US Gov't Pays IT Contractors Twice As Much As Its Own IT Workers 382
bdcny7927 writes "The U.S. federal government pays outside IT contractors nearly twice as much for computer engineering services as it pays its own computer engineers, and 1.5 times more for IT management work, according to a non-profit watchdog group. 'The study points out that IT specifically "is widely outsourced throughout the federal government because of the assumption that IT companies provide vastly superior skills and cost savings." The Project on Government Oversight says its salary comparisons prove that those cost savings are not being realized. However, the comparisons do not address any cost savings that might be achieved through the skills, processes or systems that private IT services companies might deliver. The POGO researchers say that the federal government itself does not know how much money overall it saves or wastes with its sourcing decisions and has no system for doing so.'"
It's Called "Blame Pay" (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:It's Called "Blame Pay" (Score:4, Interesting)
I am a government employee. A software developer. I have been for 6 years, and I was private sectors for a couple of decades prior.
I have been on both sides of this specific issue
The best IT staff I have worked with is the government employees. The most mediocre and bad were private sector. I suspect it has to do with it being easier to get a private sector job.
The software built in house lasts, ans lasts, and lasts. Out sourced work always runs longer and over, always has issues, and never is really going until years after the 'final roll out'.
I get calls pretty regularly from people in the private sector offering me jobs. Not interviews, actually over the phone jobs. Usually someone who knows me from my past gets into management and they look me up. I could make 50% more.
I don't take the because I value time, a lot. I work hard for 40 hours, done in 4 10's. Then I go home. If they need me, I get OT or comp time. I spend a lot of time with my family. I have friends making 100-140K, but 80-100 hour weeks. I did that for years, and what for? making some one else rich.
This "inefficient and lazy government worker" statements have been disproven time, and time again.