Huge Wave of Retiring Federal Workers is Double-Edged Sword for U.S. Agencies

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

With budget cuts eating away at federal programs and morale waning, many of the federal government’s older employees are opting for retirement. This development could prove to be a blessing and a curse for Washington.

 

First the numbers: The number of executive branch employees going into retirement this fiscal year is expected to be nearly twice the total who retired four years ago.

 

Large numbers of retirements are expected to continue through 2016, according to the Government Accountability Office, which reported that about 30% of the federal workforce will be eligible to retire in the next three years.

 

At some agencies the retirements could result in significant amounts of turnover. By 2016, half of all air traffic controllers and 42% of the Department of Housing and Urban Development workforce will be eligible to retire, while 44% of those working at the Small Business Administration will be in the same position.

 

By the end of this fiscal year, executive branch retirements are expected to exceed 80,000 (about 5% of the workforce), making it the largest exodus in at least 20 years.

 

The expectation is that many of those eligible to retire will do so, according to Lisa Rein of The Washington Post.

 

“With retirement accounts on the rebound, many veteran workers are finding little reason to remain in government, especially at a time when agency budgets are being slashed, workers are being furloughed and morale is tumbling,” Rein wrote.

 

On the one hand, lots of retirements could be a good thing for the government. It would reduce the size of the federal payroll, which would be a welcome cost-saver. And with older workers stepping down, agencies could hire younger replacements with key skills, like cybersecurity and information technology.

 

However, in some cases, replacing retirees who have specialized skills may not be easy to do. These people would include nuclear physicists at the Department of Energy and experienced air traffic controllers who have spent decades carefully guiding aircraft across American airspace.

 

Eighteen months ago, Congress approved a “phased retirement” policy designed to encourage veteran employees to stick with their jobs. The plan allows retirees to work half-time while receiving a partial annuity, in return for which they agree to train potential employees who would eventually replace them. The policy has not gone into effect yet because the rules still have to be approved.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, Danny Biederman

 

To Learn More:

Wave of Retirements Hitting Federal Workforce (by Lisa Rein, Washington Post)

Wave of Federal Retirees to Hit Government (by Jennifer Liberto, CNN)

Retired Federal Workers Receiving 6-Figure Pensions Now Top 21,000 (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Comments

Pookiecat 10 years ago
The phased retirement idea is a smokescreen. Who will I mentor? Some guy in India? Some contract employee loyal to nothing beyond his paycheck? A kid with morale so low he's leaving a few months after me? The damage done by tea bagging traitors and their pet mongrels in the repuke party to employee morale and any potential future work force has achieved it's goal. Those who sow the wind will reap the whirlwind, and it will undermine a once great nation.
What an ingrate 10 years ago
VA service-connected disability compensation, military reserve retirement, and FERS retirement for the rest of your life, and yet the government has betrayed you, huh? Do cognitive dissonance much?
D 10 years ago
I too am out the door in so many working days. Let's just say I will be spending my holidays, at home. I stayed just long enuf to get the 3 paychecks in November and then I am gone! I will say, since I announced my retirement, I have been treated worse than I have ever been treated in my entire 28+ years of service.
Disabled Veteran 10 years ago
In 3 months, I'm running, not walking to my FERS civilian retirement door. I'm smiling all the way through the door, with my VA service-connected disability compensation, military reserve retirement, and my FERS retirement! Our government has betrayed us, both on the military and civilian side. Glad I planned ahead, and followed my military training of always having a Plan B and C!
John 10 years ago
Steve is on it. It's time to go. The grass is greener in the private sector.
Frank 10 years ago
Now to reap what 32 years of castigating the Federal workforce has sown.
Steve 10 years ago
Sorry, but call this is a triple edged sword. The hiring of new employees have not kept pace and the pay freezes have made federal payrolls far less desireable than ever before for college grads, particularly with IT and other technical positions where the private sector pays far more. More importantly, they are treated way better. Nothing but constant abuse in the federal system. Eventually, the govt will have to outsource positions to other countries - just watch, it will happen. If you think govt services are dysfunctional now, brace yourself because you haven't seen anything yet.
Rick 10 years ago
The phased retirment has not gone into effect because it requires mentoring of new employees. There are no new employees to mentor.

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