Comments on: Escambia Moves Forward With Leave Buyback, Floating Holiday

By: whatthehay

whatthehay — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:16:39 +0000

JJM,let me answer some of you questions, one of the reasons the employees with the county do not seek other employment elsewhere (there is actually a high turn over rate for new employees they lookat that application whereit says you can make x amount of dollars and then get hired and find out there are no raises ot get to that x amount no matter how long you stay) is that you have to be employed for 6 years to be vested with the FRS, if you leave before that you loose all of your retirement, aka benefit. A majority of county employees stay with it because they feel they are helping their community, trying to make it a better place for there neighbors and family believe it or not its not always about the almighty dollar, but if they could get a raise,if ANYONE could get a raise would you not want one? Contrary to belief thereare not hudreds of applicants due to some of the jobs being safety sensitive aka drug testing, no tobacco use or certain liscenses that are required for these jobs. The leave buy back is not a bonus, it is their leave whether it is sold now or paid out when the employee leaves. In a nutshell the employees whom have been there for a while consider their employement an investment not to be taken lightly. Oh yes and the county offices will be closed on December 31, 2012. Remember also all county employees are tax payers too.

By: briarroot

briarroot — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 13:17:51 +0000

I’m confused. Does this mean that county offices will be closed *this* New Years Eve, or those at the end of next year?

By: Abe

Abe — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:57:09 +0000

@ Aaron: Please explain how I’m off course; I’d really like to know your opinion.

By: Abe

Abe — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:55:22 +0000

@JJM, I used to vote and think like you but that reasoning is causing the US to lose jobs at an incredible rate. With that way of thinking we’ll get manufacturing jobs back in the US when we agree to work under the same terms as the Chinese. With more people thinking and voting for “free market” we’ll be working 80 hour work weeks with no insurance or workplace safety laws. Look back to the good ole days before unions saved the day for regular blue collar workers like you and me. I’ve seen a trend in the 30 years since Reagan broke the back of the Unions and it’s not good for the American worker.

By: JJM

JJM — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 05:04:00 +0000

I’m not a county employee, but I have a question for those so employed. Why not seek friendlier skies? Why shouldn’t you find better employment with pay that is more commensurate with your talents and skill set? May I suggest that market equilibrium has not yet been established for your services rendered to the county? I know this is not popular; and I really do appreciate the county employees, but the effects of an efficient free market system are at work here folks. If you’re a county employee who disagrees with me, then leave and find another job that will pay you the high wages that you’re worth. Then let the county sort through the hundreds of applicants who will gladly take your old job. Again, I’m in the same boat as y’all are – just not with the county. I’d like to get paid more, but I know my wages are temporarily suppressed due to higher than normal unemployment, along with other unfavorable market conditions. Economics and the free market are cut-throat sometimes, but they make sense to me. Thoughts??

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 03:31:11 +0000

Sorry abe, you’re off course.

Sandra, I don’t know if you work at BK, or Makky D’s but i would like your prices to go down. Not so funny HUH!

By: Russ

Russ — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 23:42:04 +0000

The only ones that have moved forward is the county commissioners because it sure isn’t the employees.

By: Russ

Russ — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:54:44 +0000

What some of u don’t get is that the ccs have screwed us employees again. But they can pay Tourat all that money for 6 months because that’s all he needs to be vested for his retirement. And another thing they didn’t miss a free meal this week. It was like they rubbed it in our face.

By: Randy

Randy — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:16:16 +0000

1. In these economically challenging times, take the leave sell back program as a bonus and stop complaining. The 3 percent you gave up to the FRS will help to solidify the retirement coffers, thus ensuring that benefits will be there when reach retirement age.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:06:31 +0000

Good! Thats about all I can afford to give you this year as a taxpayer. Check back with me this time next year and I’ll see if my financial situation has changed.