As the budget battle drags on, we continue to field e-mails, phone calls and blog posts from unhappy state employees and laid-off part timers who are sick of the mess.
This e-mail from Orlando Fuentes, a retired annuitant, raises an interesting question for state workers: What counsel would you give your kids about becoming state civil servants?
Hi, Jon,
I started in 1979 at the age of 30 (with an MSW in hand and 5 years of professional experience including 3.5 years at the county level) and retired at age 55 with 25 plus years of service. I have been a retired annuitant for 3 seasons now.
I can say confidently that state salaries have not kept up for professionals in all of these years. It's been one budget crisis after another. I have found that county salaries are much better than state salaries, for example in departments of social services, health, and mental health. I have worked in each of those at the state level and have always been on the search to compare salaries at the county level ...
As state professionals, we usually deal with higher level management at the local level as their state consultants ... We often deal with our counterparts who make so much more than we do. (We act) as their experts on state law and state programs, as high level trainers of other professionals, etc. Do we get recognized for such? No.
All we hear, is "not this year." And then the speculation, "they'll have to make up for this next year," which never happens.
I have two daughters who are professionals; one is a lawyer and one working on her PhD. I highly recommend to each of them to avoid at any and all costs becoming civil servants for the state, build their 401Ks, and find their career path elsewhere.
Thanks for this opportunity to comment.
Orlando Fuentes
The Author
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