5 Benefits of a U.S. Government Job

By Rose Tinker, AW2 Career and Education Coordinator

One of the positives of working for the U.S. Government is that employees enjoy a wide range of benefits that may not be available to employees in the private sector. In this blog post, I will outline five different benefits that typically come with a U.S. Government job.

1. Vacation time, sick leave, and federal holidays. Vacation time is typically earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period (26 pay periods per year) for a total of 13 days for the first three years. After 3 years of service employees earn 6 hours per pay period and adjusted to total 20 days per year. After 15 years service you earn 8 hours per pay period or 26 days a year.Sick leave is accrued at 4 hours per pay period (13 days per year) and does not change with length of service. The Family and Medical Leave Act make it easier for you to use sick leave to care for family members up to a 13-day maximum per year.Federal holidays are generous. The U.S. Government observes 10 holidays per year:
   • New Year’s Day
   • Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday
   • Presidents Day
   • Memorial Day
   • Independence Day
   • Labor Day
   • Columbus Day
   • Veterans Day
   • Thanksgiving Day
   • Christmas Day
2. Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a retirement plan that provides an annuity payment each month for the rest of your life once you are vested and retire. The plan provides benefits from three different sources: a basic benefit plan, social security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
3. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). TSP is a retirement savings plan that allows for multiple investments options similar to a 401(k) plan.
4. Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Federal employees enjoy health benefits that have no waiting periods, no age or physical condition restrictions, and do not require a medical exam. Federal employees may choose from plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) if you live (or sometimes if you work) within the area serviced by the plan.
5. Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI). FEGLI is group term life insurance. The cost of basic insurance is shared between the Employee and the government. The employee pays 2/3 of the total cost and the government pays 1/3. The age of the employee does not affect the cost of basic insurance. Optional insurance may be purchased with cost being dependent of the age of the employee. Employees are automatically covered by basic life insurance with premiums deducted from paychecks are deducted unless coverage is waived.

If you are an AW2 Soldier, Veteran, or Family member that has experience working with the government please share what you think members of the AW2 population should consider when applying for or accepting a government job.

Tomorrow we will post on the different benefits available to employees that work for the private sector, so be sure to stay tuned to the AW2 Blog for more Career and Education news and tips.