in numerous OT hours without getting paid and rarely take the two 15 minute breaks we are entitled to. Yes, sometimes I feel very used but then again am thankful. May the next generation carry on with our work ethics.
I'm sorry to see that Kreusened has to show such unprofessionalism in his comments and picture. I wonder if he talks like this in the workplace. How offensive.
Ignorance shows. As a Postmaster, I have hired people that only lasted 2 days to 1 week, stating, "I didn't realize there was so much to learn and do" and "I don't want to work this hard, I just wanted some extra money." And they didn't even have to touch what I have to do as an administrator on top of me doing what they were being taught to do. A lot of my own time goes into my job because I choose to do that. Two things my father always told me that I go by, "Take care of your job and it will take care of you" and " Never have to back up when you put your hand out for your paycheck come payday" I apply the first and live by the last statement.
This survey is obviously based the perceptions of the people who were surveyed. People base their perceptions on their own personal experiences. If they walk into a government agency, postal or otherwise, and see two or three employees chit-chatting while customers wait in line, then they are going to come to the conclusion that all employees of that agency are lazy and paid for doing nothing.
Personally, I have the greatest respect for the carriers who are out in the weather every day because I know that I could not physically do that job. I also have great respect for the employees who show up every day and do whatever needs to be done because it needs to be done. On the other side of that, though, I have seen employees who spend more time trying to get out of work and filing frivolous union grievances than they do actually working. I was raised with a strong work ethic, so that sort of thing just drives me crazy.
I started in a Mail Processing Plant on a letter sorting machine. I worked weekends, my days off were Monday and Tuesday unless they called us in to work OT which by the way happened ALOT! I did not have Holidays off for 4 years! I did not have Thanksgiving off for 9 years. The plant operated 24/7. One Christmas season I worked 60 days with my only day off "Christmas Day." I am not complaining. With the work came opportunities but it was definately WORK. Let them walk in our shoes for 1 week and then poll.
These same survey of Likely Voters shows that 82% believe members of Congress should take a 25% pay cut until the federal budget is balanced and similar such recommendations. If we go by these reports then we realize that we can't pick and choose only those that are favorable and those that are not.
I have worked for a small office in Colorado for 25 years. We work HARD. Being in a small office we have to do it all. I am a clerk but have carried mail for years, worked the window, bulk mailings and supervised. Sometimes all in one day. People in our town know how hard we work and appreciate all we do!!!
Looking at this objectively, there are a few things to consider. First, "no layoff" clauses are unheard of in the private sector. Second, while it's difficult to do straight comparisons of public vs. private sector jobs since no for-profit employer would tolerate these levels and layers of bureacracy, inefficiency, and redundancy, retention rates show that government employees stay on the job longer, indicating they are (generally speaking of course) content with their pay and duties. Yes, carriers on foot routes deserve our respect and gratitude. Is there high turnover for those carriers? In 5 years with USPS, I don't know of a single rural carrier or Postmaster quitting. Subs, yes. PMR's, yes. Regular carrier, no.
Fully Kreusened, what a sick sense of humor. I like it, keepumcomin. By the way I work my arse off too. No way I would do what I do for private sector money. And you union haters, they are what keep middle class America like you and me in existence.
I've been working as a PMR for close to 15 years now. I get no benefits, no insurance, husband has no insurance at his job either, our 3 kids are on Health Wave because of our lower income, but I work hard for my money. I've called in sick one time in all the years I have worked. I also fill in at other offices wherever and whenever I can, been OIC in 4 different offices, I love my job and I do my best. It's hard living paycheck to paycheck, but at least I have a job.
I have heard a lot of PMR's, Postmasters and carriers say the job is so much more difficult than they thought it would be. A lot more work involved. We work hard and get paid a decent wage, just like anywhere else, if you work hard you get a raise, if you don't work hard you don't get a raise.
I am a postmaster in a small rural town. There are days when this job is easy and other times its very hard. I have worked in both the private sector and government jobs, yes there are some differences. I worked at a bank for $7.50 an hour and worked my butt off, they had very high expectations and always wanted more then they were paying for. Here I could and would be willing to assist other offices where and when I can, but often unions prevent my assistance. Its always easy to look over the fence and say someone else's job is easy....but please do the work first...then give us your opinion.
Every job/organization has good and bad points. It is always easier to say the other guy has it better. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
I think there are a lot of government jobs in which the employee is over payed and underworked, but not neccessarily within the USPS. And there are also private sector jobs where the same is true. I do think though, that the private sector is more often held accountable for the bottom line whereas a lot of government agencies are not. Again, I don't see the average postal employee as being amongst those that this would pertain to. We work hard to do our daily job and make sure the mail is handled efficiently.
To Fully Kreusened: You are a disgusting individual with no respect to your fellow postal workers. What an absolute offensive, rude, ungentlemanly and pointless comment. Manners are still appreciated in many areas of our country and you have none.
A healthy discussion is good, but the crude comments expressed added no value. Unfortunately, our host did not decide this comment was too crude to remove.
Yes, the vehicles are hot, the job can be very hot, very cold, both extremes are found in the Midwest. After dumping/sorting mail for hours in the back, customers would like my job when I wait on them in front. I always directed them to taking the exams when they were issued.
I hired a PMR who quit after 3 days!! She thought all I did was sell stamps and talk to customers. Once she saw all the bookkeeping, sorting, research, and supervisory tasks...she quit. Experienced employees can make a job look easy.
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