Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!agate!dsacg1!dlscg1!dlsc1032@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu
From: dsacg1!dlscg1!dlsc1032@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Alan Beal)
Newsgroups: comp.society.women
Subject: Re: Discrimination?
Message-ID: <11783@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: 7 Jul 88 14:20:38 GMT
References: <11732@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
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In article <11732@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>, seeker@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu (Karen Lynn White) writes:
> When they initally made an offer I tryed to get it set up a little 
> but was told that you have to take or leave whatever number 
> comes out of their formula.  I was also told I could my job title
> would have to be 'staff assistant' until I graduate although I am
> getting to program, same as any of the others.  The number I was
> given was GS-5 which seems to mean some range to military types.
> This title and number were the same for the guy I'm replacing so
> that doesn't explain the difference in money.
> 
> Can anybody tell me what GS-5 means and what the salary range for
> it can be?  Should I just be happy I have a job good or at some
> point am I justified in asking for a little more money?

It sounds like you are working for a government agency and if you are, you
should know that most government employees are paid according to the
General Schedule(GS) table of wages.  My first impression is that you
are lucky to get paid GS-5($15,118) wages since you did not have a degree
and were justing starting out.  I know a lot of college students working
on a temporary basis as a GS-3($12,038).  There are a lot of rules and
regulations that the personnel offices apply in determining pay and grades
so I would say that you are not being discriminated against but have instead
been introduced to the bureaucratic methods of the government.  You should
also know that a government employee cannot get a raise(step increase) until
that person has been in their present position for at least one year.  Another
thing you should be aware of is that pay within the government has little to
do with experience, degrees, or effort.  Instead it is just a matter of putting
in your time and moving from job to job in order to get into a higher grade. 

I got quite a chuckle out of your comment of asking for more money.  If you
plan to stay with the government for any length of time, you should be aware
of the fact that the government employees usually receive cost of living
increases that are well below the rate of inflation.  Last year we got a
hefty 2% increase, the year before 0%, and the year before that 3%.  I guess
the only ones making a decent living working for government are the defense
contractors.

>From my experience I would say that the government is probably one of the
fairest institutions in hiring women, minorities, the handicapped, and
veterans.  However, don't expect wages on the same scale on those in the
private sector.  Do expect a good retirement system, good leave(vacation)
policies, and job security.  I guess it is up to you where you place the
most emphasis.
-- 
Alan Beal   DLSC-ZBC                Autovon: 932-4160  FTS: 552-4160
Defense Logistics Services Center   Phone:   (616)961-4160
Battle Creek, MI 49017              Internet: abeal%dlscg2.uucp@daitc.arpa
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