Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   LakenGulf, Fly Fisher Date:   4/27/2016 10:41:52 AM

Acording to an article in the Federal Times, February 2016

30, 872 people were fired from the Federal Government in the period 2010-2014.  2014 had the lowest numeber of firings, 2010 had the highest number of firings.   Homeland Security had the highest number of firings, with the Army and Navy close behind.  Because of the arcane process that managers have to go though to fire someone, there are a high number of suspensions without pay, and other disciplinary actions.

The overall percentage of firings in industry is 3.4%, keeping in mind that industry employees do not have the right to appeal their dismissal like government employees do.  But overall, it is wrong to say that no one is held accountable.  And the number does not include those employees in the disciplinary process who chose to quit, rather than being formally fired. 

I had an employee that was a 70 year old engineer of Indian decent.  He got sick and spent a year out of work, using all of his vacation and sick days and was, for a period of time, on Leave without pay.  My deputy and I tried our hardest to convince him to retire (he was eligible), but he refused.  We started working with personnel to put him out on a medical retirement, and then he came back to work.  Given his age and his medical history, he wasn't a ball of fire but he did his job.  What were my chances of firing him?  Slim and none - age  discrimination, ethnic orign discrimination, as I was warned by personal.  He certainly didn't get any pats on the back and promotions.  As long as he did his job, I couldn't touch him.  But he was far from the norm.