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Friday, February 20, 2015

State workers offered $15K in voluntary separation program

Gov. Larry Hogan this week offered state employees $15,000 to leave their jobs, part of a cost-saving plan he announced earlier this year to shrink the government workforce.

State employees received a letter Tuesday detailing the offer of a lump sum plus $200 for every year of service if they choose to leave their jobs at the end of April. They have three weeks to decide whether to take deal.

The day after he took office, Hogan announced his intention to save $30 million in next year's budget through a voluntary separation program, but did not provide details until Thursday. Hogan's plan continues a proposal of the O'Malley administration, which sought saving another $37.5 million in this year's budget through buy-outs and eliminating vacant positions

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The nature of Government is mission creep; it grows and expands with no limit in sight. While I agree that governmental employee bloat should be reduced, I don't understand why they should get a $15 grand golden parachute going out the door. In the private sector, in this economy, most folks that are downsized get a week or two of pay of paycheck, and an escort out the door.
"Public Service" is BS, except perhaps for police and firefighters, who are a special category because they get shot at and have dangerous duties. All the others doing office work are are just doing a job like everyone else, and don't deserve anything more than someone in the private sector. "Public Servant" is used as if the they are donating their time. Most Government jobs are relatively well-paying, with good benefits. Servant indeed.

Anonymous said...

Hope he gets rid of the deadwood in the state/county building.

Anonymous said...

What the state is offering is for groups of employees that THEY select, it isn't being offered to all state employees. I agree that this program should not include police or firemen due to their current lucrative retirement programs ( can retire with 20 or 25 years at a minimum), don't get mad I'm not saying these two groups don't deserve what they get.

But the state should open this program up to all other employees. Last time this was done they didn't include employees in higher education which isn't fair. To determine how to qualify who should be allowed to take advantage of this it should be a combination of the employees age and number of years service must be equal or be greater than say 75 or 78 or 80. If the aging group that educates (use this word very loosely) the kids at SSU is indicative of the professors across the entire university system this program would help remove this aging group to allow younger professors to fill these spots.

This program will only work if they don't replace any of these individuals who accept the offer. But as we all know, this is government. They will reduce the workforce but over the next 2, 3 or 5 years they will gradually build the workforce up to todays levels.

Anonymous said...

According to the state's website this incentive is only offered to employees who work in the executive branch of government.

Anonymous said...

Start by getting rid of the lazy dead beats at the DMV.