Are state benefits really all it's cracked up to be?

xenogenetic · Oct 13, 2014

Strong unions, tuition reimbursement (usually covers minimum of 75% of tuition), career mobility (program that allows you to go to class instead of work 2-3 days per week and be paid the same all while u learn), flexibility (can transfer into different agencies/specialties within state and keep state time/seniority intact), separate sick/vaca/personal/holiday time accrual instead of one pot called PTO, 13 holidays per year, cheap healthcare plans, pension, and having to practically kill someone in order to be fired from job.

idialyze, BSN, RN · Oct 13, 2014

My sister works for a state agency, and would never leave due to excellent health insurance, etc. She loves having all the state and federal holidays off! She's in HR, not a nurse.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 13, 2014

I had unbelievably cheap health insurance (less than $75/month for both my husband and me) and virtually non-existent co-pays for meds, which was amazing considering his cancer meds are in the neighborhood of $13,000/mo. Generous vacation/sick leave and decent, if not spectacular pay. Flexible hours and they treat you like an adult instead of making you clock in and out for lunch. However, you don't have to be a complete screw-up to be terminated---people sometimes wash out of the program during the trial period and are let go.

xenogenetic · Oct 13, 2014

Forgot to mention in my earlier post that as state government budgets are coming under more scrutiny, and depending on what type of governor is in office at the time for that particular state, more and more state employee's contracts (which get renegotiated every 4-6 years or so) are coming under fire. The media and politicians bemoan that state employees received the excellent and affordable health benefits while the private sector did not. So when the time comes for the state employees to renegotiate their collective contract (which included often hundreds of thousands state workers) there are often furlough days or concessions (layoffs) that have to be made in order to get a new contract pushed through.

mariebailey, MSN, RN · Oct 13, 2014

I had state insurance in VA while working for VDH, & I did have great coverage. I didn't have any major medical events during that time, but I was managing a chronic illness. Prescription coverage is excellent. I had state insurance in another state, & a 9 day hospital stay cost me $0...can't beat that!

amoLucia · Oct 14, 2014

Some folk take early retirement after 20 or 25 years with their nice retirement benefits (pension and health care insurance). Then if they're young enough, some go on to second careers (Civil Service or private sector). They do so BY CHOICE not NECESSITY.

Livingdeadnurse · Oct 14, 2014

Thanks everyone for the info. My HR thinks they can sway my decision. They are suppose to get back with me tomorrow. But with all those state benefits I don't think they will be able to compete.

amoLucia · Oct 14, 2014

Some years ago (1985 ish) I worked for the State in some different positions. I lasted 5 years as I got caught in a State job freeze - nowhere to go and my 'temporary' title was in jeopardy of 'bumping down') so I moved on. Had I stayed the course, I could have retired in 2005 ish, at 54 years old with 20 years service with benefits. (I might have stayed the extra 5 yrs). As my health has deteriorated, I wouldn't have been forced into early retirement, watching my finances and dealing with Obamacare.

When I think back about salary, it wasn't terrible. Enough to be comfortable and feel competitive.

Oh, to have had a crystal ball ...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Oct 14, 2014

Thanks everyone for the info. My HR thinks they can sway my decision. They are suppose to get back with me tomorrow. But with all those state benefits I don't think they will be able to compete.

Please make sure those state benefits listed above are the benefits which YOUR state is offering. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples.

A friend of mine worked for "the state" for 25 years, counting on that great state retirement. She didn't need to save money because her benefits were going to be so good. The same legislature that voted themselves a raise voted her retirement plan out of existence when she was 15 years into the job.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Oct 14, 2014

I'm a public employee... and the benefits I have are pretty decent, though not as good they used to be. I have over a decade of service now and if I were to find another "public" position, I could begin my new job and carry that service time with me. That would mean when I'm ready to retire at some age >55 yrs, I'd have about 28 years service. I'm in a 2.5% @ 55 deal... If I were to retire at 65... that could be a very comfortable retirement indeed!

Here's the downside... my retirement could end up vaporizing as all it would take is for the legislature to change it or the "responsible" agency could go bankrupt. Public retirements aren't BK proof any more.

**NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN** · Oct 14, 2014

It could be influenced by the state. I make good money at my state job, but our pension take 9% off the top automatically. I get a lot of vacation/sick time. I actually have another job offer that is a significant amount more, my part time wages would equal my states FT wages. The thing is I'm getting less "holidays" and vacation. But with the pay being so much more, and not having to pay 200/month for health benefits and 700/mo for pension, it'd be nice to see more of my paycheck.

If you have the details only you can weight them out. Are you going to be bored in a mental health job? Did you like the mental health patients you encountered in the ER? You don't want to burn yourself out in a job you're only considering for the pay.