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The federal workday: Labor's love lost?

  • By John S. Monroe
  • Oct 10, 2011

Do federal workers earn their pay?

That question arises every time Congress entertains another proposal to reduce the amount of money spent on the federal workforce. The question is both practical and accusatory: If feds are not working 40 productive hours, why not freeze their compensation or shrink the workforce by 10 or even 20 percent? Maybe then they’ll learn what real work is, the reasoning goes.

Many FCW readers were frustrated to see the question arise yet again, this time when the congressional supercommittee began searching for ways to slash the federal budget. A reader named Kyle put the issue front and center by suggesting that salary cuts would not be out of line because feds do not work nearly as hard or long as their private-sector counterparts.

The response — both pro and con — was predictably heated. Here is a summary of reader comments, which have been edited for length, clarity and style.

Get real

I am a federal employee with a work schedule of four 10-hour days. I worked an additional nine hours on Friday and so far today, Saturday, I am at four hours and counting. Overtime is not allowed at my agency. I can claim comp time, but since I can't even use all my annual leave every year, what is the point? So Mr. “Only 10 Percent of Feds Work,” you better check your facts before you make such a ridiculous statement!


— Underappreciated Fed

Not the point

Here we have it again. People have to show their worth by working more hours than they are paid for. People who typically work those hours usually don't have lives, have their priorities out of place and are incompetent. Any boss who measures performance by how long a butt sits in a chair should not be a boss. The most productive people are those who deliver during their prescribed work time and then take care of the rest of their lives.


— Tom K

Whose fault is it?

I used to do payroll for an agency of 150 employees. Due to personnel cuts, I saw that several employees were working extra hours to get the job done. When I pointed this out to the director, he issued a memo stating that "all employees will punch out within 30 minutes of end of shift." They didn't care that employees were voluntarily working extra hours.


— HarleyLar, Washington state

Too true

Feds waste more than they work. It’s a given. Most of my career was in the private world, and there is nothing harder to do than transition to the feds. As a taxpayer, I am very upset. We are one office, and the waste in here is in the millions. Makes you wonder about the rest of the feds.


— Anonymous

Remove one of four employees from their jobs. I see at least that many every day doing nothing. Hire people with experience who are willing to work. All I see hired are friends and relatives who then play games on the computer.


— Anonymous

About the Author

John S. Monroe is the editor-in-chief of Federal Computer Week.

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Reader comments

Wed, May 2, 2012

"What happened to Anti Deficiency Act. Don't the people who are commenting know that working for free is a violation of the Anti Deficiency Act." First, if it were not for the extra hours government employees put in, many of the most important national security work would not get done on time. Especially in today's "we have to do more with less" (SecDef, 2012) budget cut environment. Second, my experience has shown that any supervisor who makes remarks like these is usually the kind of supervisor who stands over their workers micro-managing every aspect of the day (i.e., looking at the clock as workers come in at the beginning of the day, go on their morning coffee break, go to and come back from lunch, go on their afternoon break, and leave at the end of the day) to ensure the undisciplined workers are kept in line. Repeated management research has shown that this sort of, authoritative, micro-managing supervisor costs organizations much more in lost productivity due to low moral than they ever save. Further, neither this type of supervisor nor their workers produce the highest quality work. Third, in most cases noted in this forum, workers are compensated with compensatory time. What is more, for those who say they do not get paid, if comp time is not taken within a year, it is cleared from the books by converting to pay. So, in either case, taking time off or getting an eventual pay-out, workers still realize a benefit for their efforts. Which, if compensation is earned and the worker realizes a benefit, there is no ADA violation. Last, but not least, in government, just as in the corporate world, the ones who get ahead are those who demonstrate a willingness to work hard to get the job done. Those who sit/stand around pointing to their watch and waving the ADA in everyone’s face tend to get ignored when it comes time for awards and recommendations for promotion. - And, yes, it is important to follow the rules and demonstrate high standards of ethics and morality. However, there is a big difference between being a straight shooter and being a stiff-necked, bean-counter personality. DrJEA, CDFM-A

Wed, May 2, 2012

This blame game is really getting old. No, people should not be working without getting paid. What kind of example does it show the private sector when federal employees and employers are actively breaking federal employment law? Everyone in government should be on a pay for performance system. No raises without showing performance, which would help public opinion a lot because they could see results. By everyone in government, yes, I also refer to Congress. Finally, in my opinion, I rarely see middle management accomplishing anything but either ignoring the work or babysitting each employee, micromanaging. The culture of management needs to change before we can expect real, measurable changes in public opinion, which, right now, is what is hurting federal employees.

Wed, May 2, 2012 DFW, Texas

I totally agree with Anonymous in Indianapolis, Indiana. Executive Management doesn't seem to work these days. They basically just sit around, have meetings to get nothing resolved and have another meeting that next week, with the same outcome. Those who are lower grades are definitely willing to work and usually find themselves working outside of their work scope. Of course it is not appreciated. I used come to work on Saturday or even work an hour or two late, just to make sure my work was finished before the deadline. When management specifically see you still sitting there working, they say nothing - just walk by and go on about their business. Of course you aren't compensated for this overtime work, and dare to say anything about it. It then becomes that being a government employee, you are EXPECTED to work these late and extended hours - it's part of the "job!" Then an employee gets sick and is off work for a week or so, because their body took the rights over them of rest ... and all the employer cares about is "when are you coming back to work?" Congress gets paid entirely too much money to do nothing but have continuous meetings in which they cannot agree to disagree. It's got me thinking about running for Congress myself, so I can do as less work as possible, and get paid top salary.

Tue, May 1, 2012 SoutheastUS

As to the Anti Deficiency Act: unless you are near retirement age and want to pad your bank account with some class action court awards, you would probably work the extra time to get your assignments done rather than become unemployed because you blew the whistle on the Anti Deficiency Act violations. It is a hassle to go to court, and how do you pay your bills before you win the lawsuit? Legal or employed? In this economic climate, the answer is simple. Work your butt off!

Tue, May 1, 2012 Anonymous Indianapolis, Indiana

The cost is executive level management whose salary increases the cost of our services. They are overpaid to jut have meetings and send out messages. We should go back to the days when everyone worked. Top managemwnt rolled up there sleeves to get the work done also. In my 25 years with the federal government. I've noticed that once individuals reach management level they feel they do not hav to work. Wrong your paid to do a job just like the lower grades. The only difference. The lower grades are willing to work and get there hands dirty to service the soldier. Secondly.Salary cuts should start with Congress who never meet there job description. When was the last time we had a budget submitted and approved by the end of the fiscal year. Every year we end up with a CRA. If they were on the pay for performance sytem their salary would be 1/3 of what they are making. Where are their sacrfices to serve the people?

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