Elected Officials give Bonuses to their staf!!! WTF??

[dabrockster]

I disagree with this on all levels... They should not get bonuses on our dime..


This guys seemed to have gotten a nice bonus for the past 4 years.. Glad to see him in trouble, but I dislike the idea of bonuses at all. What goals did they meet to receive such a bonus??

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/1215091kennedy1.html

[FMCoug]

Do you think bonuses are an appropriate part of a compensation package?

[dabrockster]

Do you think bonuses are an appropriate part of a compensation package?

Yes.. In the private sector..

[LiveCoug]

Are you opposed to local joe schmoe (working for the municipality you live in) getting a christmas bonus or even a raise?

[FMCoug]

Yes.. In the private sector..

So you want to make sure all the best and brightest go to the private sector? And that there is no merit-based compenasation at all for the less talented in the public sector? Thus no incentive to perform?

That's not how I want MY tax dollars spent.

[dabrockster]

Are you opposed to local joe schmoe (working for the municipality you live in) getting a christmas bonus or even a raise?

Is he an elected official?? Nope.. Big difference there...

[FMCoug]

Is he an elected official?? Nope.. Big difference there...

Neither were the people in the article ... they were staff.

[LiveCoug]

Is he an elected official?? Nope.. Big difference there...

His staff was getting the bonus. They are hired. Obviously, it was too much for that guy, but shouldn't staff be entitled to raises and bonuses?

[happyone]

I am definitely biased here, I am a fed gov't employee, but the main problem I have with this is that he committed fraud not that he got a bonus

When we, normal worker bees, get bonuses there is definite performance/appraisal, standards to receive those bonuses. Each agency as part of the money they are appropriated for salaries have a pot for bonuses. Typically those bonuses run between 1-5% of the annual salary. We have the option to take the bonus as time off rather than in cash.

One other difference is that when regular executive branch employees get a bonus it is paid in one lump sum, not spread out over a bunch of pay periods.

[dabrockster]

So you want to make sure all the best and brightest go to the private sector? And that there is no merit-based compenasation at all for the less talented in the public sector? Thus no incentive to perform?

That's not how I want MY tax dollars spent.

Most govt employees do not have any incentive to produce now.. Unions and bureacracy has taken care of that at the state and federal level.. Even at the local level it is a pain, but most of the work gets done at that level...



There is a big difference between Govt employee's and "Elected Officials" and their staff. They do not produce anything.. They are not on the ground level, nor implementing any work. They are attending coffee brunches and other activities in behalf of their congressman/senator..

[FMCoug]

Most govt employees do not have any incentive to produce now.. Unions and bureacracy has taken care of that at the state and federal level.. Even at the local level it is a pain, but most of the work gets done at that level...

There is a big difference between Govt employee's and "Elected Officials" and their staff. They do not produce anything.. They are not on the ground level, nor implementing any work. They are attending coffee brunches and other activities in behalf of their congressman/senator..

At least now you're being honest. But shouldn't thier regular salary piss you off even more then? The bonus is a pittance compared to their salaries.

[dabrockster]

Neither were the people in the article ... they were staff.

Tell me what a staff person does for an elected official that validates any type of bonus.

Raises is different and I have no problem with that..

[dabrockster]

I am definitely biased here, I am a fed gov't employee, but the main problem I have with this is that he committed fraud not that he got a bonus

When we, normal worker bees, get bonuses there is definite performance/appraisal, standards to receive those bonuses. Each agency as part of the money they are appropriated for salaries have a pot for bonuses. Typically those bonuses run between 1-5% of the annual salary. We have the option to take the bonus as time off rather than in cash.

One other difference is that when regular executive branch employees get a bonus it is paid in one lump sum, not spread out over a bunch of pay periods.

Hey, I am a state worker so I am biased as well. I have to work with state officials and their staff. They do not produce anything worthy of bonuses.. In fact I have felt the negative impact of their actions as we try to implement some of their idiotic bills...

And to be more honest.. Any ill-spending causes me to irk right now. As I have watched the feds grow and grow with their money on tree's blinders on, while most of us are being let go, or taking a pay cut etc...

[FMCoug]

Tell me what a staff person does for an elected official that validates any type of bonus.

Raises is different and I have no problem with that..

Well assuming they are like any other organization, I would imagine they meet with their manager and set personal, team, organizational goals once or twice a year. Based on how well those objectives were met, managment will determine the level of bonus they get come bonus time.

But I'm just a simpleton so I'm probably missing some vast left wing conspiracy here.

[dabrockster]

At least now you're being honest. But shouldn't thier regular salary piss you off even more then? The bonus is a pittance compared to their salaries.

Yes, but I can start another thread on that.. :slap: