Federal Workers and the Shutdown: What's the Deal with Back Pay?

The government shutdown has left many federal workers in a tough spot. With no paychecks coming in, they're worried about how they'll make ends meet. But there's some good news: a law passed in 2019 says that once the shutdown is over, these workers should get their back pay. So, who gets this back pay? Both furloughed workers and those who are still working but not getting paid are covered. That's about 1. 4 million people. The law says they'll get paid for the time they missed, at their regular rate. But here's where it gets a bit confusing. There's a memo from the White House that seems to suggest furloughed workers might not get back pay. This goes against what the law says and what experts believe. Legal experts are pretty sure that the law is clear: federal workers should get their back pay. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) even put out a notice saying that both furloughed and excepted employees would get paid retroactively. But then they updated their guidance, and now it's not so clear. The White House hasn't said much about it either. When will this back pay arrive? As soon as the shutdown ends, according to the law. But with no end in sight, it's hard to say when that will be. Federal workers are in a tough spot, and it's not clear when they'll see their next paycheck. What about government contractors? They're not covered by the same law, so they might not get back pay. They can keep working and getting paid if their contracts are fully funded, but that's not always the case. And what about unemployment benefits? Federal workers might be eligible for them during the shutdown. But if they get back pay later, it will be applied against any unemployment benefits they received. Excepted workers, who are still working, usually can't get unemployment benefits.