Are teachers considered government employees?

[monsterkitty]

I was just trying to make a hotel reservation at a Marriott resort. When I asked for the government rate, the agent said teachers do not receive government rates. However, in my area we are considered local government employees. We pay into the Public Employee Retirement Association, which is for government employees.

Some hotel chains do count teachers as government employees.

So, are we or are we not government employees?

I am so confused. Which, according to my husband, is a given since I am blond.

TIA!

 

[Cool-Beans]

Some hotels offer government rates to government organizations only. A teacher convention, booked by the city, teachers would get the rate.

Maybe that's it. I dunno.

Teachers are absolutely government employees, unless they work in a private school. And I'm half blonde, thanks to coloring. Tell your husband, "So, blah" from me.

 

[katerkat]

I know a state college admin and he gets government rates at hotels.

 

[taximomfor4]

DH is a public school teacher and pays into PERS/STRS also. He says he doesn't think teachers are government employees...that, at least here in Ohio, they apply for some state funds and are somewhat ruled by the State Dept Of Education, but that they are employees of a school district.

Confusing, and good question. I would THINK that public school teachers and instructors at state universities would be considered Government employees, but maybe not!

 

[Becky2005]

I honestly don't know but it sounds like it's one of those grey areas.

You would think it would be straight forward but I worked for a company that we got the confusion all the time.

I was not a government employee per se as I didn't get all of the Federal holidays off (always confused people!), yet we were a subsidy of the Federal Government (so got paid by taxes). We were only considered government when bad things happened (like no budget being signed in October, if you were non-essential personnel you wouldn't be coming into work & wouldn't be getting paid unless you had vacation time).

I know if the employees traveled on business they got the government rate (usually) but if traveling normally we wouldn't have been considered government employees & get that rate.

I'm wondering if it's the same kind of thing. I suppose it could also depend on the hotel chain how they will apply the rate.

 

[paigevz]

Yes and no. We are regulated by the state, investigated by the state, licensed by the state.

We are employed by the district.

That's why we don't get state/gov't health care like other gov't employees.

 

[Christine]

I book a lot of hotel reservations for government workers. It is my understanding that the hotels mean "federal" government workers. They also required official travel orders when the government employee checks in at the hotel. You can tell that the hotels mean federal workers because they also give the hotel rate cost of the government per diem rates.

I know that teachers are state and county government employees though. I would think that if a hotel were offering a special rate for them it would say so.

 

[YorkieMommyKandis]

I pulled this from Marriott's website...

Marriott's government and military hotel discounts are offered to:

• All federal, state, county and local government employees
• All active military personnel


My DH is a police officer and we booked with the discount. We're getting a one bedroom suite for $83 at the Residence Inn...I'm so excited!! They offer a wonderful discount and let our doggies stay with us.

 

[teacherforhi]

I was under the impression you could only get government rates when you were traveling for work. I just got back from a workshop where we told to book one particular hotel in order to receive the state rate. We couldn't do it online. We had to call and give them the name and dates of the workshop to qualify.

 

[Christine]

I was under the impression you could only get government rates when you were traveling for work. I just got back from a workshop where we told to book one particular hotel in order to receive the state rate. We couldn't do it online. We had to call and give them the name and dates of the workshop to qualify.

You are correct. I have always been told that the government rates are for employees on travel for business. We are even told that if we do not show up with travel orders, we can be charged the regular rate. Now, whether or not the hotel desk employee checks for orders and enforces this is another matter.

 

[monsterkitty]

This is a gray area!

The reason for the hotel stay is for a teacher convention. I am not staying at the convention hotel because the "special" rate for those of us attending the convention is $235/night. I only spend that much money on a hotel room at WDW so I can pool hop with old mugs and corn.

The Marriott is a few miles down the road from the convention hotel, and it offers a jet tub.

I called Marriott booking five times to see how many different answers I would get. It kind of felt like I was calling WDW 5 times because I received, 1 yes, 1 no, and 3 I have no clues and then they hung up.

I think I am going to just book under the Government Rate and see what happens. If worse comes to worse, I will fall back on AAA.

 

[katerkat]

You are correct. I have always been told that the government rates are for employees on travel for business. We are even told that if we do not show up with travel orders, we can be charged the regular rate. Now, whether or not the hotel desk employee checks for orders and enforces this is another matter.

I'm surprised! We usually book the government/military rates (most chains put them together) and we've never been asked for ID or orders.

 

[TDC Nala]

You are correct. I have always been told that the government rates are for employees on travel for business. We are even told that if we do not show up with travel orders, we can be charged the regular rate. Now, whether or not the hotel desk employee checks for orders and enforces this is another matter.

At times this is not correct. The ethics people at my (federal) agency say that it is okay to use these rates for personal travel if the hotel chain allows it.

If I do use them I am generally asked for my work ID but not travel orders.

 

[Beth76]

I called Marriott booking five times to see how many different answers I would get. It kind of felt like I was calling WDW 5 times because I received, 1 yes, 1 no, and 3 I have no clues and then they hung up.

If you got a "yes", why didn't you book at that time? Maybe try speaking with a supervisor.

 

[YorkieMommyKandis]

It says on Marriott's website:

Remember to present your government or military ID, or government-issued charge card at check-in.


It doesn't say anything about travel orders so I am assuming you can use it for personal use.

​

 

[Beth76]

It says on Marriott's website:

Remember to present your government or military ID, or government-issued charge card at check-in.


It doesn't say anything about travel orders so I am assuming you can use it for personal use.

Do teachers have a government ID? My parents are both teachers and I don't recall them ever using the government discount.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Do teachers have a government ID? My parents are both teachers and I don't recall them ever using the government discount.

My mom taught. I never saw an ID card. But who knows these days!

 

[monsterkitty]

Yes, we receive ID cards in my district. We have received ID cards since Columbine and we wear them at all times.

The website also says that you can show a check stub or a letter on official letterhead stating you are an employee.

 

[horseshowmom]

Yes, we receive ID cards in my district. We have received ID cards since Columbine and we wear them at all times.

The website also says that you can show a check stub or a letter on official letterhead stating you are an employee.

I've booked the government rate over and over and over (in and out of state) as a teacher and as an administrator. I only have one hotel that I have to show ID at, and I stay there fairly regularly. We don't have ID cards, but I carry the above mentioned letter on official letterhead. (I'm planning on getting ID cards for all of our Central Office staff after school starts for just this reason).

Generally, the gov't rate is much better, but sometimes AAA is best.

 

[barkley]

the hotels that have ever asked me for government i.d. are few and far between-and i've used the rate to book places for personal travel for years.
the only thing i've ever run into was hotels that say their only gov. rates are only for federal employees-when i've pointed out that while i worked for a county agency but my job was funded via state and federal dollars they've had no problem extending the rates to me (and they've continued to do so since i retired-and i'm up front about my retiree status).

i don't know how it works in other states, but the bulk of our public school teachers contribute to the same retirement program that the state employees contribute to-so i would think in that case they qualify for the same benefits afforded state employees relating to this.