Deal reached on bill to compensate feds for unused sick leave

is the headline for a Federal Times article by Stephen Losey today. According to the article Retiring employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System would get up to $10,000 in compensation under the latest version of a bill drafted by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va. The previous bill was capped at $5,000.

No word is given as to how the compension will be figured. It is generally thought that there will be a minimum number of hours required before compension will begin.

This is good news!

Fortuneteller Anyone?

I am a USPS FERS employee.

My full time hiring date was February 1984. The retirement system underwent massive change in January of 1984. No one explained it to me. I guess I could have been both CSRS and FERS had I known. In fact, it wasn’t until the National Rural Letter Carrier Convention in Chicago did I hear anyone spend time talking about FERS retirement. It was probably out there, but retirement was so far away that I just took out the maximum amount for investment each pay period and didn’t think much about it.

As it turns out, in all my ignorance, FERS has been good for me. My choices of investments have paid well through the years. And, they are mine. Unlike CSRS, I have been able to build sum of money that stays with me, and more importantly, my family whenever I die.

Of course, we all know the sick leave situation. It’s true, when I finally roll up the windows in my mail truck for the last time, I might loose a year’s worth of sick leave. On the other hand, if I need it for a major illness it is there. And, maybe legislation will be passed to compensate for a percentage. After all, the politicians are on the same plan as rural carriers.

The question remains, have I made the right decision to retire before my full retirement age of 66. I just read a blog entitled "Wait if you Can" by Dr. Ron Evans, a semi retired professor at Washburn University in Topeka. He suggested, in jest, consulting a fortuneteller. After all, when one should take retirement depends on length of life. Eighty years is the breaking point to make up the difference between the lesser amount at 62 and the full amount at 66.

As I said, the decision is made. Unless there is an unforeseen circumstance, I am retiring before the full age of 66. Maybe because I am even writing this, I have second thoughts. If anyone would like to weigh in on determining his or her retirement date, I am interested. Comments are welcome.

Anyone having thoughts like this?

FERS sick leave compensation

The January 11th Federal Times had an article concerning the new legislation concerning sick leave compensation entitled "Sick leave plan falls short, managers groups say" by Amy Doolittle.

It seems FERS employees have reached retirement age and have many hours of sick leave accumulated.

CSRS employees' sick leave is added on to the end of their retirement.

Not unexpectedly, FERS employees nearing retirement are finding themselves with a year of sick leave (in my case) or even more that will be completely lost at the time of retirement. Consequently, as they near retirement, more and more FERS people are using their sick leave--not illegally, but at the hint of an illness or as legitimate family leave. As the article indicates, it is costing the government millions.

Notice to FERS employees: We need to rally behind this!

Mailbox or In Box

The New York Time published an article Sunday, December 16, by Phyllis Korkki entitled Still Choosing the Mailbox Over the In-Box.

In the article Ms Korkki noted that today 275 million first-class cards and letters are expected to be mailed. From Thanksgiving to Christmas the USPS estimates 20 billion cards, letters, packages and other pieces of mail will be handled.

Korkki goes on to say many thought the Internet would be the beginning of the end of the USPS. Instead, the Internet, especially the online shopping aspect, has created the need for hard copy as well as a service to ship the packages. Consequently, since 2001, the first class volume of mail has remained fairly steady.

Finally, Korkki says,"...although email is now a permanent part of the communication landscape, the old-fashioned letter is far from dead...."

I agree. It is a great feeling to open my mailbox and find a letter from family or friends. I can reread it as often as I like and save it for reference later when I return the favor. And, sometimes the short three sentence notes are meaningful. My grand kids love to receive a note about something significant in their lives.

What do you think. Do you still choose the mailbox over the in-box?