Letter to the editor

I have been in the GS-334 computer specialist series for more than 20 years. In the early 1980s, there was talk about changing the pay scale for the computer field. Finally, in 2001, this was finally done. However, it only covers grades up to GS-12.

There are GS-13s in the computer field, and their technical skills are far greater and probably more complicated than a person in the private sector. In my opinion, government management probably feels we are all close to retirement age or so set in our ways that we will not be leaving our current positions.

The private sector offers more training opportunities to their staff. The government side offers less training opportunity. The dollar signs are always seen before the course name. In my current position, I have trained myself in the software packages I need to accomplish my job.

It's not only pay that keeps people leaving the government; it is also management and training.

Name withheld upon request