Dunsizer Quoted in Columbus Business First Story titled “Taking a Public-Sector Job Not Such a Compromise Anymore”

Jennifer Dunsizer, of counsel in the Vorys Columbus office, was quoted in a Columbus Business First story about the benefits provided to public sector employees. According to the story, the private sector no longer is the only option for ambitious job seekers.

The story states:

“Public jobs typically have offered lower base pay levels but better pensions, experts say. For example, the city of Columbus’ financial officer, Auditor Hugh Dorrian, was paid just over $160,000 last year. Meanwhile, the CFO of Worthington Industries, a $2.6 billion manufacturer, received $437,500 in salary and a total compensation package valued at nearly $1.8 million.

Still, there are limits to what a public job can offer in compensation to its workers because government operating budgets rely on taxpayers for revenue and those who pay the bills will go only so far. Plus, when it comes to public work, the concept of paying bonuses or hiking compensation based on increasing sales doesn’t exist.

But that is changing. To attract better candidates, public agencies and departments are shifting the money that is available to them, for example reallocating more to salaries instead of offering lower deductibles for medical benefits.

‘The public-sector base wage is going up because they want to get people who have a more entrepreneurial approach to what is the best way of delivering a product, whether it’s education or selling drivers licenses at the BMV,’ Dunsizer said.

‘The theory is that person will ultimately save you money,” she said. “Even though you paid a couple thousand in base pay, they make up for that extra pay in efficiency savings.’”                        

To read the entire story, visit the Columbus Business First website. (Subscription may be required).