Any other families planning for a furlough?

[ssawka]

The furlough now stands at 14 days, which is roughly 5% of an ANNUAL salary. The article I read was quite clear that he was giving back 14 days.

...and, he will still have to work those 14 days. I wish Congress would do the same. Even if they can't legally vote to cut their own pay, they could donate 5% to charity or something.

 

[psimon]

My understanding is that most DOD employees will lose one day a week during the furlough time, so that is 20% of those paychecks.

Not Department of Transportation. 1 day / pay period = 10% for half the year... 5% annual.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[sammielynn]

Losing 14 days pay will hurt the President a lot less than it would hurt me. Not impress with him or anyone else in Washington. Shame on them all!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I don't see it your way.

I see it as my employees are going to suffer, I will do the same. Haven't we talked about Congress also being put under the same reduced pay status like us? It's the same thing.

Sadly, the way the law is written, Congress can not vote themselves a pay cut (or pay raise). They are only allowed under law to make those changes for the next Congress, not theirs. That is why they haven't been part of this.

On the other hand, if Congress wants to send 10% of their pay back to the treasury in solidarity with their "troops", I'm all for it. It won't make a dent in the problem, but it does present an image of I'm not special and above all of this!

---Paul in Southern NJ

I agree with Paul. Also there were two people at the Pentagon who are doing the same thing with a percentage of their pay. Yes, it would be ideal if they would fix the situation, but if the President and congress can't agree at least someone is making an effort to show that they are aware of the sacrifices that we're making in the interim. My other comments are more political so I will keep them to myself.

 

[psimon]

Has anyone actually taken any furlough days yet?

Ours won't start until the pay period beginning April 21.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[smitch425]

Has anyone actually taken any furlough days yet?

Ours won't start until the pay period beginning April 21.

---Paul in Southern NJ

Not yet. DH will start in June. Received word yesterday that the buildings on base that do not have windows that can open will have the temperature controlled to 78 degrees through Sept. 30. The buildings that do have windows that can open will not be allowed to run ANY air conditioning whatsoever. Utterly ridiculous.

 

[madge]

Not yet. DH will start in June. Received word yesterday that the buildings on base that do not have windows that can open will have the temperature controlled to 78 degrees through Sept. 30. The buildings that do have windows that can open will not be allowed to run ANY air conditioning whatsoever. Utterly ridiculous.

Same thing at DH office at Ft. Knox.

 

[madge]

I agree with Paul. Also there were two people at the Pentagon who are doing the same thing with a percentage of their pay. Yes, it would be ideal if they would fix the situation, but if the President and congress can't agree at least someone is making an effort to show that they are aware of the sacrifices that we're making in the interim. My other comments are more political so I will keep them to myself.

here's a list of who's donating/giving up pay:
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/04/whos-forfeiting-furlough-exemptions/62299/?oref=skybox

I have mixed thoughts on POTUS & the donated salary. It's a thoughtful gesture, symbolic, blah blah blah. Yes. it's better than nothing. But, I'd love for our furlough time to start in March (like the President) & be spread out through September. It would be much easier to withstand for our family, with the same financial impact for the budget. But that wouldn't create the maximum dramatic media impact as 20% cut, one day a week furlough.

 

[psimon]

Not yet. DH will start in June. Received word yesterday that the buildings on base that do not have windows that can open will have the temperature controlled to 78 degrees through Sept. 30. The buildings that do have windows that can open will not be allowed to run ANY air conditioning whatsoever. Utterly ridiculous.

Aren't there OSHA regulations regarding environmental working conditions? I suspect there are. Depending on temps, this might be in violation!

Just a thought.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Aren't there OSHA regulations regarding environmental working conditions? I suspect there are. Depending on temps, this might be in violation!

Just a thought.

---Paul in Southern NJ

OSHA does not MANDATE a temperature.

The OSHA technical manual titled "Recommendations for the Employer" gives the most specific mention of office temperature. The language is not a binding regulation, only a recommendation for standard procedure. According to Section III, Chapter 2, Subsection V of the publication, office temperature should be maintained in the range of 68 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

Complaining about air conditioning? Offer to take another day off without pay to pay for it. Or bring in a fan.

Plenty of people work in warmer environments.

 

[smitch425]

Complaining about air conditioning? Offer to take another day off without pay to pay for it. Or bring in a fan.

Plenty of people work in warmer environments.

You can't just "take another day". The government doesn't work that way. The logical thing to do would be to shut the base down a set day every week and turn off the air that day only, but obviously logical thoughts are hard to come by in Washington.

 

[psimon]

You can't just "take another day". The government doesn't work that way. The logical thing to do would be to shut the base down a set day every week and turn off the air that day only, but obviously logical thoughts are hard to come by in Washington.

We have been told the day we take is at our convenience. We had to put in a requested day, but it isn't in concrete.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[madge]

We have been told the day we take is at our convenience. We had to put in a requested day, but it isn't in concrete.

---Paul in Southern NJ

DH will be off the same day every week, per his boss or maybe his boss's boss. I'm not sure.

this is very interesting, to read what's going on in different offices in different parts of the country.

 

[TinaElmerRh]

I saw this was posted about an hour ago on Politico Pro:

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel plans to announce Tuesday the Pentagon will furlough about 800,000 civilian employees to pay for budget cuts under sequestration, but for just 11 days, not 14 as previously contemplated, a senior Defense official told POLITICO.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/pentagon-furloughs-planned-11-days-91320.html#ixzz2TH6ijeql

 

[smitch425]

I saw this was posted about an hour ago on Politico Pro:

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel plans to announce Tuesday the Pentagon will furlough about 800,000 civilian employees to pay for budget cuts under sequestration, but for just 11 days, not 14 as previously contemplated, a senior Defense official told POLITICO.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/pentagon-furloughs-planned-11-days-91320.html#ixzz2TH6ijeql

Thanks for posting! DH got this news in a meeting earlier this morning. Just didn't get a chance to post it yet. Every little bit helps.

 

[disney1990]

You can't just "take another day". The government doesn't work that way. The logical thing to do would be to shut the base down a set day every week and turn off the air that day only, but obviously logical thoughts are hard to come by in Washington.

Can you come to work in your shorts?

No temperature is not regulated in most states. I think about all the people that work outside here in the DC area when it gets close to 100 during the summer.

 

[blueiis99]

we start next Friday, May 24. This is horrible. and now with my Agency in the news being looked at due to an upper management thing...(won't go into it, but its in the headlines FBI is now involved) I am so sure we are going to get wacked again, just like we did during the last congressional hearings. UGH!

first no pay , now this...

 

[worm761]

Can you come to work in your shorts?

No temperature is not regulated in most states. I think about all the people that work outside here in the DC area when it gets close to 100 during the summer.

No. There is a dress code they have to follow. My DH is an instructor. His building has no windows. The AC is not set to come on at all yet. It was 85 degrees in his classroom BEFORE he turned the equipment on. From there, it just got hotter. I send cases of water to work with him. We bought clothes that are lighter and are supposed to breathe better.

 

[blueiis99]

Maybe they should suggest a "bring a congress person to work day"

 

[smitch425]

Can you come to work in your shorts?

No temperature is not regulated in most states. I think about all the people that work outside here in the DC area when it gets close to 100 during the summer.

DH is upper management, so it is at minimum dress pants, collared shirt and tie. Tomorrow he has to brief a General, so he has to wear a full suit. It is in the 80s here this week.