GovernmentExecutive.com

A nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to encouraging young people to join the federal government has turned its eye toward the baby boom generation.

The Partnership for Public Service announced Wednesday the launch of an initiative to recruit private sector retirees into second careers in public service. Partnership officials say this could help address the impending wave of federal baby boomers leaving government after decades-long careers. Forty-two percent of senior executives in government are projected to retire by 2010.

Strategists want to build on two ideas: most baby boomers will be healthy after retirement and will want to continue working, and many will want a second chance to give back.

"Rocky Balboa is not the only 60-year-old looking for a challenge," Partnership President Max Stier said Wednesday at a news conference.

As it is, however, most federal executives worked their way up internally. Only 15 percent of GS-12 through GS-15 employees hired in fiscal 2003 came from outside the government.

The Partnership's plan for recruiting older civil servants is not yet fully formed. Working under a $250,000 grant from Atlantic Philanthropies, a foundation based in Bermuda that focuses in part on issues of aging, the Partnership is seeking to find out which agencies are hiring experienced employees, and about potential barriers for older workers entering government. Eventually, the project may push for the creation of a fellowship program for older Americans akin to the White House Fellows program.

Two federal employees who came to government late in their careers joined Stier at the press conference. John Emens went to the U.S. Export-Import Bank after retiring from a commercial banking job at Allfirst Bank. Ann Vande Vanter came to the Internal Revenue Service after 30 years as a private sector accountant. Both said their government jobs have turned out to be the most rewarding they've ever had.

"When I meet my maker I wanted to be able to [say I did] more than put more money in the pockets of millionaire executives," Vande Vanter said.

The Partnership initiative comes at a time when the government is seeking to move away from the traditional 9-to-5, office-bound, 30-year federal career. In June 2006, the Office of Personnel Management asked agencies to report on their flexibility with regard to unconventional work schedules, telecommuting, shorter tenures and career stage of new hires.

COMMENTS

• I think it's a great idea! Why waste these precious years away? We have a wealth of experience and I think it would be shameful to not share it. What a great opportunity to give back!! Chyrll V Posted May 3, 2008 1:28 AM
• The rich get richer -- why else would anyone really want to retire from the private sector and go with the federal government? The economics are that those who worked as teachers, non-profit employees, non-appropriated fund Federal employees and then went to the federal government are being buried alive by "Windfall Offsets" and Social Security penalties for having tried to serve our country. Now the government is going to be in a world of hurt; and I'm sure anyone going to work from the private sector will come out with huge! benefits compared to those currently in government. FIRST THINGS FIRST - please help those whose benefits have been penalized or lost in grateful appreciation of their work for our citizens before going out and offering the world to people who already have it made. Support legislation to eliminate the penalties for those currently retired, or trying to retire from federal service or teaching. Then there may be a moral basis for new recruitment incentives. Maggie Goodrich Posted October 7, 2007 9:01 PM
• Why would a private sector retiree join the Federal Workoforce? Most importatnt one would be the FEHB. This sure beats anything the private industry has for its retirees because the government will not "pull the rug" in the name of cost savings. Thats why. dick welch Posted October 3, 2007 2:54 AM