Keith’s note: If you have been through a typical NASA design review then you know that words have meaning. As noted the other day (see NASA Email: Upcoming Second Formal Furlough Notice) NASA folks are getting those new 30 day furlough notices. There is a significant difference in language from round 1 and round 2. The first round letter says you “WILL be receiving retroactive pay …” In the second letter it says “IF you receive retroactive pay”. “Will” and “If” are not the same thing. In other words there is some doubt that everyone will get retroactive pay – right? You know this because NASA has an army of crack lawyers (who are all currently on furlough) who read these words very, very carefully – and always say what they mean and mean what they say, right? Sounds like someone may be slow rolling people out of retroactive pay. Exact text excerpts below.
Round 1: “Please note that since you will be receiving retroactive pay at the conclusion of the shutdown furlough, if you receive unemployment compensation for the shutdown furlough, you will be required to repay the unemployment compensation funds.”
Round 2: “Please note that if you receive retroactive pay at the conclusion of the shutdown furlough, and you received Unemployment Compensation for the shutdown furlough, you will be required to repay the Unemployment Compensation funds.”
Not that I want to stab myself in my own back, but I think that it is odd that some of us receive back pay when we are not working. For those that are critical and are forced to work, that certainly make sense. I think this is just another differnece that pits the general public against federal employees. You get furloughed in the private sector and it’s no pay or vacation. Aside from that there is some irony that this president pased the law (Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019) that required retroactive pay. Although it was to end the 1st longest shutdown, so maybe he’s sore over that.