Pros
- Start with 2 weeks vacation that goes to 3 weeks at 3 years, and ramps up again later - A good amount of sick time that you can roll over year to year - A lifetime pension, however, this could change in the future - A bit more job security than private employers.
Cons
- Difficult to obtain promotions - once you get in, it is hard to move around, and good luck getting a promotion that will pay you more than around $1,500/year (and you may wait many years to get that). - Forget raises - even if you deserve it. There are no merit raises; only those given to everyone by the Board of Supervisors whether worthy or not. Last raise was over 5 years ago, and paychecks have been eroded by increasing health and pension co-pays. - Pension is not free - employees do contribute substantially to it, as they do to health benefits. - Managers by and large are horrible with lousy skills. Those there the longest get plum positions whether they are management material or not, and they receive little if any training. - The County makes no effort at retention of qualified people. The County trains employees, but fails to recognize excellence or reward it, so the best people leave.