STMahlberg
02-05-11, 07:52 PM
I guess I should probably get to the point first.
I will no longer be able to participate on the team as I have been or had hoped too. Most of my rigs I will be taking offline in the coming weeks as I prepare to move to a smaller place. Unfortunately, this new place lacks the space for my rigs along with the issues of heat that they generate.
Now for the reason…
I find myself once again having to make difficult decisions that I honestly did not foresee; I had reached a point in my life where it had appeared that the horizon was clear and it was smooth sailing. The position that I have held in our Energy Department along with my time on the job has made me somewhat bullet-resistant but at no time have I been under the illusion that I was bullet-proof.
This past Tuesday not only marked my 48th birthday but also coincided with my 27th year with the county; I started my career as a humble Custodian for 1 year, HVAC for 2 years, Water Treatment for 2 years, Haz Mat for 6 years, Building Engineer for 8 years and now Energy Analyst for 8 years. I planned every move along the way and have increased my pay with every move making 6 times what I did when I started.
This past Tuesday was also the day that I, along with the rest of the Energy Management department, was told that we will probably be replaced in the next 18 months. The bad economy and unemployment rates along with the public’s dislike of government agencies, which have never been higher in history that I can recall, make it a perfect climate for privatization.
Our Operations Department will be the first casualty; 1,600 people will no longer have jobs as of July 1st, my youngest daughter being among them. After that, the Transportation Department along with the Maintenance Department will be the next targeted at which point, our small 15 person Energy Department could be lump summed into those at any time.
I had planned on working for another 8 years with the county at which point I could retire with 35 years of service and maximizing my retirement pay. If I am laid off prior to my 30 years, I have to wait until I am 60 years of age to collect retirement unless I buyout the remaining time of 3 years before being laid off.
Each year costs $21,000 or $63,000 total to buyout now which I am unable to do; so instead of smooth sailing to retirement, it’s now a mad dash to start buying out time before the clock runs out on my job. And at that point, since I won’t make it to 35 years, even though I can retire… I still lose 16.5% on my retirement pay and not even with the decency of a reach-around.
Anything can happen in the next 3 years one way or another; at the moment, I am planning for the worst and hoping for the best.
Okay, I’m done whining… you can put down the pistol. ;)
I will no longer be able to participate on the team as I have been or had hoped too. Most of my rigs I will be taking offline in the coming weeks as I prepare to move to a smaller place. Unfortunately, this new place lacks the space for my rigs along with the issues of heat that they generate.
Now for the reason…
I find myself once again having to make difficult decisions that I honestly did not foresee; I had reached a point in my life where it had appeared that the horizon was clear and it was smooth sailing. The position that I have held in our Energy Department along with my time on the job has made me somewhat bullet-resistant but at no time have I been under the illusion that I was bullet-proof.
This past Tuesday not only marked my 48th birthday but also coincided with my 27th year with the county; I started my career as a humble Custodian for 1 year, HVAC for 2 years, Water Treatment for 2 years, Haz Mat for 6 years, Building Engineer for 8 years and now Energy Analyst for 8 years. I planned every move along the way and have increased my pay with every move making 6 times what I did when I started.
This past Tuesday was also the day that I, along with the rest of the Energy Management department, was told that we will probably be replaced in the next 18 months. The bad economy and unemployment rates along with the public’s dislike of government agencies, which have never been higher in history that I can recall, make it a perfect climate for privatization.
Our Operations Department will be the first casualty; 1,600 people will no longer have jobs as of July 1st, my youngest daughter being among them. After that, the Transportation Department along with the Maintenance Department will be the next targeted at which point, our small 15 person Energy Department could be lump summed into those at any time.
I had planned on working for another 8 years with the county at which point I could retire with 35 years of service and maximizing my retirement pay. If I am laid off prior to my 30 years, I have to wait until I am 60 years of age to collect retirement unless I buyout the remaining time of 3 years before being laid off.
Each year costs $21,000 or $63,000 total to buyout now which I am unable to do; so instead of smooth sailing to retirement, it’s now a mad dash to start buying out time before the clock runs out on my job. And at that point, since I won’t make it to 35 years, even though I can retire… I still lose 16.5% on my retirement pay and not even with the decency of a reach-around.
Anything can happen in the next 3 years one way or another; at the moment, I am planning for the worst and hoping for the best.
Okay, I’m done whining… you can put down the pistol. ;)