GoFundMe for USFS Native Fish Biologist - Laid off 7 months pregnant

[Justabirdwatcher]

I do understand that, but that is what a savings account and having 3-6 months worth of your salary set aside for just this type of issues. I hope she finds a job quickly, but it seems there is more concern with a go fund me instead of asking if anyone knows of a job for her. I don’t see that anywhere in this original thread and I hate to say it, that would have changed things a lot for me. And to add to that it’s a $30,000 one, not just like 5-10,000 to get by.

I keep hearing this "have 3-6 months of salary saved..."

How many people can actually afford to do this? Consider yourself VERY fortunate if you have. Very fortunate. Most folks I know, including a lot of long time career gov employees, live paycheck to paycheck for decades, particularly if they have kids.

I don't think some people realize how little most public sector employees actually make. Many of them qualify for government assistance even as GS-7's, which typically requires a 4-year degree. Imagine that, a government employee with a college degree, that still makes so little they qualify for assistance. What is wrong with this picture?

 

[Nick87]

I keep hearing this "have 3-6 months of salary saved..."

How many people can actually afford to do this? Consider yourself VERY fortunate if you have. Very fortunate. Most folks I know, including a lot of long time career gov employees, live paycheck to paycheck for decades, particularly if they have kids.

I don't think some people realize how little most public sector employees actually make. Many of them qualify for government assistance even as GS-7's, which typically requires a 4-year degree. Imagine that, a government employee with a college degree, that still makes so little they qualify for assistance. What is wrong with this picture?

How many hours a week are those gs-7 jobs. In general?

 

[INMT]

How many hours a week are those gs-7 jobs. In general?

40

 

[Nick87]

40

Thank you.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Thank you.

Say what you're trying to say.

 

[mtmuley]

I feel bad for the biologist. We all have bumps in the road. Big ones sometimes. mtmuley

 

[Nick87]

Say what you're trying to say.

I was trying to say thank you to @INMT In that response.

Couple things though on your comment about not saving enough for 3-6 months and I'll preface it with this is no lack of empathy for anybody who gets laid off. Not a fun place to be. I hope the folks in this situation are able to get it sorted out. At 40 hours a week that would leave you plenty of time to find something on the side or a side hustle whatever until you get yourself a safety net built up. If you can't do it and put aside a little money. Might not be the best career choice. I agree a lot of jobs are not keeping up with the cost of living, not by a long shot. However, I can't imagine spending the time and money to obtain that 4 year degree to willingly take a job that doesn't allow you to build some kind of buffer. That is if course unless your comfortable taking the risk of being in this exact position.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I was trying to say thank you to @INMT In that response.

Couple things though on your comment about not saving enough for 3-6 months and I'll preface it with this is no lack of empathy for anybody who gets laid off. Not a fun place to be. I hope the folks in this situation are able to get it sorted out. At 40 hours a week that would leave you plenty of time to find something on the side or a side hustle whatever until you get yourself a safety net built up. If you can't do it and put aside a little money. Might not be the best career choice. I agree a lot of jobs are not keeping up with the cost of living, not by a long shot. However, I can't imagine spending the time and money to obtain that 4 year degree to willingly take a job that doesn't allow you to build some kind of buffer. That is if course unless your comfortable taking the risk of being in this exact position.

So, by that logic, nobody should ever be an entry level government employee in land management or natural resources. And if they are, whatever they do, don't have kids that might keep them from getting a 2nd job. And especially don't have student loans that allowed them to get the degree that was required to obtain that below-average entry level public sector salary. Mkay.

Man, you're just not being realistic. If nobody takes that risk, we don't have any federal land staff. Period.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

My point Nick, is that a lot of young people have chosen to take those risks for the betterment of our country and all of us. So, on top of all that, they shouldn't have to also deal with uncertainty about their employment, especially if they are dedicated employees that put in a lot more than the 40 they are paid for (as is usually the case). Just imagine a scenario where the best and brightest can't possibly be convinced to take low paying land mgt jobs in remote places living among people who have a very low opinion of them. huh.

 

[Nick87]

, by that logic, nobody should ever be an entry level government employee in land management or natural resources. And if they are, whatever they do, don't have kids that might keep them from getting a 2nd job. And especially don't have student loans that allowed them to get the degree that was required to obtain that below-average entry level public sector salary. Mkay.

That's not what I said. But that's about the response I expected. People can have a 2nd job for a year or two before they start a family. Never said don't have student loans either. Life is taking a series of calculated risks. Taking a job that doesn't pay your bills and starting a family without any sort of savings is pretty risky. I'm sure that's not realistic in your world either.

 

[Nick87]

My point Nick, is that a lot of young people have chosen to take those risks for the betterment of our country and all of us. So, on top of all that, they shouldn't have to also deal with uncertainty about their employment, especially if they are dedicated employees that put in a lot more than the 40 they are paid for (as is usually the case). Just imagine a scenario where the best and brightest can't possibly be convinced to take low paying land mgt jobs in remote places living among people who have a very low opinion of them. huh.

Like I said (if you read it) a lot of jobs don't pay what they should, not by a lot. But you've got to take that into account going into it. It's not like you took the job and then found out the salary. I wish a lot of jobs payed more than they do. They should. Unfortunately, you know what they say about wishing.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

That's not what I said. But that's about the response I expected. People can have a 2nd job for a year or two before they start a family. Never said don't have student loans either. Life is taking a series of calculated risks. Taking a job that doesn't pay your bills and starting a family without any sort of savings is pretty risky. I'm sure that's not realistic in your world either.

Don't start that. Be better.

WAAAY back in the 80's, not just a lot of us but most of us, got married and started a family before we had established careers. I know that's not what most young people (including any of our three kids) are doing today. Hence, the reason I'm not a grandparent yet. I never said it wasn't good advice. But be realistic. It's not as easy as you make it sound. And nobody really likes Monday morning quarterbacking either.

 

[Nick87]

Don't start that. Be better.

WAAAY back in the 80's, not just a lot of us but most of us, got married and started a family before we had established careers. I know that's not what most young people (including any of our three kids) are doing today. Hence, the reason I'm not a grandparent yet. I never said it wasn't good advice. But be realistic. It's not as easy as you make it sound. And nobody really likes Monday morning quarterbacking either.

This ain't the 80's. Have a good evening.

 

[Big Fin]

Hey guys. Take it to PMs rather than argue on this thread. That's not what this thread is for.

 

[NDGuy]

Donated and will donate $150 from my next knife batch sale. Wish them all the best and I’m sure they have a solid community to help them get through this awful time. Rosalee and Kirk, worry about taking care of your health and that of your unborn child. Thank you for your work towards supporting conservation.

 

[Redmt]

I have to throw something out there for all of you. Today's working mindset isn't what it was 50+ years ago. We didn't need a college education to become successful. I was driving truck for 8-10 bucks an hour and my 18 year old wife worked at a roadside flower stand. We worked hard, we put her through medical school and she became a Respiratory and Cardio pulmonary therapist. I drove truck and maybe made it up to 10-11 bucks an hour. Later on she was severely injured at work and eventually got disability retirement. I was making 15 bucks an hour. I think the point I'm trying to make is that you play the hand your dealt and make the best of what you have. Trim your budget and live within your limits and enjoy what you have.

 

[Flynarrow]

(Zinke)said it’s “probably a long time overdue.” He also added that he’d like to see “more foresters and less biologists” on the Forest Service’s payroll.

He must be comfortable with the progress including this woman.

Mostly our Congressional representatives remain in hiding and silent as the ravaging continues.

 

[utah400elk]

Donation and prayers sent. I sincerely wish them and all those affected the best.

 

[Schutzhund]

Wishing Rosalee and her baby good health and good fortune for the upcoming year.

 

[trb]

Thank you again to everyone for your kind words, empathy, and support.

I want to clarify a couple things that I have seen in recent posts without encouraging more discussion on the matter:

When this GoFundMe was posted, it was with a goal of $7,000. The organizer has moved that goal twice now, to maintain the incredible and unexpected momentum. If you do not want to donate, I don't blame you at all. No feelings hurt. However, I think the outpouring of support is indicative not only with the unfortunate timing of their situation, but also people's awareness of how ridiculously expensive having a kid is, and I don't mean just the birth. Most of you are probably aware (as I am with a two year old in the house) that however much they raise on GoFundMe is not going to replace the stability and benefits of a full-time job over the next 6-8 months and beyond.

And on the note of a job, there have been and will continue to be focus on finding Rosalee a new job. Some money was donated directly to a local land trust with which she has worked in the past to hire her for some temporary contract work. However, Monte Vista is a rural area, and given Kirk's job and the fact that they just bought a house last year (a fixer upper that Kirk has worked his ass off to renovate), moving for job opportunities as they have over the past 15 years isn't an option at this moment.

Thank you all again for everything, they are absolutely blown away.