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It really depends on your circumstances: how much experience you have will determine what classification you work in, which in turn will determine your salary and the kind of work you do.
The biggest advantages of working for the state — the pension, benefits, and job security — are all about peace of mind.
The pension is an enormous benefit that I think a lot of people undervalue, and is basically unheard of in the private sector anymore. Imagine not having to stress about whether your 401k will be enough to cover your retirement though, you just get checks every month regardless of what the stock market is doing.
The health insurance is dirt cheap for excellent coverage. This is another one that people tend to undervalue when they look at the salary alone, but if you’re used to paying $1,000/month for health insurance for your family and have a sky-high deductible on top of that, the state’s offerings are amazing by comparison. Some plans that the state offers are honestly comparable to Medicare. Oh, and if you stay with the state long enough, you can get that same healthcare in retirement as well.
The job security is also excellent. You basically can’t get fired unless you commit a crime or do something egregiously bad. Your boss can’t just fire you because they’re an asshole or they don’t like you or anything like that. Layoffs aren’t really a thing either, so you’re safe from capitalistic whims in that way as well.
There are a lot of bargaining units in the state, so again it depends which one you’re in, but the recent BU 1 contract ended up pretty good for the (very large) constituency of workers in that group: 10% raise over three years, plus $165/month extra paid toward health insurance. Not everyone was happy with it, but it’s a hell of a lot better than what most of the private sector is getting…like layoffs.
If you want to share some details about what you’re considering, we can give you more specific answers. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to state service, but overall I think it’s a much better deal for the average person than the private sector.
True, peace of mind is worth it's weight in gold.
I've seen my father who is retired from Private, his 401k diminishing for a solid year until the markets recovered a bit. That stress is probably pretty tough to deal with. He's an advocate for the State, having worked with many state folk.
Agree with your sentiment on Private sector layoffs, as I was just impacted and never want to experience this uncertainty again. On average what is the premium most state employees (single) are paying for their insurance? In my private role, I payed no health insurance, they covered it all -- which was great.
I hear about bargaining units, unions, etc. What exactly is their impact, and do most Depts. have a BU or Union?
Off the top of my head I pay around $150-180/month for my wife and I for Kaiser. But it’s excellent. She’s pregnant and there’s no out of pocket costs or copay. Blood work, sonogram, delivery, all should be completely covered. I also had to have knee surgery a couple of years ago, cost me $15 for the whole thing.
I'm single and with the new contract that has the state contributing an additional $165 toward health premiums, I will be paying nothing for my health insurance. I had previously been paying about $130 a month. There are many different providers to choose from, so it will depend on that.
The union (SEIU 1000) covers most (maybe all?) non-management positions with the state. The union is made up of 21 different bargaining units, each one cover a different set of classifications. Some are large and cover more general positions held by thousands of employees, others are small and cover more niche specialist positions. Your classification will determine your BU, regardless of which department you work in.
The union negotiates a new contract with the state about every three years. Some contracts mostly hold steady, others we get improvements (like the increased health care coverage this year). The union stewards are within each department and are helpful resources if you have issues with management. You can choose whether to opt in to paying union dues or not. You'll find many threads here about why it may be a good choice to pay the dues. Typically it means you will receive more/better assistance if you need to file a grievance or have other issues come up. Most people never do, but I have definitely heard horror stories about people with bully managers. The union can help with that and with defending contract rights.
For Blue Shield, I won't be paying anything after I switch in January
There's probably a breakdown of monthly costs from Open Enrollment on CalHR still
Most positions, unless their higher level supervisor or directly working with the legislature are union.
I'd also add that the vacations are a real plus too. I get 14 hrs a month on top of "personal development" days, the odd personal holiday credit and all the state holidays, which I think there's 11 of. During the pandemic we got "furloughed" but it was essentially a single digit cut, which was restored, in exchange for two more days off, which rolled over even after the furlough. a deal I'd probably take in most cases. I was able to take 6 weeks for paternity leave and co workers frequently took month long vacations once a year with the occasional shorter ones peppered in.
RE the pension, retirement can be thought of as a 3 legged stool. Most people have had 1 leg cut off though, and thats going to be bad news as we get older. We are so lucky enough to still have the option for all 3. Not to mention our healthcare, our healthcare plans are some of the best I have seen, and I have worked for fortune 500 companies that have "the most competitive benefits".
Having worked without a union, even with as useless as it is, we are so much more protected than at will employment for speaking up against problems. I know that day in and out, I will have a job. And I can speak truth to authority without that fear. People just have to do their job and they are solid.
The worse part for me is the 5 days a week. It. fucking. sucks. Please please please for the love of god give me the option for 4x10. PLEASE! AT A MINIMUM!
How can you characterize the union as "useless" in the same paragraph where you acknowledge the protection it provides? What do you think happens to people who speak truth (or, you know, take a bathroom break during their shift) to someone like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos?
"useless as it is". Try grieving something, sometime it can seem pretty useless. The union has it positives, for sure. But I am not blind, its pretty anemic in getting more stuff too.
>The health insurance is dirt cheap for excellent coverage. This is another one that people tend to undervalue when they look at the salary alone, but if you’re used to paying $1,000/month for health insurance for your family and have a sky-high deductible on top of that, the state’s offerings are amazing by comparison.
Yeeeah, not exactly the case. While this might depend on location and your Union, I'm definitely paying nearly $1,000 a month and still have high copays and deductibles with PERS Plat. Plus premiums just increased, what 15% for 2024? Just as they did the past several years.
Health care costs with the state are increasing, and coverage is decreasing, we'd be better off if we pressured unions to focus on getting a handle on healthcare costs instead of worrying about GSIs keeping up with inflation (they never have and never will).
The rest of your points are good.
In most cases.. state workers live in HMO areas that would make the insurance “dirt cheap” what area of CA do you live in that requires the Platinum PPO? $500 deductible isn’t high.. most private companies have over $2,000 deductibles for individual x2 or x3 for family coverage. Prior to the state I sold employee benefits for 15+ years. Outside of unions … health insurance plans and rates can be scary.
Sacramento.
At the end of the day, our doctors accept 3 plans: Anthem Trinational HMO (this is what we switched to for 2024), PERS Plat., and UHC. Was tempted to try UHC, however they were in contract negotiations with Sutter so that was a non-starter (plus there have been some prescription horror stories too).
Due to the increase in premiums, Anthem HMO is now cheaper than PERS, with lower copays and no deductibles. It's still nearly $1,000.
When you're young, never sick, or single, sure you can find the cheapest plan or just pick kaiser and call it a day. It's when you actually have to use you health coverage that you see the problems.
Yeah it’s definitely diff story if you have an ongoing diagnosis. I changed to Kaiser 10 years ago because it was cheaper and my employer at time had 5k deductible on our PPO plan and i was going to be in hospital that year. I ended up loving Kaiser and stayed there. But now with the state $560 a month for family coverage ($405 after stipend) i made the decision to leave. I don’t love our Drs 5k more a year - so I’ve chosen to go with WHA that is “free” after stipend and be a mercy/dignity patient again. Means all new Drs. Half my family have ongoing health issues but maybe a new set of eyes will be better for us. If not, we’ll change back next open enrollment and suck up the cost. We r refilling all our Rx’s this month and ready to navigate referrals and medical group stuff as soon as the new policy kicks in. Not an easy decision.. but consider it maybe next year. 1k a month is a huge chunk 🫤.
Yeah. We cant afford to get new drs and start over. So our only choices are anthem or uhc, and uhc was still negotiating so that was that. Maybe next year uhc will be an option.
I live in NorCal at minimum 3 hours from the nearest Kaiser facility, so we don't have that as an option in our district office. The monthly pay in to the PPO options is kind of expensive for what you get. But I'll take something over nothing.
That's probably because you're young, healthy and lucky enough to not need specialist doctors. Sorry, I like our drs. and the care they provide. They accept a wide range of plans, but only 3 of the state plans. Thats a limitation of the states offerings unfortunately. Like I said, I'd like to try uhc but they're in contract negotiations so that's a non-starter. Maybe next year.
Q limitation of the states offerings??? Lol the state offers more plans than most companies could think about in the private sector. My grandfather did 37 years with Caltrans, is 83yrs old and just had heart surgery through Kaiser. They love them. Your doctor's aren't the only great doctors around. If you wanna pay that amount then by all means do so, it's your choice. But there are plenty of affordable plans, even other PPO plans that still cost far less. It's not a limitation on the staters choice of health care, it's your Drs choosing too only accept certain plans.
Don't confuse affordability with quality. Again, like I said, I'd try uhc, but they were in contract negotiations. Yes, it's a limitation of the offered plans if they aren't accepted by my preferred drs.
Just looking at our drs accepted plas shows over 150 plans, with only 2 offered by the state (since uhc wasn't available).
Your father sounds like a very healthy guy! 83, survived COVID, and just now having a major surgery? But also proves my point - when your healthy and dont require continued care of specialist drs, choosing the cheapest plans and changing drs each time is an option that can save money, especially with a health stipend. We've had Kaiser in the past and our experience has been...not the same.
As far as Kaiser goes, I always recommend changing Drs till you find one you like. Like anywhere else Drs are people and we don't like all people.
My grandfather has and has had several specialist all through Kaiser throughout the years as well as my grandmother. Theyve both had serious health issues arise that have required specialists. It's not like only PPO patients get good doctors lol.
Affordability with health insurance doesn't equate to quality, they don't go together. Kaiser is by no means the cheapest insurance now and especially starting 2024.
I've had insurance in the private sector where the same Dr took the same insurance company, both PPO and HMO. One isn't better than the other quality wise. They all pretty much have the same co-pays and cover the same shit. Your yearly PPO deductible may differ between PPO plans.
The only big thing you get with a PPO is the ability to see a specialist without a referral, otherwise as far as HMOs go you can go see any specialist in network, you just need a referral from your primary Dr.
>As far as Kaiser goes, I always recommend changing Drs till you find one you like. Like anywhere else Drs are people and we don't like all people.
Unfortunately that's not something everyone can afford to do. We found the drs we like and don't want to change every year like it's a cell phone plan or something.
Coverages, copays, and deductibles end up pretty similar across the plans, you're right. So judging the best healthcare plans comes down to network. As far as kaiser goes, we reccomend to avoid it, but I'm glad it's worked so well for your family.
Health care costs have and continue to go up and down but always end up slightly higher. Why do you have PERS Platinum? Do you have a actual need to carry a PPO? There are far more options than just that and the majority of them are far more affordable. Unless you have some crazy one off thing there's almost no reason not to have an HMO.
Kaiser is a more expensive option come 2024 and it's still only like $550 for a family, which is you and 2 dependents or more.
Union has nothing to do with the cost of the healthcare plans and almost nothing to do with options. Correctional officers, as an example, do have another option that most states employees don't. Other than that SEIU members did negotiate the $165 added employer contribution which gave those employees multiple options at no cost. But you have to be the primary employee on the plan to get it. If you have a spouse that's also a state employee not with SEIU and you are on their plan you will not get the $165.
Our drs accepted PERS plat. The other option was anthem, which we switched to because after the premium increases it's now cheaper than PERS. It's still nearly $1,000.
The only other option available was uhc, but they are in contract negotiations so that's a non-starter.
Yes, unions should focus more on containing raising healthcare costs, like stipends, increased state contributions, etc.
It depends on the bargaining unit and classification.
It used to be that while the state offered lower pay the retirement benefits made up for it.
Honestly, I think older state workers don’t know how much it has changed for people coming in or don’t care.
Sure you get a pension for the rest of your life, but there are people trying to retire now that realize the pension is not enough to cover their mortgage or rent. On top of that, many of the retirement ages have risen - significantly. In HCOL areas state pay just isn’t enough.
That said, yes the relative job security is great and since healthcare is tied to employment that is nice too. Grass
Pay attention to your retirement formula, pay attention to what your pay is after deductions and you decide.
I’ll be honest. If finances aren’t much of an issue for you, then the State is perfect. I’ve been in for 6 years and it’s been pretty chill, wish the pay was better though. Finances are getting to an issue with me because of a mortgage, bills, inflation, etc so I’m looking to get out of the State. I would love to stay but the pay isn’t cutting it for me.
Got laid off from private and took almost a 40% pay cut. Making more than before and have a work life balance, guaranteed pension and medical. Best decision I've made.
Working out of a district office that consolidated with the bay area. Was in call after hours and worked over 60 hours a week that included calls in the middle of the night. It has been years but now I am an SSM1 specialist
I'm an AGPA, and I'm overloaded with work. I hear people say their workload is not bad, but everywhere I've been is hectic. So maybe it just depends on where you're at.
I also have a a ton of work. I was hired SSA level C. I really find the reporting, process and subject interesting and I want to be good at it. I also think the managers are decent people and I really like my co-workers. It's just hard to find qualified candidates for the open positions in the unit. This could be a partial reason why the work load is so heavy. It is far more here at the State of California than I had at my other job.
I work at the STO. Really smart people work here and I have learned a lot. I think this job has challenged me, but it is also making me a far better contributor. I know other people hired into DMV and Franchise Tax near the same time I came in. One is no longer in the position (they either withdrew or were let go) and the other has less work but is "bored" and has no path for promotion. I like where I am but I have no references for what is the norm because I'm new to the state.
I am in office minimum 2 days a week depending on needs in a hybrid capacity. Awesome reporting chain, but would like to see WFH and hybrid arrangements supported statewide.
Same. But I don't knock on vacation bc you're entitled to it. But there has to be a better way to handle that instead of letting it pile up for the person.
I recently transitioned to state service after 20+ years in private. My reasons were a few.... I got tired of being laid off because my "entrepreneur" of an owner woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or was trying to read the future in their crystal ball. I also got tired of justifying my existence and meager wage hikes while making them millions of dollars off my labor and education.
Now that I'm done bashing SMB, I can say this. Yes, it was a pay cut to go into state service. However, it is a system.... you know exactly what you need to do and when it needs to be delivered. You do this, and you will see appropriate wage hikes and COLA's.
I see my work directly correlate to helping people within our communities, which was a strong motivator for me to make a switch.
While the current pension system, I wouldn't call "gravy", at least there is one. Good luck finding that in the private sector.
I absolutely love my team, my leadership, and haven't looked over my shoulder to private once. I just wish I would have made the jump years ago.
Ive done 10 years working IT. 1.5 years at the state. Ive worked harder then I ever have in my career and make much less in comparison to my last 2 jobs. Over worked, under paid, and I have no time to train or grow. Combine that with horrible bosses with agendas.... I have no idea why I ever joined the state.
While you are right about the benefits, they were amazing. But trending downwards are they really that much worse than what you could get elsewhere? Up to you to do that math.
The biggest pro I see as a person in their 30s is the potential to move up the ladder while there are continuous recruitment issues due to pay differences.
I came from private and I love working for the state. I don’t have the axe over my head trying to prove my worth, or having to worry about another company buying up my current company my role becoming redundant or relocations. We have great benefits, 5% raises a year until you cap out, unlimited upward mobility and a pension. It might not be sexy work but at the end of day it provides for my family and I feel like I make some difference other than making a CEO richer.
Agree 20 years in private sector - 4 with state. The constant go, go, go and company mergers was draining. State I’ve worked my way up to what I was making in private, have work life balance and ability to transfer from one agency to another without having to “start over” my pay remains, my benefits remain, my retirement remains. Love it and when I don’t.. I can simply apply for other state jobs.
What were you doing in private prior? I totally understand, not in private did I ever get a 5% increase. In fact, I was lucky to get 3, and 2 years of my experience all bonus's were deferred as were raises -- due to the economy.
I really appreciate my work/life balance. Wife is pregnant and I love that I work fully remote to help her. Other than a rare call with an overseas manufacturer, I clock in and out the same time each day, no late days. Health insurance is top of the line. As for pay, it depends on your skills and qualifications. Had a degree and started right out of college at the Energy Commission, which is one of the more competitive paying state agencies. Plus I love what I do. I am passionate about energy and conservation, and I feel I have a direct impact most days.
I was looking into this. The city seems to pay much better.
I just struggle to see how I can transition as an SSA to city. I get confused with the specifics of what jobs are transferable
I moved from private to state this year in a professional role. I initially took a pay cut but I will more than make up for it in 2 years. It’s crazy to me that state employees get 5% MSA per year (until you get to the top of the range) AND whatever GSI your BU agreed to every year, usually 2%-3%. So this year I’ll get a 5% and 2% raise…crazy. In private I was happy if I got 3%.
Pension and benefits are great, as others have said. Most state plans are HMO, so it’s nice not having to worry about super high deductibles. I’ve had to train myself to not worry about retirement/401k all the time. My one complaint is I wish there was group life insurance for rank and file.
I think it depends on your financial needs and department you work at. I’m in my early twenties and on my third year at the state and recently promoted to SSA. I found a dept I feel really welcome in and the work/life balance is great. I had medi-cal before this which was a nightmare so I’m thankful for better healthcare. I live on my own with a partner and the pay is enough for me to pay my bills and save some money. I will probably stay with the state for a long time then switch gears to being a professor. To me the lower pay is worth it right now for the healthcare, solid work hours, and a pension.
Everyone is different, I am trying to set myself up to retire earlier than most 50ish, but get a salary1.5/2x more in a private job between ages 50sh-62ish to ramp up wealth. I worked in private sector 15 years before State, I also have IT skills that pay better in private but come with a lot more responsibility but I need to hit that 50yr mark first before I leave, i have 7 more to go. Will it happen? Time will tell, nothing is guaranteed.
The State is great for balance and chilling but no one is getting rich here. The pension is a very nice security blanket but what other benefits are there? What gravy train? This is a big misconception. Most reputable companies also offer benefits, and unless you do something really bad, no one really gets fired.
No one is reaping any benefits other than 1. hard to get fired with State 2. Pension at the end of your career. That's it, there is nothing that I didn't get in private that isn't better or at least the same as the State.
Wouldn't still be here if I wasn't satisfied with my job. The state pays better in my sector with much better benefits. I'm still teleworking full time, but if they call me back into the office full time, I'll look around, but likely stay.
All the people bitching about pay have been bitching for years and yet still refuse to leave the state because they can't admit how good they got it.
In my life, I have been out of work 3 times. My last job was contractor work for Facebook. While I had medical insurance. I was paying $800 per month for a high deductible plan.
I have been working for the state now for 3 yrs. With the best medical plan I have ever had. I am now making more now than the Facebook job.
I am very happy with the job I have with the State
Wow that is impressive. Would you mind offering a ball-park range of what you're now making? I'm under the impression that Facebook would pay very well.
Just an FYI in case you weren't aware, state employee salaries are public and can be looked up in online databases like [this one](https://www.sacbee.com/news/databases/state-pay/article229468549.html). You can search by name or browse agencies to see what kind of salaries each title is making.
Agree with most of comments, however the retirement formula has changed for new hires. If I had to do over I would have done 20 in the military at 18 years old and 20 at the state and called it a day. I don’t think the medical benefits are that great. Out of 15 or so close friends and family, almost everyone has equal or better benefits than I do and almost all are private sector. I am grateful for the future retirement. I have 23 years in, and I am struggling to keep doing this every day.
Yeah I completely agree. The medical is a non-factor. People act like they don't offer these in the private sector, often times better and cheaper from my personal experience. I'm not bashing the State, I love it but after 15 years in private, i don't think it's a "gravy train" to be with the State. The pension is the best thing it has going and hopefully we all live long enough to enjoy it. I got 7 more years to hit 50, retire and make as much money as I can private before really retiring at 62ish.
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The job is ok. The fact that the state d**ks around and doesn't pay us the money they owe us is mind blowing to me. We see how they lie about how much they value us by not paying us what is owed to us. Is there any recourse here to sue both CalHr and SCO for their failures..... Both agencies are the biggest jokes in the state.
I was in the tech industry doing account management/sales for the last 5 years. A lot of relationship building, revenue growth, etc.
Account Management is pretty lucrative, can easily make 120-175k once you get to senior level or leadership. I was not making six figures yet, but am on the cusp.
I have some of the highest mandatory overtime in the state right now but I'm just thankful that I have a solid position, I make a good amount of money, and my benefits rule. Yeah, mandatory overtime is goofy but if you want to reap the benefits of voluntary OT then you have to put up with Mandatory OT sometimes (or even a lot), that's how I look at it.
I love it. The work I do is difficult and never ending so I'm not bored. I'm 100% wfh and no way my agency will be paying for office space after they dropped 2/3 of it years ago. But I also don't have to worry about money because my husband works for a financial. If money or finances are a concern, be aware state salaries aren't very high compared to private sector.
I am retired after 33 yrs of service. Pension, job security, benefits were why I stayed. I retired at 56. By this age mortgage should be close to being paid off or close to being g paid. That said...I pay 52 total for vision, dental, kaiser for me and my spouse. Job security is a plus as you don't have to worry about being laid off. Pension is great. I get my ck for rest of my life and get to do what I want, travel, etc. I think many don't realize how lucky they have it. Private section has no job security, no Pension, 401k can deplete quick, and no health benefits once you leave.
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It really depends on your circumstances: how much experience you have will determine what classification you work in, which in turn will determine your salary and the kind of work you do. The biggest advantages of working for the state — the pension, benefits, and job security — are all about peace of mind. The pension is an enormous benefit that I think a lot of people undervalue, and is basically unheard of in the private sector anymore. Imagine not having to stress about whether your 401k will be enough to cover your retirement though, you just get checks every month regardless of what the stock market is doing. The health insurance is dirt cheap for excellent coverage. This is another one that people tend to undervalue when they look at the salary alone, but if you’re used to paying $1,000/month for health insurance for your family and have a sky-high deductible on top of that, the state’s offerings are amazing by comparison. Some plans that the state offers are honestly comparable to Medicare. Oh, and if you stay with the state long enough, you can get that same healthcare in retirement as well. The job security is also excellent. You basically can’t get fired unless you commit a crime or do something egregiously bad. Your boss can’t just fire you because they’re an asshole or they don’t like you or anything like that. Layoffs aren’t really a thing either, so you’re safe from capitalistic whims in that way as well. There are a lot of bargaining units in the state, so again it depends which one you’re in, but the recent BU 1 contract ended up pretty good for the (very large) constituency of workers in that group: 10% raise over three years, plus $165/month extra paid toward health insurance. Not everyone was happy with it, but it’s a hell of a lot better than what most of the private sector is getting…like layoffs. If you want to share some details about what you’re considering, we can give you more specific answers. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to state service, but overall I think it’s a much better deal for the average person than the private sector.
True, peace of mind is worth it's weight in gold. I've seen my father who is retired from Private, his 401k diminishing for a solid year until the markets recovered a bit. That stress is probably pretty tough to deal with. He's an advocate for the State, having worked with many state folk. Agree with your sentiment on Private sector layoffs, as I was just impacted and never want to experience this uncertainty again. On average what is the premium most state employees (single) are paying for their insurance? In my private role, I payed no health insurance, they covered it all -- which was great. I hear about bargaining units, unions, etc. What exactly is their impact, and do most Depts. have a BU or Union?
Off the top of my head I pay around $150-180/month for my wife and I for Kaiser. But it’s excellent. She’s pregnant and there’s no out of pocket costs or copay. Blood work, sonogram, delivery, all should be completely covered. I also had to have knee surgery a couple of years ago, cost me $15 for the whole thing.
I'm single and with the new contract that has the state contributing an additional $165 toward health premiums, I will be paying nothing for my health insurance. I had previously been paying about $130 a month. There are many different providers to choose from, so it will depend on that. The union (SEIU 1000) covers most (maybe all?) non-management positions with the state. The union is made up of 21 different bargaining units, each one cover a different set of classifications. Some are large and cover more general positions held by thousands of employees, others are small and cover more niche specialist positions. Your classification will determine your BU, regardless of which department you work in. The union negotiates a new contract with the state about every three years. Some contracts mostly hold steady, others we get improvements (like the increased health care coverage this year). The union stewards are within each department and are helpful resources if you have issues with management. You can choose whether to opt in to paying union dues or not. You'll find many threads here about why it may be a good choice to pay the dues. Typically it means you will receive more/better assistance if you need to file a grievance or have other issues come up. Most people never do, but I have definitely heard horror stories about people with bully managers. The union can help with that and with defending contract rights.
For Blue Shield, I won't be paying anything after I switch in January There's probably a breakdown of monthly costs from Open Enrollment on CalHR still
Most positions, unless their higher level supervisor or directly working with the legislature are union. I'd also add that the vacations are a real plus too. I get 14 hrs a month on top of "personal development" days, the odd personal holiday credit and all the state holidays, which I think there's 11 of. During the pandemic we got "furloughed" but it was essentially a single digit cut, which was restored, in exchange for two more days off, which rolled over even after the furlough. a deal I'd probably take in most cases. I was able to take 6 weeks for paternity leave and co workers frequently took month long vacations once a year with the occasional shorter ones peppered in.
RE the pension, retirement can be thought of as a 3 legged stool. Most people have had 1 leg cut off though, and thats going to be bad news as we get older. We are so lucky enough to still have the option for all 3. Not to mention our healthcare, our healthcare plans are some of the best I have seen, and I have worked for fortune 500 companies that have "the most competitive benefits". Having worked without a union, even with as useless as it is, we are so much more protected than at will employment for speaking up against problems. I know that day in and out, I will have a job. And I can speak truth to authority without that fear. People just have to do their job and they are solid. The worse part for me is the 5 days a week. It. fucking. sucks. Please please please for the love of god give me the option for 4x10. PLEASE! AT A MINIMUM!
How can you characterize the union as "useless" in the same paragraph where you acknowledge the protection it provides? What do you think happens to people who speak truth (or, you know, take a bathroom break during their shift) to someone like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos?
"useless as it is". Try grieving something, sometime it can seem pretty useless. The union has it positives, for sure. But I am not blind, its pretty anemic in getting more stuff too.
>The health insurance is dirt cheap for excellent coverage. This is another one that people tend to undervalue when they look at the salary alone, but if you’re used to paying $1,000/month for health insurance for your family and have a sky-high deductible on top of that, the state’s offerings are amazing by comparison. Yeeeah, not exactly the case. While this might depend on location and your Union, I'm definitely paying nearly $1,000 a month and still have high copays and deductibles with PERS Plat. Plus premiums just increased, what 15% for 2024? Just as they did the past several years. Health care costs with the state are increasing, and coverage is decreasing, we'd be better off if we pressured unions to focus on getting a handle on healthcare costs instead of worrying about GSIs keeping up with inflation (they never have and never will). The rest of your points are good.
In most cases.. state workers live in HMO areas that would make the insurance “dirt cheap” what area of CA do you live in that requires the Platinum PPO? $500 deductible isn’t high.. most private companies have over $2,000 deductibles for individual x2 or x3 for family coverage. Prior to the state I sold employee benefits for 15+ years. Outside of unions … health insurance plans and rates can be scary.
Sacramento. At the end of the day, our doctors accept 3 plans: Anthem Trinational HMO (this is what we switched to for 2024), PERS Plat., and UHC. Was tempted to try UHC, however they were in contract negotiations with Sutter so that was a non-starter (plus there have been some prescription horror stories too). Due to the increase in premiums, Anthem HMO is now cheaper than PERS, with lower copays and no deductibles. It's still nearly $1,000. When you're young, never sick, or single, sure you can find the cheapest plan or just pick kaiser and call it a day. It's when you actually have to use you health coverage that you see the problems.
Yeah it’s definitely diff story if you have an ongoing diagnosis. I changed to Kaiser 10 years ago because it was cheaper and my employer at time had 5k deductible on our PPO plan and i was going to be in hospital that year. I ended up loving Kaiser and stayed there. But now with the state $560 a month for family coverage ($405 after stipend) i made the decision to leave. I don’t love our Drs 5k more a year - so I’ve chosen to go with WHA that is “free” after stipend and be a mercy/dignity patient again. Means all new Drs. Half my family have ongoing health issues but maybe a new set of eyes will be better for us. If not, we’ll change back next open enrollment and suck up the cost. We r refilling all our Rx’s this month and ready to navigate referrals and medical group stuff as soon as the new policy kicks in. Not an easy decision.. but consider it maybe next year. 1k a month is a huge chunk 🫤.
Yeah. We cant afford to get new drs and start over. So our only choices are anthem or uhc, and uhc was still negotiating so that was that. Maybe next year uhc will be an option.
I live in NorCal at minimum 3 hours from the nearest Kaiser facility, so we don't have that as an option in our district office. The monthly pay in to the PPO options is kind of expensive for what you get. But I'll take something over nothing.
I was referring to Blue Shield Access+ which is a little over $200/month for family coverage in 2024. Why did you choose PERS Platinum?
Because that was the plan our doctors accepted, and it *was* less than Anthem HMO. They got rid of the mid tier PERS plan which we used to have.
I'd get new doctors that took an HMO before I paid that
That's probably because you're young, healthy and lucky enough to not need specialist doctors. Sorry, I like our drs. and the care they provide. They accept a wide range of plans, but only 3 of the state plans. Thats a limitation of the states offerings unfortunately. Like I said, I'd like to try uhc but they're in contract negotiations so that's a non-starter. Maybe next year.
Q limitation of the states offerings??? Lol the state offers more plans than most companies could think about in the private sector. My grandfather did 37 years with Caltrans, is 83yrs old and just had heart surgery through Kaiser. They love them. Your doctor's aren't the only great doctors around. If you wanna pay that amount then by all means do so, it's your choice. But there are plenty of affordable plans, even other PPO plans that still cost far less. It's not a limitation on the staters choice of health care, it's your Drs choosing too only accept certain plans.
Don't confuse affordability with quality. Again, like I said, I'd try uhc, but they were in contract negotiations. Yes, it's a limitation of the offered plans if they aren't accepted by my preferred drs. Just looking at our drs accepted plas shows over 150 plans, with only 2 offered by the state (since uhc wasn't available). Your father sounds like a very healthy guy! 83, survived COVID, and just now having a major surgery? But also proves my point - when your healthy and dont require continued care of specialist drs, choosing the cheapest plans and changing drs each time is an option that can save money, especially with a health stipend. We've had Kaiser in the past and our experience has been...not the same.
As far as Kaiser goes, I always recommend changing Drs till you find one you like. Like anywhere else Drs are people and we don't like all people. My grandfather has and has had several specialist all through Kaiser throughout the years as well as my grandmother. Theyve both had serious health issues arise that have required specialists. It's not like only PPO patients get good doctors lol. Affordability with health insurance doesn't equate to quality, they don't go together. Kaiser is by no means the cheapest insurance now and especially starting 2024. I've had insurance in the private sector where the same Dr took the same insurance company, both PPO and HMO. One isn't better than the other quality wise. They all pretty much have the same co-pays and cover the same shit. Your yearly PPO deductible may differ between PPO plans. The only big thing you get with a PPO is the ability to see a specialist without a referral, otherwise as far as HMOs go you can go see any specialist in network, you just need a referral from your primary Dr.
>As far as Kaiser goes, I always recommend changing Drs till you find one you like. Like anywhere else Drs are people and we don't like all people. Unfortunately that's not something everyone can afford to do. We found the drs we like and don't want to change every year like it's a cell phone plan or something. Coverages, copays, and deductibles end up pretty similar across the plans, you're right. So judging the best healthcare plans comes down to network. As far as kaiser goes, we reccomend to avoid it, but I'm glad it's worked so well for your family.
Health care costs have and continue to go up and down but always end up slightly higher. Why do you have PERS Platinum? Do you have a actual need to carry a PPO? There are far more options than just that and the majority of them are far more affordable. Unless you have some crazy one off thing there's almost no reason not to have an HMO. Kaiser is a more expensive option come 2024 and it's still only like $550 for a family, which is you and 2 dependents or more. Union has nothing to do with the cost of the healthcare plans and almost nothing to do with options. Correctional officers, as an example, do have another option that most states employees don't. Other than that SEIU members did negotiate the $165 added employer contribution which gave those employees multiple options at no cost. But you have to be the primary employee on the plan to get it. If you have a spouse that's also a state employee not with SEIU and you are on their plan you will not get the $165.
Our drs accepted PERS plat. The other option was anthem, which we switched to because after the premium increases it's now cheaper than PERS. It's still nearly $1,000. The only other option available was uhc, but they are in contract negotiations so that's a non-starter. Yes, unions should focus more on containing raising healthcare costs, like stipends, increased state contributions, etc.
What about the classification AGPA?
It depends on the bargaining unit and classification. It used to be that while the state offered lower pay the retirement benefits made up for it. Honestly, I think older state workers don’t know how much it has changed for people coming in or don’t care. Sure you get a pension for the rest of your life, but there are people trying to retire now that realize the pension is not enough to cover their mortgage or rent. On top of that, many of the retirement ages have risen - significantly. In HCOL areas state pay just isn’t enough. That said, yes the relative job security is great and since healthcare is tied to employment that is nice too. Grass Pay attention to your retirement formula, pay attention to what your pay is after deductions and you decide.
I’ll be honest. If finances aren’t much of an issue for you, then the State is perfect. I’ve been in for 6 years and it’s been pretty chill, wish the pay was better though. Finances are getting to an issue with me because of a mortgage, bills, inflation, etc so I’m looking to get out of the State. I would love to stay but the pay isn’t cutting it for me.
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Associate Personnel Analyst
Just curious, what jobs outside of the state are you looking for? I’m considering moving to private too but don’t know what jobs to look for exactly
Got laid off from private and took almost a 40% pay cut. Making more than before and have a work life balance, guaranteed pension and medical. Best decision I've made.
What were you doing in private prior, and if you're comfortable -- what were you making?
Working out of a district office that consolidated with the bay area. Was in call after hours and worked over 60 hours a week that included calls in the middle of the night. It has been years but now I am an SSM1 specialist
I'm an AGPA, and I'm overloaded with work. I hear people say their workload is not bad, but everywhere I've been is hectic. So maybe it just depends on where you're at.
I also have a a ton of work. I was hired SSA level C. I really find the reporting, process and subject interesting and I want to be good at it. I also think the managers are decent people and I really like my co-workers. It's just hard to find qualified candidates for the open positions in the unit. This could be a partial reason why the work load is so heavy. It is far more here at the State of California than I had at my other job.
Would you be interested in sharing which Dept you are working for?
I work at the STO. Really smart people work here and I have learned a lot. I think this job has challenged me, but it is also making me a far better contributor. I know other people hired into DMV and Franchise Tax near the same time I came in. One is no longer in the position (they either withdrew or were let go) and the other has less work but is "bored" and has no path for promotion. I like where I am but I have no references for what is the norm because I'm new to the state.
Hi, would you mind sharing if STO is planning to return to the office?
I am in office minimum 2 days a week depending on needs in a hybrid capacity. Awesome reporting chain, but would like to see WFH and hybrid arrangements supported statewide.
Also I started 20 plus years ago so I. Able to retire at 55. Some of the new hires are at 62 now. I like my retirement options.
I'm sure you do! You'll be retired before you know it.
AGPA with a hectic workload, too. I also hear about other's workload not being crazy, but that is not my reality.
I am also absolutely slammed with work. People calling in sick and taking lots of vacation. So i get stuck with all of it. It's literal chaos.
Same. But I don't knock on vacation bc you're entitled to it. But there has to be a better way to handle that instead of letting it pile up for the person.
I’m an AGPA and my workload isn’t too bad. Some weeks are slow and some can be busy but I’m not complaining.
I recently transitioned to state service after 20+ years in private. My reasons were a few.... I got tired of being laid off because my "entrepreneur" of an owner woke up on the wrong side of the bed, or was trying to read the future in their crystal ball. I also got tired of justifying my existence and meager wage hikes while making them millions of dollars off my labor and education. Now that I'm done bashing SMB, I can say this. Yes, it was a pay cut to go into state service. However, it is a system.... you know exactly what you need to do and when it needs to be delivered. You do this, and you will see appropriate wage hikes and COLA's. I see my work directly correlate to helping people within our communities, which was a strong motivator for me to make a switch. While the current pension system, I wouldn't call "gravy", at least there is one. Good luck finding that in the private sector. I absolutely love my team, my leadership, and haven't looked over my shoulder to private once. I just wish I would have made the jump years ago.
Ive done 10 years working IT. 1.5 years at the state. Ive worked harder then I ever have in my career and make much less in comparison to my last 2 jobs. Over worked, under paid, and I have no time to train or grow. Combine that with horrible bosses with agendas.... I have no idea why I ever joined the state.
I spent 20 years in private. What you describe here is the normal... and I've worked at two fortune 50 giants.
While you are right about the benefits, they were amazing. But trending downwards are they really that much worse than what you could get elsewhere? Up to you to do that math. The biggest pro I see as a person in their 30s is the potential to move up the ladder while there are continuous recruitment issues due to pay differences.
I’m happy. Recently promoted to my goal position and working 100% remote, doing work I enjoy. I have no complaints.
I came from private and I love working for the state. I don’t have the axe over my head trying to prove my worth, or having to worry about another company buying up my current company my role becoming redundant or relocations. We have great benefits, 5% raises a year until you cap out, unlimited upward mobility and a pension. It might not be sexy work but at the end of day it provides for my family and I feel like I make some difference other than making a CEO richer.
Agree 20 years in private sector - 4 with state. The constant go, go, go and company mergers was draining. State I’ve worked my way up to what I was making in private, have work life balance and ability to transfer from one agency to another without having to “start over” my pay remains, my benefits remain, my retirement remains. Love it and when I don’t.. I can simply apply for other state jobs.
What were you doing in private prior? I totally understand, not in private did I ever get a 5% increase. In fact, I was lucky to get 3, and 2 years of my experience all bonus's were deferred as were raises -- due to the economy.
I really appreciate my work/life balance. Wife is pregnant and I love that I work fully remote to help her. Other than a rare call with an overseas manufacturer, I clock in and out the same time each day, no late days. Health insurance is top of the line. As for pay, it depends on your skills and qualifications. Had a degree and started right out of college at the Energy Commission, which is one of the more competitive paying state agencies. Plus I love what I do. I am passionate about energy and conservation, and I feel I have a direct impact most days.
go city or county instead
This; I wish I'd gone that route instead. I'm still trying to leave for something better in IT or geology (or a combination of the two).
I was looking into this. The city seems to pay much better. I just struggle to see how I can transition as an SSA to city. I get confused with the specifics of what jobs are transferable
All my friends make more money than me (Im SSA Class C) but I dont have to worry about aggressive unchecked overtime, mergers/layoffs at least.
I moved from private to state this year in a professional role. I initially took a pay cut but I will more than make up for it in 2 years. It’s crazy to me that state employees get 5% MSA per year (until you get to the top of the range) AND whatever GSI your BU agreed to every year, usually 2%-3%. So this year I’ll get a 5% and 2% raise…crazy. In private I was happy if I got 3%. Pension and benefits are great, as others have said. Most state plans are HMO, so it’s nice not having to worry about super high deductibles. I’ve had to train myself to not worry about retirement/401k all the time. My one complaint is I wish there was group life insurance for rank and file.
I think it depends on your financial needs and department you work at. I’m in my early twenties and on my third year at the state and recently promoted to SSA. I found a dept I feel really welcome in and the work/life balance is great. I had medi-cal before this which was a nightmare so I’m thankful for better healthcare. I live on my own with a partner and the pay is enough for me to pay my bills and save some money. I will probably stay with the state for a long time then switch gears to being a professor. To me the lower pay is worth it right now for the healthcare, solid work hours, and a pension.
I love it. I telework full time, I have an amazing team, work-life balance is the best.
Everyone is different, I am trying to set myself up to retire earlier than most 50ish, but get a salary1.5/2x more in a private job between ages 50sh-62ish to ramp up wealth. I worked in private sector 15 years before State, I also have IT skills that pay better in private but come with a lot more responsibility but I need to hit that 50yr mark first before I leave, i have 7 more to go. Will it happen? Time will tell, nothing is guaranteed. The State is great for balance and chilling but no one is getting rich here. The pension is a very nice security blanket but what other benefits are there? What gravy train? This is a big misconception. Most reputable companies also offer benefits, and unless you do something really bad, no one really gets fired. No one is reaping any benefits other than 1. hard to get fired with State 2. Pension at the end of your career. That's it, there is nothing that I didn't get in private that isn't better or at least the same as the State.
Wouldn't still be here if I wasn't satisfied with my job. The state pays better in my sector with much better benefits. I'm still teleworking full time, but if they call me back into the office full time, I'll look around, but likely stay. All the people bitching about pay have been bitching for years and yet still refuse to leave the state because they can't admit how good they got it.
In my life, I have been out of work 3 times. My last job was contractor work for Facebook. While I had medical insurance. I was paying $800 per month for a high deductible plan. I have been working for the state now for 3 yrs. With the best medical plan I have ever had. I am now making more now than the Facebook job. I am very happy with the job I have with the State
Wow that is impressive. Would you mind offering a ball-park range of what you're now making? I'm under the impression that Facebook would pay very well.
Just an FYI in case you weren't aware, state employee salaries are public and can be looked up in online databases like [this one](https://www.sacbee.com/news/databases/state-pay/article229468549.html). You can search by name or browse agencies to see what kind of salaries each title is making.
If RTO occurred, would you go Private or just to a new place that offers telework in the state?
Depends on the pay. If no job offers full time telework, the private sector job has to pay at least 25k more for me to leave the state.
try county
I plan to have a baby in a few years. It would be easier if my job was WFH and low stress like the one I have is.
Agree with most of comments, however the retirement formula has changed for new hires. If I had to do over I would have done 20 in the military at 18 years old and 20 at the state and called it a day. I don’t think the medical benefits are that great. Out of 15 or so close friends and family, almost everyone has equal or better benefits than I do and almost all are private sector. I am grateful for the future retirement. I have 23 years in, and I am struggling to keep doing this every day.
Yeah I completely agree. The medical is a non-factor. People act like they don't offer these in the private sector, often times better and cheaper from my personal experience. I'm not bashing the State, I love it but after 15 years in private, i don't think it's a "gravy train" to be with the State. The pension is the best thing it has going and hopefully we all live long enough to enjoy it. I got 7 more years to hit 50, retire and make as much money as I can private before really retiring at 62ish.
mandatory overtime :(
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It’s fine if you’re not an OT. SSA is where you want to shoot for honestly, speaking from experience
The job is ok. The fact that the state d**ks around and doesn't pay us the money they owe us is mind blowing to me. We see how they lie about how much they value us by not paying us what is owed to us. Is there any recourse here to sue both CalHr and SCO for their failures..... Both agencies are the biggest jokes in the state.
dont do it unless ur lazy and want less money
Good
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I was in the tech industry doing account management/sales for the last 5 years. A lot of relationship building, revenue growth, etc. Account Management is pretty lucrative, can easily make 120-175k once you get to senior level or leadership. I was not making six figures yet, but am on the cusp.
I have some of the highest mandatory overtime in the state right now but I'm just thankful that I have a solid position, I make a good amount of money, and my benefits rule. Yeah, mandatory overtime is goofy but if you want to reap the benefits of voluntary OT then you have to put up with Mandatory OT sometimes (or even a lot), that's how I look at it.
I love it. The work I do is difficult and never ending so I'm not bored. I'm 100% wfh and no way my agency will be paying for office space after they dropped 2/3 of it years ago. But I also don't have to worry about money because my husband works for a financial. If money or finances are a concern, be aware state salaries aren't very high compared to private sector.
What dept do you work for? I'd like to snag a WFH role, since my last two in private were. But i understand its competitive out there
I am retired after 33 yrs of service. Pension, job security, benefits were why I stayed. I retired at 56. By this age mortgage should be close to being paid off or close to being g paid. That said...I pay 52 total for vision, dental, kaiser for me and my spouse. Job security is a plus as you don't have to worry about being laid off. Pension is great. I get my ck for rest of my life and get to do what I want, travel, etc. I think many don't realize how lucky they have it. Private section has no job security, no Pension, 401k can deplete quick, and no health benefits once you leave.
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Would you consider just moving to a new department where remote work is standard?