The perks of working for government: Readers respond

A recent blog post by Judy Welles ("Get a Life!") prompted readers to think about why they work for government.

In her post, Welles noted that with the private sector shedding both jobs and benefits, the government is looking more attractive than ever (read the complete post here). While in the past, many feds had "plenty of beefs about working for government and about presumed inequities to the private sector, now it seems we are recognizing the many benefits of government work. In the past, many of her readers had," she wrote.

Here is a sampling of what readers had to say (to read the complete post and comments, click here):

*…I've been working for the gov't for 29 years and I was only making pennies to the dollar to the private industry folks at that time but I chose to look at it in a different way rather than who was paying better. I chose to work somewhere I knew I would have a future.

* The other incredible benefit that no longer exists in the Private Sector is pension. I work in private industry and the 401K (which is my responsibility) has been nearly destroyed. Such a benefit for govies is fantastic. Hopefully this turn of events will encourage our best and brightest to serve their country and be justly rewarded for their contributions.

* I have worked many different jobs, both government and private sector, and have found that benefits vary greatly between all, but the Federal benefits were much better than all the rest… Even though the impact of office politics (often corrupt) has negatively affected my pay and benefits, I am still getting a fairly good deal compared with the private sector.

* If you are in it strictly for the money or benefits or whatever, the Federal government is not for you. I am a 35 year employee and I go to work every day to make a contribution and serve the American people. The salary is good (I am middle management) and the benefits are good and I am grateful during this awful time when people are losing their jobs. But government employees also put up with a lot.

* I too work for DOD, and am proud of the work I do supporting the war fighter and my country. However, let's be honest, if we didn't get paid or have benefits, we wouldn't work for free. I'm certain you are not a volunteer.