I am a government employee

[RazzleCat]

57. I too am a government employee and I have to work with out pay

My position was "excepted" so I must go to work, I am one of 13 persons doing the same job, I was selected as I had the most time on the job. Here is the kicker, I asked both my director and Union Representative if I could go on furlough, my reasoning was that my husband and I are lucky, our home is paid for, our cars are paid for and we have no consumer debt, and my husband does not work for the government. I know that several of my co-workers are living check to check, have kids still at home and do not have any savings to tide them over. I was told that no I was the selected one and I could not opt out of being excepted and select furlough and give my spot to a co-worker, who must have a check to survive. One other item, I am the second most expensive employee selected as I have the highest grade and step excluding my supervisors. I know I will not receive pay, but I will receive back pay. Their is something very wrong when I can't opt out and I cost more.