Recruiting bonuses, increased employees point to federal insanity

The US economy surely challenges us Main Streeters. But it doesn’t challenge the federal government. Did you know the feds pay recruiting bonuses? I didn’t.

I’ve often said one major government reform we could enact involves attrition. When employees retire or resign—I think it’s pretty hard to fire a federal worker—simply let the position go unfilled and remove it from that agency’s budget. Do what the private sector does—shift responsibilities onto the remainder of the work force. Exceptions for highly skilled workers might be necessary, but overall, this would eventually trim the size of government agency budgets in a fairly painless way.

Another tactic would be to reorganize management-heavy departments. Where possible, combine agency divisions and reduce management whose salaries tend to be higher.

USA Today looked at the federal employment sector in 2009. The paper said, “The growth in six-figure salaries has pushed the average federal worker's pay to $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector.”

When a friend told me federal workers can get bonuses for recruiting workers, I didn’t believe her. But the government does give recruitment bonuses and they are generous. The bonus can’t exceed 25 percent of the employee’s basic pay. Well, it can’t exceed that without applying red tape, in which case it can go higher. Much higher.

I’d wager most Americans have never got a dime for helping find someone a job.

Unemployment is at a record high. So theoretically we should not need recruitment bonuses.

The practice leads to blatant nepotism. It’s my personal opinion you almost have to know someone on the inside to get a federal job.

How much did the taxpayer spend on those bonuses? Does anyone know?

By the way, USA Today excluded the White House, Congress, the Postal Service, intelligence agencies and uniformed military personnel. For purposes of balance, I’m doing the same with my suggestions, with one exception.

Congress should freeze their own salaries for at least two years. They got us into this mess.

Most reformers target entitlement spending and that needs to be addressed for sure. But the federal payroll should be trimmed—private businesses calculate future costs associated with hiring an employee. And most private businesses can’t afford to cough up the perks many federal employees get.

Main Streeters need to hold the government to the same standards we meet when it comes to budgeting. Times are hard and the government should trim where possible.

The Washington Times said the government will grow to 2.15 million employees this year. Taxpayers will foot the bill for the employer share of the salaries, benefits and pension contributions. And those recruitment bonuses.

The phrase ‘federal insanity’ seems too kind.