New York, NY – Amid COVID-19, and across America, private businesses are closed or under prohibitory orders of operation by the government. Liberal governors across the country continue to place undue hardship on individuals and the small companies they own – all the while, government employees continue to receive full payment. In short, being essential only applies and pays if you are a bureaucrat!
While the federal government has executed stimulus payments to many Americans, some have still failed to receive funding. From mortgage and utilities, car payments to groceries, many in our country cannot seem to see the light at the end of the tunnel. American citizens are in crisis – that is, all those belonging to the private sector.
Public v Private Sector
Many government employees across the nation are continuing to spout their support for the continued closing of operations within their states. And why? Because most continue to earn full pay for subpar performance – not seeing one cent taken from their salaries while they are in quarantine. For those within the private sector – no job means no check.
The Size of “COVID Government”
So, how many government employees are continuing to reap the benefits of a shutdown? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2019, there were 21,866,110 employed within federal, state, and local government, including government-owned schools and hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service.
The Cost of “COVID Government”
At the beginning of the Trump Administration in 2016, compensation for federal, state, and local government employees cost U.S. taxpayers $1.9 trillion. This amounts to an average of $15,176 from every household in the United States. President Trump recently moved to rein in some of these costs by canceling pay raises for federal civilian employees, who received $331 billion in compensation during 2017.
According to the Foundation for Economic Education, it pays well to be in government. The advantage?
Federal workers received an average of 17 percent more total compensation than comparable private-sector workers.
The Care of “COVID Government”
I study completed by The Brookings Institute sheds light on how government employees genuinely feel.
- “59 percent of federal workers say securing a paycheck was more important than doing something worthwhile.”
- “65 percent say job security was more important than helping the public.”
- only 30 percent believe their organization does a very or somewhat good job of disciplining poor performers.”
The Work of “COVID Government”
A 2010 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that full-time private industry workers worked an average of 12 percent more hours per year than full-time state and local government workers. This includes time spent working beyond assigned schedules at the workplace and home.
The Verdict?
Private-sector employees work harder and for less money than their government counterparts. During the coronavirus closing of states, the government has forced the closure of small businesses, leading to layoffs and the demise of livelihoods. Thirty million Americans and counting have lost their jobs to the coronavirus. That represents approximately 23% of the workforce.
Of those 30-million, most are private-sector employees, small business owners, and operators. While government revenue has decreased, leading some states and municipalities to start temporary furloughs or layoffs, the result has been minimal as compared to layoffs in the private sector. It is without debate that there is a difference between essential and nonessential. And that difference is, and especially during a national crisis, it pays to be on the public payroll!
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