Mayorkas’ final tally: $3 billion in extra vacation time for DHS employees

[Say it aint so]

Joe promised us he would unite the country and that there would be a smooth transition. The trafficked women and children need to be rescued without delay. Urge your leaders not to put up roadblocks.

And unlike the last transition that was stalled with some aspects that never took place, there will be a smooth transition.

 

[Pommer]

The libertarian viewpoint is for an extremely limited government, and conservatives push for a much more limited government than liberals.

The libertarian viewpoint is largely incompatible in a federal system.

 

[Valletta]

And unlike the last transition that was stalled with some aspects that never took place, there will be a smooth transition.

The legal appeal of electors is what did not take place at the previous presidential election.

 

[HarleyER]

The move is not just a thank-you to the employees but also an aggressive challenge to the incoming Trump administration, which will have to decide whether to try to claw back the time — and perhaps risk angering the workers.

‘Santo Mayorkas’: DHS secretary’s final tally tops $3 billion in extra vacation time for employees

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas blessed his employees with another three days of taxpayer-funded vacation time, bringing his four-year total to more than six weeks — the equivalent of $3 billion — of bonus time off.

www.washingtontimes.com

Tops off Joe selling off pieces of the wall. After all they figure it's not their money and they don't want to see others succeed.

iF Mayorkas feels that he can let the staff have this much time off, then there are too many people and not enough work. It shows even DHS can be cut. And those people who think Mayorkas is so great at giving time off would be some of the first to get the ax.

BTW-despite comments above, I retired from the Federal Government. Half the people are extremely hard working individuals working on shoe string budgets trying very hard to comply with the mountains of regulations that Congress constantly passes but provides no resources. The other half of the workforce don't really do much of anything. There are a number of agencies and departments that can be deleted, cut, or reassigned and no one would miss them. But they also need to get rid of the regulations.

 

[iluvatar5150]

iF Mayorkas feels that he can let the staff have this much time off, then there are too many people and not enough work.

Labor isn’t necessarily fungible like that. Say you have 5 project managers, each managing 1 project. But if they can each get their work done in 4 days/wk, that doesn’t mean you can lay off one of them and assign each person 1.25 projects, because then you’d wind up with 1 of the projects managed by 4 different people. Maybe there are other things you can juggle around, but IME, most white collar work is tough to optimize that way and winds up with more slack.

 

[Pommer]

iF Mayorkas feels that he can let the staff have this much time off, then there are too many people and not enough work. It shows even DHS can be cut. And those people who think Mayorkas is so great at giving time off would be some of the first to get the ax.

BTW-despite comments above, I retired from the Federal Government. Half the people are extremely hard working individuals working on shoe string budgets trying very hard to comply with the mountains of regulations that Congress constantly passes but provides no resources. The other half of the workforce don't really do much of anything. There are a number of agencies and departments that can be deleted, cut, or reassigned and no one would miss them. But they also need to get rid of the regulations.

This is how administrators give “bonuses”.
Private-sector employees are sometimes given windfalls too.

 

[Say it aint so]

The legal appeal of electors is what did not take place at the previous presidential election.

Which were slapped out of the courts about as fast as the false claims were made. So for you to claim transition obstruction upon the presidency is kind hypocritically funny.

 

[Valletta]

Which were slapped out of the courts about as fast as the false claims were made. So for you to claim transition obstruction upon the presidency is kind hypocritically funny.

Incorrect. The Senate process of appealing was interrupted. That any Democrats would try and roadblock the building of the gaps in the wall, the arrest of violent criminals, and the rescue of trafficked women and children is not funny.

 

[HarleyER]

Labor isn’t necessarily fungible like that. Say you have 5 project managers, each managing 1 project. But if they can each get their work done in 4 days/wk, that doesn’t mean you can lay off one of them and assign each person 1.25 projects, because then you’d wind up with 1 of the projects managed by 4 different people. Maybe there are other things you can juggle around, but IME, most white collar work is tough to optimize that way and winds up with more slack.

You have a point, but I would also add that it is far more complicated. In your scenario, you have 5 project managers. You're assuming equal output from each of those managers, which is seldom the case. Project managers work at different speeds, encounter different budget constraints or supply issues, have different levels of competency, and have different staff that may or may not be helpful. Also, often projects are prioritized with some projects being more important than others. So, it would be possible to relook at the priority of the projects and determine if they are needed at all.

The fly in this whole problem is that you can't just let go of anyone. Government has a seniority system. So, if you were to cancel one of the projects, and let go of the staff, those members have a right to "bump" other people on other projects. Consequently, you might be able to fire half your staff, but in the end, when all the bumping is through, you might be firing the "good" half.

And then there is the following article where the Federal workforce deliberately plans to work against the administration's agenda. I have seen this happen. So, the easiest way around this is to eliminate, reassign, or relocate positions.

Poll: Nearly Half of Federal Employees Say They Plan to Resist Trump’s Incoming Administration​

Poll: Nearly Half of Federal Employees Say They Plan to Resist Trump’s Incoming Administration › American Greatness

A poll conducted by RMG Research reveals a startling number of federal government managers who say they will actively oppose the incoming administration when Donald Trump is inaugurated on January 20.

amgreatness.com

 

[HarleyER]

Incorrect. The Senate process of appealing was interrupted. That any Democrats would try and roadblock the building of the gaps in the wall, the arrest of violent criminals, and the rescue of trafficked women and children is not funny.

OOPS! Wrong person.

 

[HarleyER]

This is how administrators give “bonuses”.
Private-sector employees are sometimes given windfalls too.

You, as a tax payer, are paying for this. Do you feel that the government need time off because they are overworked?

 

[Pommer]

You, as a tax payer, are paying for this. Do you feel that the government need time off because they are overworked?

I know several employees of the federal government and yes, they are often “overworked”.
I do not begrudge them some perks.

 

[HarleyER]

I know several employees of the federal government and yes, they are often “overworked”.
I do not begrudge them some perks.

Well, I worked in the federal government. Half of them are overworked.

People in the federal government have far more perks then the rest of the workforce including a good retirement program, a generous health care plan, paid vacations and leave program, etc. How many perks are you prepared to give them?

 

[Postvieww]

I was a federal employee for 4 years. They have something called "comp time" instead of overtime. If you worked more than 40 hours a week, you could use those extra hours at another prearranged time.
I am sure that this is what this article from a conservative media source wanting to present it in the worst possible way is referring to.
I am also sure that there were many times that Homeland Security employees worked more than 40 hours a week.
They have a hard job and I don't begrudge them having a little extra time with their families.

Biden was on vacation 600 days. Did he have that much comp time?

 

[comana]

Well, I worked in the federal government. Half of them are overworked.

People in the federal government have far more perks then the rest of the workforce including a good retirement program, a generous health care plan, paid vacations and leave program, etc. How many perks are you prepared to give them?

Those perks should be standard for every worker.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Well, I worked in the federal government. Half of them are overworked.

People in the federal government have far more perks then the rest of the workforce including a good retirement program, a generous health care plan, paid vacations and leave program, etc. How many perks are you prepared to give them?

What’s your idea of “the rest of the workforce”? Those perks are all standard for white collar workers, which is what the bulk of federal employees are.

 

[Fantine]

The point is it was done in the last days of this administration, as were many other things, to make trouble for the incoming administration. When the next elections rolls around we need to remember what these people did.

More likely he was not making trouble but trying to prevent as much of the damage the Trump administration will be doing.
Saving our environment by preventing offshore drilling, for example.
Preventing looting and pillaging our waters is a sacred, God-inspired charge to leave our world in good condition for future generations.

 

[HarleyER]

Those perks should be standard for every worker.

I agree. What should happen is make Congress have the same benefits as every working person.

That being said, we lost the concept of honest pay for a honest day's work. People (in general) don't want to work any longer. They want to have things given to them.

 

[HarleyER]

What’s your idea of “the rest of the workforce”? Those perks are all standard for white collar workers, which is what the bulk of federal employees are.

I also worked in the private sector for many years. I took a huge paycut to join the government simply because of the retirement benefits. There are very few companies that offer pension plans and you won't find them for white collar workers. Health care plans are also great compared to the private sector.

 

[comana]

I agree. What should happen is make Congress have the same benefits as every working person.

That being said, we lost the concept of honest pay for a honest day's work. People (in general) don't want to work any longer. They want to have things given to them.

It works both ways, why give extra effort if it gets taken advantage of. Employers don’t want to reward or retain good employees.