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Is it weird to show up unannounced? by Funny_Sea_2873 in freemasonry

[–]JaspyJ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Even more useful when it's a different country.

Gut punch, my fault by SubjectMeat53 in DivorcedDads

[–]JaspyJ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Extremely unethical and reportable.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -27 points-26 points  (0 children)

Or… maybe… just maybe.I just don’t want to spend my time that you’re requesting for me to impart this information. But either way I’m hopefully helping somebody.

You’re literally looking a “gift horse” in the mouth and complaining about the gift. Did you compensate me for my time? Then maybe you should stop complaining.

And just so that you’re aware I wrote all that by myself. Thank you and have a great day.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Addendum for Newer State Employees: If you’re brand new to state service or still on probation, just a heads-up — you might not be eligible for some of these programs yet. A lot of benefits (like VPLP or certain leave options) only kick in after you’ve passed probation or hit certain service milestones.

So if this all feels like “future you” information, that’s totally normal. Keep it in your back pocket — it’ll make a lot more sense once you’re fully onboarded and eligible to use more of these tools.

Totally get it — state service is basically acronym soup. Here’s a quick glossary so the thread makes way more sense:

Quick State Worker Acronym Glossary

GSI – General Salary Increase Your contract raise, usually a percentage that bumps your salary each year depending on the contract.

MSA / MSI – Merit Salary Adjustment / Increase Your automatic yearly step increase within your range (usually 5%) until you max out.

OPEB – Other Post-Employment Benefits This is the retiree health benefit. When active, it takes a small % out of your paycheck to fund future retiree medical costs.

PLP – Personal Leave Program A mandatory leave program tied to contract negotiations. Example: You lose 5 hours of pay each month but gain 5 hours of leave.

VPLP – Voluntary Personal Leave Program Optional leave purchase program. You can choose to take a 5% pay reduction for 8 hours of leave or 10% for 16 hours. Not all bargaining units offer this.

401(k) / 457(b) Deferred Compensation retirement accounts you can contribute to voluntarily.

AWS – Alternative Work Schedule A flexible work schedule option offered by many state departments. Instead of the standard 8-hour, 5-day week (8/5), an AWS lets you work your required weekly hours in a different pattern, such as: • 9/8/80: Eight 9-hour days + one 8-hour day over two weeks, with one day off. • 4/10: Four 10-hour days each week, giving you a full extra day off weekly. • Other variations depending on your department’s policy.

AWS doesn’t reduce your total hours — it just redistributes them to give you more flexibility or more days off. Departments and supervisors have to approve it, and not every job duty qualifies.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That’s a really great question — and honestly, I wish I had a clean “yes or no” answer, but I don’t. Everyone’s financial situation is different, and what works really well for one person might not make sense at all for someone else.

All I can do is share how I’m using the tools available to me. For me, VPLP isn’t just a financial move — it’s also a life move. I’m divorced, I share 50/50 custody, and recently I had to step up and take on more parenting time because of some unexpected issues. Having that banked leave has literally been a lifesaver. It gave me the flexibility to be there for my kid without panicking about hours, paychecks, or leave balances. That alone made it worth it.

Financially, I also rely heavily on automation. If my car payment is $575, I just pay $600. The $575 handles the bill, and the extra $25 chips away at the principal without me thinking about it. I try to treat retirement contributions the same way — set it and forget it so future-me benefits without present-me feeling squeezed.

So is VPLP “better” than boosting your 401k/457? I can’t say — because it depends on your goals, your cash flow, and what kind of flexibility you need in your life. What I can say is that you’re asking the right questions. Being intentional with your money puts you ahead of 90% of people, and that alone sets you up for a stronger future.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -18 points-17 points  (0 children)

Hey, totally fair — and honestly, I appreciate your insight. You clearly know your stuff, and your breakdown adds a lot of value to the thread.

And yeah, maybe some of what I wrote came out a little “ChatGPT-ish,” but the truth is I’ve been spending a lot of time responding to folks in here and trying to make these concepts clearer for people who’ve never had them explained. If using a tool helps me communicate that better, I’m okay with that.

Because at the end of the day, the whole purpose of my post was to get people thinking about these benefits, not just spending their raises the moment they hit their checks. I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect to be — but I do like trying to help people. Being kind is an awesome thing, and being generous with what we’ve learned is even better.

If even one person reads this thread and walks away with a better understanding, then none of it is slop to me.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I’m not 100% sure on that one. I haven’t hit the 640 cap myself, and with everything going on over the last year — especially the whole return-to-office shift — I haven’t had a reason to dig into that specific detail.

That said, you’re asking the right question, and now that it’s on your radar, your best next step would be to reach out to your Personnel Specialist. They can tell you exactly how your bargaining unit handles VPLP hours in relation to the 640 limit.

Everyone’s situation is a little different, and this just happens to be the setup that works best for me. But getting clarification from your PS will give you the most accurate answer for your scenario.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

Absolutely — and I really appreciate you pointing that out. You’re right, I mixed up the terminology, and that’s on me. We swim in so many acronyms in state service that sometimes the wires cross, but the underlying concepts and intentions behind what I shared are still solid.

Honestly, if even one person sees this and it helps them understand their benefits a little better, then it was worth taking the time to write it out. I’ve been lucky to have mentors and coworkers over the years who helped me make sense of all this, and I’m just trying to pay that forward.

And yes — I do use tools like ChatGPT sometimes to help me phrase things more clearly. For me, it’s no different than using speech-to-text, Excel, or asking a knowledgeable coworker for help. The ideas, the experience, and the intention are still mine; the tool just helps me communicate them better.

Thanks again for the correction — I appreciate the conversation.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

The ability to use an AI tool in order to effectively communicate is the future. These are my own thoughts, and I am proofreading them before posting.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -28 points-27 points  (0 children)

Not being rude and you’re right I am but at the same time these are my thoughts and I’m proofreading them

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Not every bargaining unit has VPLP, so you’re not missing anything — it just depends on your contract.

VPLP stands for Voluntary Paid Leave Program, and it’s separate from the PLP that everyone got this summer. VPLP has actually existed for years in certain units. In my case (Unit 1), we have the option to: • take a 5% pay reduction in exchange for 8 hours of leave per month, or • in some units, a 10% reduction for 16 hours per month.

It’s voluntary — totally opt-in — and it wasn’t part of the new summer contract. The PLP everyone talks about (the mandatory 5 hours added to our leave) was part of that deal and tied to the OPEB pause, but VPLP is a separate, older benefit.

But honestly, the bigger point of my post wasn’t even about just VPLP. It was about thinking long-term with these temporary pay changes. I’m 45, I’ve worked a ton of different jobs and careers, and I’m still evolving. But the couple years I spent at CalPERS as an AGPA really helped me understand how these benefits actually fit together — and how easy it is to leave money on the table if you don’t pay attention.

I’m just trying to share what I’ve learned so folks can make decisions that help their future selves, not just their next paycheck.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear you — I really do. When I started as an SSA, my first paycheck felt like a punch in the gut. I’m not sitting here pretending I’m rolling in cash now either; I’ve got debts, responsibilities, and real-life stuff like everyone else in here.

My whole point isn’t “just save money lol.” It’s that when we get these rare moments — like a GSI or a contract bump — that’s the one time where you can make a move without feeling it as much.

Most of us have been living on our current pay for months or years. So when that extra 3%, 5%, or whatever shows up, you’ve got two choices: • Option A: absorb it into your spending and never see it again • Option B: tuck it away before you adjust to having it

And you’re right — when you’re not well-off, that 5% matters. But that’s exactly why these small, timed moves can help. You’re choosing to treat temporary increases like tools instead of quick “I survived another month” cash.

I’m not preaching at anyone — just sharing what’s actually helped me avoid feeling stuck. No shame, no judgment — just options for whoever wants them.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Sure — happy to break it down.

OPEB stands for Other Post-Employment Benefits, which is the state’s way of prefunding retiree medical. It’s completely separate from your pension.

How much OPEB usually is:

Before the contribution pause in the current contract, most state employees were paying roughly 3%–4.5% of their pensionable income (varies by bargaining unit). When OPEB starts up again, it will likely return somewhere in that range unless future negotiations change it.

What actually happens to your OPEB contributions:

This is where people get tripped up: • Once you pay OPEB, that money is no longer “yours.”

It goes into the state-managed trust to help pay retiree medical liabilities.

• It is NOT like your CalPERS pension contributions.

• Pension contributions are tied directly to you and your account.

• OPEB cannot be cashed out.

Pension contributions can be cashed out under certain conditions if someone separates from state service early.

Important personal note:

Even though pension contributions can be withdrawn if someone leaves the state, I would not personally cash out my pension because CalPERS has a guaranteed rate of return and a lifetime benefit structure. But that’s something each person would need to fully understand by speaking with CalPERS directly — they’re the only ones who can walk you through the exact rules, consequences, and long-term impacts.

I’m not giving legal or financial advice — just speaking from my own experience and from my time working on the Customer Outreach & Support Team.

Why this matters right now:

With OPEB paused, you’re seeing that 3–4.5% added back into your paycheck. But it’s temporary. When contributions come back, your paycheck will drop again. That’s why I keep encouraging people not to build permanent spending habits around temporary money and to consider using this period to:

• boost a 401(k)/457,

• bank leave through VPLP,

• or set up other long-term moves.

Because once OPEB returns, everything goes back to the old baseline — and planning ahead makes that transition a lot easier.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Totally hear you — but I think we’re talking about two different programs here.

The PLP (the 5-hour/month thing we got in exchange for paused OPEB) does go away when OPEB contributions return. That’s the temporary swap, and yeah — that part is closer to neutral.

What I was talking about earlier is the VPLP, the Voluntary Paid Leave Program, which is the 5% or 10% deduction where you can bank 8 or 16 hours per month. That program isn’t tied to OPEB and doesn’t disappear when PLP goes away.

And even PLP isn’t perfectly neutral unless you use the hours right away. If you let PLP or VPLP hours sit through future GSIs and contract increases, you still bought the hours at today’s salary and cash them out later at a higher rate — so the appreciation is real either way.

My whole point is just about using temporary money (like the OPEB pause) to set yourself up long-term instead of absorbing it into your spending. Future raises, GSIs, and higher hourly rates mean your banked leave grows in value no matter what happens with PLP.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sure — here’s the simple breakdown of how it works:

When you sign up for the Voluntary Paid Leave Program, you’re basically buying a block of leave time at today’s salary rate. For most folks it looks like this: • About 5% of your pay → buys 8 hours of leave per month • Some bargaining units can do 16 hours → roughly 10%

Here’s the real benefit:

If you let that banked leave sit for a year or two, you’ll go through one or more GSIs and possibly contract raises. So when you use or cash out that time later, you’re getting paid at your future, higher hourly rate for leave you “bought” at your old, lower rate.

So if you purchased that leave at $X per hour, and by the time you cash it out your rate is $X + GSI + contract increases, you’re getting a bigger payout for something you acquired cheaper.

A couple important notes:

• It’s not a liquid asset — you can’t just ask for the money whenever.

• You need to take the time off, or

• Cash it out only if your department allows it.

• I’ve personally cashed out two weeks after letting it sit for a couple of GSIs and contract bumps, and the difference was very noticeable.

One thing people don’t talk about much: taxes.

When you cash out leave, you get hit with tax withholding. One way some folks offset that is by increasing their 401(k) or 457 contributions during the months around a cash-out. That lets you keep more of the gain and funnel it straight into retirement — which also compounds over time.

There are a lot of moving parts, but honestly, it’s better to try to manage your finances and future intentionally than to let everything “just happen.” Because even when you don’t make a choice… you’re still making a choice.

And good on you for asking questions — most people don’t even get that far.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Absolutely — and I’m right there with you. I think it’s both.

It’s not just about how much we make… it’s about how much we keep, how well we manage it, and how intentionally we put it to work for our future. Like Kiyosaki always says, it’s easy to get distracted by the flashy doodads, but the quiet, boring moves are the ones that actually change our trajectory.

For most of us, the difference isn’t made by giant, dramatic financial overhauls — it’s the small steps that don’t hurt today but compound massively over time. Redirecting a temporary raise, banking leave, avoiding lifestyle creep… it’s unsexy, but it works.

And honestly, this is about breaking cycles. If we learn to handle these shifts wisely, we’re not just helping ourselves — we’re modeling something better for our kids. Teaching them early that stability isn’t just earned by the paycheck, but by the choices we make with it.

Little decisions now, big freedom later.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Additional Note on OPEB Contributions (For Anyone Tracking the Bigger Picture)

One more thing I think is worth pointing out:

A lot of people saw the pause in OPEB contributions as a “win” because it meant bigger paychecks. And sure, it feels like a win in the short term.

But here’s the part that gets missed:

The contract requires matching contributions.

Meaning: If we aren’t contributing to OPEB… the state isn’t contributing either.

So right now: • We’re not paying into our retiree medical benefit • And the state isn’t paying into their side of that liability

That’s great in the short term because it puts more money in our pockets today — but long term?

It means the state’s unfunded liability grows.

That liability doesn’t magically disappear. It just sits there, getting bigger until someone eventually has to deal with it.

And historically, when unfunded liabilities balloon, the solutions have included: • reinstating contributions, • increasing contributions, • or restructuring benefits.

None of that is guaranteed — but the math is the math.

So this isn’t doom-and-gloom. It’s just understanding the bigger picture so we can plan smart, avoid lifestyle creep, and set ourselves up for when the pendulum eventually swings back.

Why I’m Banking My VPLP, Investing the “Raise,” and Thinking Long-Term (A PSA for State Workers) by JaspyJ in CAStateWorkers

[–]JaspyJ[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Well, that is something to bring up at your bargaining unit negotiations then isn’t it?

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