I work for the government.

I've responded to this and for me it's now a dead issue.

 

You ever seen a private company pay two guys to shred paper an entire shift? Not just a shift. That's their job. They do that every day. Stand there and shred paper.

You ever seen an entire warehouse shut down because markers hadn't come in?

Ever seen someone install 48 outlets in a room where 96 computers will be set up? Someone ****ed up? Big deal, they'll just pay the electricians twice for the same job.

I worked for three different companies in those 8 years, and never, ever, saw anything as stupid as what I've seen here.

 

I've seen rows and rows of cubes with computers and no people utilizing all that equipment.

Yes, I have seen rooms with more computers than outlet. Lots of power strips had to be utilized

I've seen plenty of departments with too many employees for the amount of work being done.

 

Lol we arent talking about equipment not being used. Right outside my office are over 100 computers set up with nobody sitting in them.

I'm talking about paying people to do jobs where they arent needed. I'm talking about paying $8 for a screwdriver (thousands and thousands of them). I'm talking about avoiding new practices despite how much money it would save us because we dont want to save money.

You haven't seen that unless you've worked for the government.

Unless your previous employers were, in fact, paying $8 for screwdrivers in which case, they've long gone out of business.

 

I'm remember in the Marines wed have ammo dump days because if we didnt use all the ammunition we were allocated, we wouldn't get it next year.

So every year, we'd go to the range and load up all our magazines and blow off all our rounds without even aiming. The name of the game was, the faster we can shoot off all these rounds, the sooner we get to go home.

 

Lol...So you're part of the problem, eh?
You can whine about it or work to make it better.

 

As I stated, companies I’ve worked at, current one included are paying lots of people for jobs that aren’t needed.
Companies I have worked at and currently work at over pay, by a crap ton, consultants for all sorts of projects. You overpay for a screw driver we overpay for consultants. Same thing.
Equipment not being used is also overpaying for things not needed. You do realize that right?

 

See, that's the kind of waste I believe we're ALL opposing and want "fixed" somehow. Why can't the Marines' "purchasing department" just order ammo according to expected need and then order more or less later as needed? I suppose there's total defense spending budget and allocations of funds to different branches each of which allocate those funds according to projected need and that's it except for special situations requiring congressional approval? Yes? No?

 

They did, but at the end of the year, we hadnt used it all. The rounds had already been purchased and allocated.

So as opposed to telling USMCHQ that we didnt need them all (because if the next year we did need them all, it would get denied), we just blew them all off. THEN, if the next year we wanted a 10% increase, we could point to the last year and say "see, we used them all but it wasnt really enough, we need more." Thus, the budget continues expanding.

Same thing with government.

Why integrate new systems to eliminate useless jobs? If you do that, your budget shrinks and then the following year, they determine you dont need the budget you had before and if you ask for an increase, it gets denied.

Which goes back to my point of government agencies being the most wasteful, inefficient entities I've ever seen in my life. Being wasteful is encouraged over being efficient. Nowhere in the private sector is a that thing. Absolutely nowhere.

It is in government though.

 

So a new system is needed. We need one that isn't so wasteful.

 

Of course she did.

 

#metoo. Its unbelievable.

 

I can say there is a lot of dead wood in the private sector too.

 

You're saying that either she is a liar, or I am, or we both are. Which is it?

 

My only experience working for the government is an internship at the SEC.

For a public sector firm, it is what it is. The biggest issue with the SEC is the lack of experienced professionals in the field they are attempting to regulate.

 

No, Im saying shes one of them. 30 yr govt workers don't have a clue about work in the real world. Like the OP pointed out, unless youve worked in both the private sector and govt, you have no idea of the difference in expectations.

Simple (but true) example... in the private sector, a person who routinely falls asleep at their desk after lunch would probably be fired. I can walk thru my floor after lunch and see at least 5 people sound asleep, sitting up. Nobody bothers them and nobody cares.

Hard work in govt terms means showing up for 30 yrs. Nothing more is reqd.

 

Of course, human nature dictates that humans will try to maximize their benefit while minimizing their cost. That means working as little as possible for the greatest possible gain so you'll find dead wood every where. The difference is in the systems. Private enterprise incentivizes innovation, frugality and hard work while public entities do the opposite. Just look at the budgeting policies in a successful private enterprise versus a public entity. Departments in a for profit company will typically get rewarded for keeping their expenses low. Departments in a public entity are rewarded with bigger budgets when they spend everything that is budgeted and then ask for more.

 

I see you know nothing about government work.

 

Theres a guy here with downs who intentionally locks himself out of his computer by putting in an incorrect password three times so he doesnt have to work. IT doesnt get around to unlocking it until the next morning.

Then he just plays on his phone.

Cant fire the guy, you're asking for a lawsuit...

So he just gets paid to play.

 

Well genius, it was very clear to both of us that my job working for a private corporation was much more laid back and unpressured than hers or that of her coworkers. And for you to slanderously assert that you know better who and what she is than I do is beyond offensive. Your partisan generalization don't apply to reality, much less to my wife and I so I'll thank you to refrain from telling me what kind of people we are. The truth about the whole argument is that it depends where you work. The pressures and demands of different jobs vary whether they are government jobs or private industry jobs.

 

Dont call me names.

I understand your need to defend your federal employee wife. Im sure she was a hard working member of a federal union who deserves a cushy retirement.

Yes, I can make valid general observations because Ive spent over a decade working in each sector. Perhaps you should listen and learn since you obviously havent had that exposure.

 

We have what I call a 'typical' federal employee... minority, disabled vet (PTSD), bad attitude/unable to hold down job in private sector even though she has a degree. Hired in at a grade 14, first assignment as team leader was a total disaster. She was soon pushed out of that job and into my section where we made up a job for her. We both get ti work early (6:30am), so 3 days in she asks me to come w her to the ladies room where she proceeded to break down, sobbing hysterically about how her first dept told lies about her and did her wrong. I finally calmed her down and we've never spoken of it again. But I hope she remembers my kindness when she walks in with a gun someday and mows down her co workers.

Footnote: shes been out on an unspecified leave for the last 6 mos. Heard yesterday, she recvd a National Award for her work as Diversity Leader at the awards luncheon in DC earlier this week.

Our tax dollars at work.

 

Which is worse, calling you "genius" or slandering my wife, who was not a union member, as being unaware of the day-to-day conditions of her job?

 

You don't know as much as you think you do. And worse, you don't seem to be able to learn anything from anyone else with different experiences. Go ahead and post the last reply. I won't be reading it anyway.

 

Here's something I dont get.... why do we need Federal unions? Govt employees are paid by We, the People. Why do they need unions to be protected from people we pay to manage them???