Any other families planning for a furlough?

[disykat]

Yes. I'm not up on all the wordage. I just know last time I kept hearing "government shutdown" bandied about it the news etc. and this time I keep hearing "emergency furlough" that could happen if they can't get something accomplished by the 27th. I assume to compare it to the other furlough.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The current Continuing Resolution expires on March 27. At that point there is no funding for the government because they did not submit a budget for Fiscal Year 2013 and are extending the FY 2008 budget once again for a period of time. So with no funding, the government shuts down. No payrolls, no payment for contracts, etc.

I think 2008 was the last time we actually had a budget and not just a series of Continuing Resolutions.

 

[psimon]

Yes. I'm not up on all the wordage. I just know last time I kept hearing "government shutdown" bandied about it the news etc. and this time I keep hearing "emergency furlough" that could happen if they can't get something accomplished by the 27th. I assume to compare it to the other furlough.

The Continuing Resolution is something Congress is actually discussing. They didn't want to do another shutdown like they did last time so they are going to kick that can down the road again and the CR, when passed, will go through to the end of the Fiscal Year (Sept 30). Since a budget was never passed, the CR says they keep using the old budget and spend plan numbers. The sequester than chews away at that level.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[snarlingcoyote]

But I don't know anyone who gets that many days off besides government workers. I am sure your husband works hard, but so does everyone these days. There is obviously a problem somewhere if our government is this far in debt.

Who does your husband's job when he is off? I know at our business we couldn't survive if anyone had that many days off.

My DH gets 5 weeks a year at his company (been there 23 years). If I stay at my company 20 years, I'll get 4. Both companies do very well and turn quite good profits. Both DH and I manage to do our jobs quite well. I am sure that there are plenty of other people around who have similar work environments in the private sector. My BFF gets 5 weeks a year at a private sector job for a company that's on the S&P 500. We have other friends who all get somewhere between 3 and 6 weeks a year vacation time at companies that do quite well.

 

[disykat]

The Continuing Resolution is something Congress is actually discussing. They didn't want to do another shutdown like they did last time so they are going to kick that can down the road again and the CR, when passed, will go through to the end of the Fiscal Year (Sept 30). Since a budget was never passed, the CR says they keep using the old budget and spend plan numbers. The sequester than chews away at that level.

---Paul in Southern NJ

Right. But they have to pass the continuing resolution. The emergency furlough is what happens if they don't. At DH's work, management is definitely discussing this possibility.

 

[afnaechiquita]

Right. But they have to pass the continuing resolution. The emergency furlough is what happens if they don't. At DH's work, management is definitely discussing this possibility.

This happens every time they push signing the CR to the last minute though. Managements have to discuss the possibility every time because congress waits until the eleventh hour to sign it.

 

[chobie]

I just wanted to express my sympathy to all the federal employees here. I hope this ends soon for you all. My husband and I are both state employees and know what it feels like to have our pay and benefits cut and to be vilified by politicians and members of the public. We are both well educated and work hard, long hours for the benefit of our community, as do most government employees we know.

 

[smitch425]

I just wanted to express my sympathy to all the federal employees here. I hope this ends soon for you all. My husband and I are both state employees and know what it feels like to have our pay and benefits cut and to be vilified by politicians and members of the public. We are both well educated and work hard, long hours for the benefit of our community, as do most government employees we know.

Thank you for the kind words.

 

[psimon]

I just wanted to express my sympathy to all the federal employees here. I hope this ends soon for you all. My husband and I are both state employees and know what it feels like to have our pay and benefits cut and to be vilified by politicians and members of the public. We are both well educated and work hard, long hours for the benefit of our community, as do most government employees we know.

As has been said... thank you. It's nice to there are those that understand what we are going though.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[psimon]

It looks like the Senate is thinking of making furloughs PERMANENT!

http://www.nffe.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/63650

I realize this is not law.......yet..... but the fact that they are even thinking about it is scary!

It's one thing to adjust a budget to compensate for a 6 month hit..... but permanently?


If it did become reality, it's time to retire!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[sweetdana]

It looks like the Senate is thinking of making furloughs PERMANENT!

http://www.nffe.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/63650

I realize this is not law.......yet..... but the fact that they are even thinking about it is scary!

It's one thing to adjust a budget to compensate for a 6 month hit..... but permanently?


If it did become reality, it's time to retire!

---Paul in Southern NJ

I just cannot believe people actually put on paper, cutting 1 day a week from a bunch of staff members, is a reasonable solution to the financial problems. I am so sorry for those families effected by this. I did not feel to bad when it was initially for 22 days, I think most families can manage that. Being 3/4 day weekends every other week IMO for summer would be a God sent. . But a proposition to make semi- perm is not a solution. It is a joke. ... Only With people's lives.

I wish congress had to mirror there cost saving "measures", they are " fixing " the budget with. .. maybe even double the pay cut, until a real solution/ compromise came in play.

I am so sorry. No one deserves this crap.

 

[smitch425]

A bit of humor for us furlough peeps...

We (all 4 of us) were on our way to church this morning and we were talking about our post-church lunch plans. Normally we go out to eat somewhere, but since we are now on a tight budget, the following was our conversation...

DS: Where are we going for lunch?
Me: We are having leftover taco stuff.
DD: I don't want tacos. We ate that yesterday.
Me: You can have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich then.
DD: Okay
DS: Sigh...I want to go to a restaurant.
Me: Sorry...no money for that right now.
DS: UGH! I wish you would just spend all of Dad's money like you used to do!
DD: She can't do that! I don't want to end up a hobo! Do YOU want to be a hobo? 'Cause I do NOT!



I haven't laughed so hard since this whole mess started, and neither has DH. Thank God for kids. They have a way of making everything better.

 

[chris31997]

It looks like the Senate is thinking of making furloughs PERMANENT!

http://www.nffe.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/63650

I realize this is not law.......yet..... but the fact that they are even thinking about it is scary!

It's one thing to adjust a budget to compensate for a 6 month hit..... but permanently?


If it did become reality, it's time to retire!

---Paul in Southern NJ

Maybe we can put Congress on furlough, only let them work half the time with half the pay

A bit of humor for us furlough peeps...

We (all 4 of us) were on our way to church this morning and we were talking about our post-church lunch plans. Normally we go out to eat somewhere, but since we are now on a tight budget, the following was our conversation...

DS: Where are we going for lunch?
Me: We are having leftover taco stuff.
DD: I don't want tacos. We ate that yesterday.
Me: You can have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich then.
DD: Okay
DS: Sigh...I want to go to a restaurant.
Me: Sorry...no money for that right now.
DS: UGH! I wish you would just spend all of Dad's money like you used to do!
DD: She can't do that! I don't want to end up a hobo! Do YOU want to be a hobo? 'Cause I do NOT!



I haven't laughed so hard since this whole mess started, and neither has DH. Thank God for kids. They have a way of making everything better.

Out of the mouths of babes. Kids seem to be able to roll with the punches and keep things in a prespective, that make it easier for us. Help them keep their humor, and they will help you keep yours

 

[psimon]

Maybe we can put Congress on furlough, only let them work half the time with half the pay

Would we notice the difference?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[worm761]

No. Losing 20% of our pay before taxes is not easy and sucks. Even if it was for 22 days. That is in reality 22 WEEKS.

And, though your job may be easy to do on only 4 days a week, DH's is not. He still has to do the same amount of work but has one LESS day to do it in. Deadlines still have to be met. No, none of the guys are happy about 3 and 4 day weekends. Not a God send when the work still has to be done.

 

[smitch425]

No. Losing 20% of our pay before taxes is not easy and sucks. Even if it was for 22 days. That is in reality 22 WEEKS.

And, though your job may be easy to do on only 4 days a week, DH's is not. He still has to do the same amount of work but has one LESS day to do it in. Deadlines still have to be met. No, none of the guys are happy about 3 and 4 day weekends. Not a God send when the work still has to be done.

Exactly.

It amazes me how some people can downplay this situation. I have a feeling sweetdana did not read the whole thread before claiming it a "God's send". At least I hope she didn't.

 

[lucigo]

It looks like the Senate is thinking of making furloughs PERMANENT!

http://www.nffe.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/63650

I realize this is not law.......yet..... but the fact that they are even thinking about it is scary!

It's one thing to adjust a budget to compensate for a 6 month hit..... but permanently?


If it did become reality, it's time to retire!

---Paul in Southern NJ

If they make it permanent we will be looking for employment elsewhere and moving back to Florida. Even if DH has to take a job teaching kids at less pay, at least we would be where we want to be.

When we made the decision to move for this job it really seemed like the planets had aligned and this was where we were supposed to go. Now I just have to wonder WHY!

Another question, does it make sense to have full time employees with benefits only working 32 hours a week?

 

[Deb & Bill]

...Another question, does it make sense to have full time employees with benefits only working 32 hours a week?

I guess they think furlough is less damaging to the economy than RIFs. That means a lot more unemployed people. But for the people getting furloughed with no pay it is very damaging.

One question, if your pay goes down, does that also mean your life insurance costs go down because your pay is decreased and life insurance is based on your pay?

The government portion of contribution to TSP should also go down as should your contribution amount to TSP. Especially if you reduce the amount you are contributing in the short term.

 

[eyor44]

I just cannot believe people actually put on paper, cutting 1 day a week from a bunch of staff members, is a reasonable solution to the financial problems. I am so sorry for those families effected by this. I did not feel to bad when it was initially for 22 days, I think most families can manage that. Being 3/4 day weekends every other week IMO for summer would be a God sent.

No, it's not a "God send" even though it is in the summer. We aren't going to be able to do anything extra or fun with those extra days off because we won't have the funds. and one would think we wouldn't have as much child care, but I still have to pay for a full week of day camp for every week my child goes whether she is there 4 or 5 days. This is horrible to be happening in the summer, because not only are we losing 20% of our pay we have the extra expense of child care for our daughter.

 

[gwynne]

Exactly.

It amazes me how some people can downplay this situation. I have a feeling sweetdana did not read the whole thread before claiming it a "God's send". At least I hope she didn't.

I hope she didn't, either. I also don't think everyone realizes how hard it is going to be for all the federal employees that support the military (including deployed). Those employees have to attempt to do as good a job as they humanly can while it's all giggles, games, and snarkiness in DC. These furlough days aren't vacation days. For many furlough means forced time away from the mission of supporting our troops.

I guess they think furlough is less damaging to the economy than RIFs. That means a lot more unemployed people. But for the people getting furloughed with no pay it is very damaging.

One question, if your pay goes down, does that also mean your life insurance costs go down because your pay is decreased and life insurance is based on your pay?

The government portion of contribution to TSP should also go down as should your contribution amount to TSP. Especially if you reduce the amount you are contributing in the short term.

Lots of possible effects, not a lot of answers. Some seem to be planning to leave the TSP as it is, (knowing it will change some as pay declines) others will reduce or stop their contribution for awhile.
The one change I am hearing about more and more-folks are completely eliminating their CFC contributions.