Public Servants Want to Be Paid Well… And Valued

Public Servants Want to Be Paid Well… And Valued

Author: GovExec February 13, 2023 Duration: 16:24

Data presented at a meeting of the Federal Salary Council in November Indicates that the gap between the wages of federal employees and their private sector counterparts is once again widening. With this as a backdrop, it's easy to wonder what, if not pay, keeps public servants in their jobs. 

Dr. Gordon Abner is an assistant professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He has a post on our site headlined "What Keeps Public Employees In Their Jobs? It's Not Just Pay" based on his research in a soon-to-be-published paper titled What makes public employees want to leave their job? A meta-analysis of turnover intention predictors among public sector employees.

As part of our #MoneyMonday series, he joined the podcast to talk about his research and what public servants value in their work.


Each morning, GovExec Daily cuts through the noise to bring clarity to the complex world of federal government operations and policy. Host Ross Gianfortune doesn't just read the headlines; he provides essential context by speaking directly with the people shaping the news. Conversations with policymakers, GovExec's own seasoned reporters, and subject matter experts turn breaking developments into understandable insights. This isn't general political commentary-it's focused analysis for professionals who need to grasp the immediate implications of new legislation, management directives, and budgetary shifts. The pace of Washington demands a resource that keeps up, and this podcast serves as that reliable daily briefing. You'll hear grounded discussions that connect the dots between today's announcements and tomorrow's challenges, all designed for an audience working within or closely with the federal ecosystem. Tune in for a straightforward, no-fluff dialogue that makes even the densest topics accessible, ensuring you start your day informed rather than just aware.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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