Working with Government?

Does any one else work in an industry that works heavily with a government agency? Do you get that feeling of going no where slowly and wanting to beat your head against a wall because of it?

As much as we would love to do work for the government .... we don't. It's more hassle than its worth

I beat other people's heads against the wall. It hurts less.

In reply to 93EXCivic: Been there my whole career in aviation with the FAA.

The thing to remember is that all they want is enough paperwork to prove it's not their fault when something goes wrong. That way their careers don't get messed up.

In reply to Karacticus:

CYA

93EXCivic wrote: Does any one else work in an industry that works heavily with a government agency? Do you get that feeling of going no where slowly and wanting to beat your head against a wall because of it?

Questions like this are just begging for a flounder but it also poses questions to those who advocate positions where more "government" is the "answer".

And the questions aren't restricted to industry.

no.. questions like this are not restricted to Government. It is any large corp.. especiallly one with their fingers into everything. Working for Ceasar's Entertainment here in Atlantic City, the Holding Company that owns us wants paperwork on EVERYTHING. Because I can do many things in my job.. I have to detail what I did every hour I am there.

I think Government work might be easier

It has nothing to do with paperwork. It is the fact that they seem to do things in the least efficient way with the least amount of logic possible ever. I mean I understand the need for government regulations sometimes (esp in the mining industry) but for berkeley sake couldn't they stop changing the rules in the middle of the game....

mad_machine wrote: no.. questions like this are not restricted to Government. It is any large corp.. especiallly one with their fingers into everything. Working for Ceasar's Entertainment here in Atlantic City, the Holding Company that owns us wants paperwork on EVERYTHING. Because I can do many things in my job.. I have to detail what I did every hour I am there. I think Government work might be easier

No, the questions aren't limited to government.

But, how many large/small corporations are forced to implement those regulations because of government?

Follow the rules = Follow the money?

93EXCivic wrote: Does any one else work in an industry that works heavily with a government agency? Do you get that feeling of going no where slowly and wanting to beat your head against a wall because of it?

There are days when I want to pound my head on my desk until I pass out because it'll be more productive and less painful than sitting around here WAITING for crap to happen.

(insert very long rant, and thank my delete button here)

Long story short, I hate every second of my work day. It's everything I can do to just show up.

But it pays well, and you can't beat the location.

In reply to Hungary Bill:

80% of the job I really enjoy. It is the growing pains that come with the company growing extremely quickly and then the dealing with the MSHA that drives me crazy.

Edit: Either way my perspective of life is that damn near anything beats working on a hog farm or stripping tobacco. Those jobs suck.

Oh yes. And having payment held up for months/years as they piddle around with bizzare requirements and general dawdling.

Yes. I work with two state governments. I loathe one of them, and am indifferent about the other. The Feds have it though. Oh my word, do they have it. Stuck so far up their behind that it pops back out the top. Dealing with TriCare and the VA makes me want to burn Washington down sometimes.

Yep, well my last job working for a defense contractor.

But I got out of there because of the eventual budget restrictions that will nail that industry.

Used to. After college worked for a firm that consulted on projects for various government agencies. The larger the organization, the more people involved, the more absurd it got. What I could tell was the these were people given something that did actually matter somewhat, but did not require nearly as many man-hours as they could put forth. So, they stalled things, changed their minds, and generally did things to extend the process in order to fill up their days and not work themselves out of a job.

My theory is, our society has gotten so good at producing things to take care of everyone's needs, that we actually don't need about 1/4 of the people able and willing to work to do so. But you can't just up and say that, because then half of the people won't work, and so you won't be able to provide for everyone. So, you invite B.S. jobs that don't actually matter in order to keep people busy and at least have them trying hard enough to contribute that they manage to not be a drain. This is what most government jobs are, an alternative to having educated people on welfare.

I think the right answer is to go to a 30-hour workweek and then we can all be as productive as we can for only the amount of time we actually need to be. Everything still gets done, unemployment goes down, and we get more free time.

Javelin wrote: Yes. I work with two state governments. I loathe one of them, and am indifferent about the other. The Feds have it though. Oh my word, do they have it. Stuck so far up their behind that it pops back out the top. Dealing with TriCare and the VA makes me want to burn Washington down sometimes.

Ugh. I used to work with them. I don't miss it.

Now i just get to deal with making sure various saving plans are administered within guidelines set by the IRS. So fun.

If you thinking working with the Federal Government is bad for paperwork and productivity, try working within it. As an active-duty military officer, in charge of a company with more than 300 soldiers in it, you have no idea how much of my time is consumed with paperwork that is merely there as a CYA. With as much of my day as is dictated to me by the endless streams of political games, bureaucracy, and hootus-measuring, sometimes I wonder why my signature block even has the word "commander" in it...

Then just wait until someone does something illegal/stupid and watch the CYA monster grow.

Think of government like industry.

Take General Motors. Really successful when times are good, but slow to adapt to changing market conditions.

Many government entities are like this. Slow to adapt. Budgets (income) stay stagnant while salaries increase. Services decrease as employees get comfortable.

More government needs to be like Google. Cutting edge. Latest and greatest. Hiring movers and shakers. Providing services for the greater betterment of society, and benefiting from it.

I work in county level government. I hear many complaints from folks who think our government is outdated, slow to adapt, 10 years behind, and politically dated. Every decade a new "plan" is developed, but because it introduces radical ideas, people fear it.

The success of government is just like the success of business. Trial and error, research and development, minimize costs while maximizing services.

I've never been someone to like the idea of "thats the way its always been done" and as a government worker I've encountered that nearly every day.

Hungary Bill wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: Does any one else work in an industry that works heavily with a government agency? Do you get that feeling of going no where slowly and wanting to beat your head against a wall because of it?

There are days when I want to pound my head on my desk until I pass out because it'll be more productive and less painful than sitting around here WAITING for crap to happen. (insert very long rant, and thank my delete button here) Long story short, I hate every second of my work day. It's everything I can do to just show up. But it pays well, and you can't beat the location.

Hey Bill, I don't know what you do or how long before you can retire, but if you hate to get up in the morning it's a long life.

GTFO Now!

I don't want to hear about some GRMer going Postal because of a stupid job.

Dan

I'm in the Military.

Yes.

The best part about being in the private sector working with the public sector is there is nothing saying you can't call someones supervisor and say "hey, why can't you guys speed things up?" They may tell you "well, its because we're understaffed!" and then you ask "well, who do I need to call to get you more employees?" and he may say "the mayor" and then you call the mayor and say "hey, hire more employees or my company is leaving town!"

And things will move quickly after that. That's how lobbying works.

914Driver wrote:

Hungary Bill wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: Does any one else work in an industry that works heavily with a government agency? Do you get that feeling of going no where slowly and wanting to beat your head against a wall because of it?

There are days when I want to pound my head on my desk until I pass out because it'll be more productive and less painful than sitting around here WAITING for crap to happen. (insert very long rant, and thank my delete button here) Long story short, I hate every second of my work day. It's everything I can do to just show up. But it pays well, and you can't beat the location.

Hey Bill, I don't know what you do or how long before you can retire, but if you hate to get up in the morning it's a long life. GTFO Now! I don't want to hear about some GRMer going Postal because of a stupid job. Dan

This is just until I finish school, and hopefully I'll have a niiiiiiiiice chunk of change for a down payment on a house when we get back...

Till then, I bite the bullet (no postal puns intended)

Nobody works with the government. You work around the government or in spite of the government but not with them.

nicksta43 wrote: Nobody works with the government. You work around the government or in spite of the government but not with them.

HAHA well put!

Hungary Bill wrote: Till then, I bite the bullet (no postal puns intended)

What do you do?

You guys can tromp the Gubbyment all ya want, but it's put bread on my table for 40 years.

If you're an Engineer, come on down. we'll pick up your student loans. Hmmmmm.... RIT = ~$25,000/year X 4? Easy math.

Dan