Workers Worry

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Many Workers in Public Sector Retiring Sooner,” show the impact of the recession on what were once the perks of public jobs: superior health benefits and a secure pension for retirement.

Now, with public workers under attack and even previous victories for collective bargaining being rolled back by Republican governors, public jobs seem less of a privilege and more of a burden. Many are therefore choosing incentives for early retirement promulgated by many state governments to reduce staffs and help to balance the budget.

These trends in public employment contradict what’s going on in the private sector where many people can’t afford retirement and are therefore working later in their lives.

And conversely, many public employees have little-to-no choice regarding their jobs — because they are being laid off. Even Congress is considering paying for the payroll tax cuts by freezing federal salaries and reducing the workforce through attrition.

All these trends make public-sector employment less attractive than it has been in the past, and that’s a shame. Public service was once considered one of the most noble of professions, choosing to help other people. Instead, it has become fraught with scapegoating and insecurity.