Several government workers who don’t want their 4 percent cost-of-living pay hike delayed have openly suggested alternative ways to cut government costs. The three most often-cited suggestions include:
1.) Letting government workers retire earlier so they can live a life of leisure at taxpayer expense without incurring a penalty for retiring early.
2.) Working only four days a week instead of five.
3.) Being allowed to work at home where there will be no supervision and no one will know if they’re doing their largely unnecessary paper shuffling or sitting on the sofa eating bon-bons and watching Oprah.
Your government worker mentality at work.
Posted on June 24th, 2008 by Chuck Muth
Filed under: Nevada
Chuck,
Just a few ramblings:
It could be that we would be better off if some state workers were on the couch one (or more) day(s) a week!
I have done telecommuting from time to time, and I find that the supervision is usually closer than when I am in the office. So, it is harder to ‘appear’ busy from home than in my desk at the office (unnecessary paper shuffling doesn’t look like work over the phone, but it does at my desk). Perversely, I do tend to get more done at home, while still finding time for myself.
4 ten hour days can be good also, if they are scheduled right so there is good coverage. I don’t work hourly so I don’t know; does Nevada classify over-time as beginning after 8 hours in a day, or after 40 hours in a week?
Perhaps it would save even more for some departments to be open 4 10 hour days a week and have them closed three days a week saving overhead. I wouldn’t mind being able to do business with the state after 5 pm.
As far as early retirement, if we start them off working at home with the bonbons (and maybe some burgers), then switch to the early retirement, we should be able to shorten retirement time considerably and save even more!
Chuck: I don’t care what else you say in this blog, but this morning I heard you say that the state should cut funding for the Nevada Arts Council. I have lived in many different states, red and blue, rich and poor, and have never heard something more stupid said on National Public Radio. SOY!