California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation – “It's getting harder to justify the trade - exchanging higher salary for the promise of a pension”

Pros

(1) Job security, (2) defined benefit plan, (3) good health benefit options, (4) flexible work week options, (5) decent salary (before the furloughs), (6) interesting work is available.

Cons

(1) Pay cuts, (2) furloughs, (3) lack of raises or cost of living adjustments for long periods of time (8 years at one point), (4) lack of available funds for staff training, (5) high Union dues, (6) continuing budget stalemate/crisis results in low morale, (7) top salary levels for IT workers are not competitive with industry (before the cuts).

Advice to Senior Management

Staff training and development is important to the success of our mission, especially when everything else is being cut.