Yes, indeed.What a lovely thought it is to be a furloughed government worker these days.Most people, when they’re laid-off, even if it’s just temporarily, are very concerned.With no steady paycheck coming in, they wonder if they’ll be able to handle the day-to-day necessities of life.
And according to the president, all the furloughed governmental folk are currently suffering these very same concerns. My heart, just like the hearts of all other Americans, goes out to these “furloughed folk,” and justifiably so.But then again, should we really feel this way?
The president never mentioned that when the “furloughed folk” were called back to work — as over 80% apparently have been — all their past due earnings have been accrued, which in non-accounting terms means that in the next paycheck, everything that you didn’t get before will be paid now. So, let me get this straight.I have been in sympathy with both the president and the “furloughed folk,” concerning myself with a group of government employees who have been designated as “non-essential,” who more than likely average an income of over six-figures, and who will receive all their back pay.(Thank you, House of Representatives, for voting 100% to pay back wages.I’m quite certain we can afford it two weeks later, when two weeks before, we couldn’t afford it.)
Correct me if I’m wrong, but to me, this sounds like an unscheduled paid vacation.Therefore, I’m led to believe that the government workers who are considered to be “essential” must be very upset with those government workers who are considered to be “non-essential,” since the “essentials” are getting paid, yet have also been forced to work as well.
How unfair is that? The next time we experience a government shutdown, my suggestion is that the “essentials” shouldn’t be required to work at all, while the so-called “non-essentials” should be forced to work.After all, fair is fair.
Starbucks is currently urging their patrons to sign a petition, urging the politicians in Washington, D.C. to reopen the government.Yet, I would imagine that if you could query all the petition signers across the country as to what their job was, I would highly doubt that any one of those people who signed the Starbucks petition was a government worker.
In my opinion, not one federal government employee would sign that petition, after all, only the American government — and of course not Starbucks — can provide a paid vacation which doesn’t even count against your regular vacation time.
Government furloughs, definitely a thing of beauty, created by our wonderful legislative representatives.As a government employee, you’re certainly hoping that furloughs happen again, and again, and again, and again.