Feds- how are you feeling?

[Bernadine]

I'm getting pretty nervous about some of the proposed changes to benefits, and about a shutdown in December.

We're still waiting for someone to be nominated to head our agency. It's been pretty quiet- this morning was the first I heard a rumor of a name.

I'm still concerned about the workforce plan the agency had to create as a result of Mick Mulvaney's memo earlier this year. It's been super hush-hush and won't be released until February with the President's Budget.

[pumpkin]

Oct 23, 2017 13:37:19 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

I'm getting pretty nervous about some of the proposed changes to benefits, and about a shutdown in December.

I'm very very nervous about rumors I'm hearing about possible benefits changes. All while my agency is trying to implement higher production standards and making it much much easier to fire us; it's not pretty here right now and I'm not really sure what to do.

But as a single, middle-class woman, in a HCOL area I can't afford to bear the weight of a tax cut for everyone else.

ETA: also, I'm overly annoyed with office/agency politics in general and it's coloring my overall view. Morale is at an all time low and honestly, things are just bad right now.

[bex]

Huh. I wasn't really that nervous. Now I am. lol.

[Ramz-ee]

I haven't seen anything that has actually come close to being passed. Did I miss something?

I try not to get too worked up until something looks close to passing. When I first became a Fed, I panicked every time I read or heard something. I gave myself an anxiety problem.

[Bernadine]

Oct 23, 2017 13:58:20 GMT -5 Ramz-ee said:

I haven't seen anything that has actually come close to being passed. Did I miss something?

I try not to get too worked up until something looks close to passing. When I first became a Fed, I panicked every time I read or heard something. I gave myself an anxiety problem.

I know I have to keep telling myself this.

[Bernadine]

Oct 23, 2017 14:02:01 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

What are the proposed benefit changes as you understand them?

Things being tossed around- pay freeze, elimination of COLA, cut in paid leave (I'm two years away from 8 hours!), changes to TSP contributions, changes to the G fund.

[ssmjlm]

I tend not to worry until it's time to worry. We've had freezes before, so that's not uncommon. We just haven't caught up from the last one sadly.

I do hope they get over the budget issues. It is so hard for us to do our jobs in a constant CR. Last year was a nightmare.

[Deleted]

You know, at this point, I just want to KNOW. I need to get surgery on both my hands, and I’m over here trying to figure out when I can have it done since I’m using almost all my leave on maternity leave. My whole job involves typing, so my hope is to only miss a week of work and use dictation software when I go back. But fuck, if they’re gonna shut us down, I might as well get my first surgery out of the way then.

[ssmjlm]

That article hits the nail on the head. We already have a huge issue with recruitment and this will just make it worse. We were just talking about how hard it is to get new employees in the door and the balance of bringing in a younger work force plus hiring veterans.

[Bernadine]

Oct 23, 2017 14:34:26 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Oct 23, 2017 14:09:02 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Things being tossed around- pay freeze, elimination of COLA, cut in paid leave (I'm two years away from 8 hours!), changes to TSP contributions, changes to the G fund.

All of these things? 


www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2017/10/leaked-compensation-proposals-could-have-huge-repercussions-civil-service/141950/?oref=top-story

Yes, that's it.

I know not all of those will be included in a final bill, but some might, and it makes me nervous to think of which.

[andwhat]

I have bitched about this here before, but at my agency alone HR said around 100 people have their retirement paperwork ready for just in case. And from what I have heard others agencies are in the same boat. So this will be interesting.

At my agency most people are worried about not being grandfathered in and what the plan will be for the ss supplement since we have mandatory retirement at 57.

[Bernadine]

Oct 23, 2017 15:38:34 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I have bitched about this here before, but at my agency alone HR said around 100 people have their retirement paperwork ready for just in case. And from what I have heard others agencies are in the same boat. So this will be interesting.

At my agency most people are worried about not being grandfathered in and what the plan will be for the ss supplement since we have mandatory retirement at 57.

So, speaking of HR, that's where they're looking to start exploring shared services. I'm not in HR, but do personnel-type work. I'm fascinated, not necessarily in a good way, to see where this goes.

[curbsideprophet]

Oct 23, 2017 18:55:56 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Oct 23, 2017 15:38:34 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I have bitched about this here before, but at my agency alone HR said around 100 people have their retirement paperwork ready for just in case. And from what I have heard others agencies are in the same boat. So this will be interesting.

At my agency most people are worried about not being grandfathered in and what the plan will be for the ss supplement since we have mandatory retirement at 57.

So, speaking of HR, that's where they're looking to start exploring shared services. I'm not in HR, but do personnel-type work. I'm fascinated, not necessarily in a good way, to see where this goes.

I feel like they are already doing this though.

Overall I am trying to get too upset but the whole situation is very frustrating.

[ssmjlm]

Oct 23, 2017 18:55:56 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

Oct 23, 2017 15:38:34 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I have bitched about this here before, but at my agency alone HR said around 100 people have their retirement paperwork ready for just in case. And from what I have heard others agencies are in the same boat. So this will be interesting.

At my agency most people are worried about not being grandfathered in and what the plan will be for the ss supplement since we have mandatory retirement at 57.

So, speaking of HR, that's where they're looking to start exploring shared services. I'm not in HR, but do personnel-type work. I'm fascinated, not necessarily in a good way, to see where this goes.

My own command can't manage to share HR responsibilities, so if this actually works maybe we won't get lists that are 6+ months old for candidates who have all moved on.

[andwhat]

Oct 24, 2017 7:39:00 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Oct 23, 2017 18:55:56 GMT -5 Bernadine said:

So, speaking of HR, that's where they're looking to start exploring shared services. I'm not in HR, but do personnel-type work. I'm fascinated, not necessarily in a good way, to see where this goes.

My own command can't manage to share HR responsibilities, so if this actually works maybe we won't get lists that are 6+ months old for candidates who have all moved on.

We have this issue as well.

[candreco]

Oct 23, 2017 15:38:34 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I have bitched about this here before, but at my agency alone HR said around 100 people have their retirement paperwork ready for just in case. And from what I have heard others agencies are in the same boat. So this will be interesting.

At my agency most people are worried about not being grandfathered in and what the plan will be for the ss supplement since we have mandatory retirement at 57.

Similar at my command... morale is down, and more and more people are picking their retirement dates within the next year.  A lot of it isn't directly related to potential changes to benefits, but it is a factor.  Like most agencies, I assume, we've been pushed further into doing more with less, and people are fatigued.  Politics is also coming into play in higher up decisions to the point that the options that make sense technically and fiscally are passed over, and people are getting frustrated.

I won't be shocked if we get a shutdown in December.

[andwhat]

Oct 24, 2017 7:53:29 GMT -5 candreco said:

Oct 23, 2017 15:38:34 GMT -5 andwhat said:

I have bitched about this here before, but at my agency alone HR said around 100 people have their retirement paperwork ready for just in case. And from what I have heard others agencies are in the same boat. So this will be interesting.

At my agency most people are worried about not being grandfathered in and what the plan will be for the ss supplement since we have mandatory retirement at 57.

Similar at my command... morale is down, and more and more people are picking their retirement dates within the next year.  A lot of it isn't directly related to potential changes to benefits, but it is a factor.  Like most agencies, I assume, we've been pushed further into doing more with less, and people are fatigued.  Politics is also coming into play in higher up decisions to the point that the options that make sense technically and fiscally are passed over, and people are getting frustrated.

I won't be shocked if we get a shutdown in December.

We are essential personnel and have to work either way. And then hope we get paid at some point. But Feds are lazy and overpaid.

[candreco]

Oct 24, 2017 8:01:03 GMT -5 andwhat said:

Oct 24, 2017 7:53:29 GMT -5 candreco said:

Similar at my command... morale is down, and more and more people are picking their retirement dates within the next year.  A lot of it isn't directly related to potential changes to benefits, but it is a factor.  Like most agencies, I assume, we've been pushed further into doing more with less, and people are fatigued.  Politics is also coming into play in higher up decisions to the point that the options that make sense technically and fiscally are passed over, and people are getting frustrated.

I won't be shocked if we get a shutdown in December.

We are essential personnel and have to work either way. And then hope we get paid at some point. But Feds are lazy and overpaid.

Right?  DH and I have both been essential and non-essential personnel for shutdowns, and it really sucks either way.  Being essential and working for free when it seems like everyone else is off sucks more though.  If it happens this year, DH will probably be essential but I wouldn't.

I also don't trust this administration or Congress to authorize back pay either.  We're putting off a kitchen reno because with both of us being feds, I don't want to commit any of our savings to that right now when we might need that money to pay the bills. 

[Bernadine]

I didn't realize there were those kinds of HR issues other places. Ours does pretty well in comparison, so our agency is hesitant to get into shared services.

[Velvetshady]

In the last few weeks DH has gone from applying for any relevant job he could find at any another agency to reaching out to his private sector contacts and updating his private sector resume. Partly due to the BS of the cuts and shutting down again and partly because his last preformance review may end up in a HR compliant against the current of a stream of incompetent management he's had to deal with since his Dept hasn't been allowed to promote any new 14/15s in the last several years.

Unfortunately, both our careers are focuses on supporting the Fed Government--he could shift industries, I can't without a complete career change.

<rant on> His current bosses' boss wants to give him an "Unsuccessful" rating. He meet or exceeded all his goals and deadlines, as did all his reports. But this dumbass doesn't understand the difference between a Tier 1 Help Desk and a Tier 3 Help Desk and has randomly decided the Tier 3 resources DH manages should be meeting Tier 1 service levels on closing out tickets. Because resetting a forgotten password and working with a software vendor to fix an inherent code issue take the exact same time and level of effort . *This is who is left in middle/non-SES management people, this is what the GOP has done to reduce the size of Govt. And in an area even the GOP believes is an essential, Federal Govt area.* <rant off>

[melissa]

I try not to stress about it until it gets closer to December. Since DH and I are both feds it does scare me a little more than it would if it was just one of us.

I do think the agency I work for handles HR items rather well and I'm not just saying that since I work in the HR department (not directly with personnel transactions).

I do agree though that all of the items they are trying to enforce will not help us to recruit the workforce that we need going forward.

[MrsAxilla]

If there's a shut down, I'm totally calling my MAGAT dad and telling him to send us a check.

[andwhat]

Oct 25, 2017 11:03:21 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

If there's a shut down, I'm totally calling my MAGAT dad and telling him to send us a check.

Can I get one too?

[Deleted]

Oct 25, 2017 11:32:55 GMT -5 andwhat said:

Oct 25, 2017 11:03:21 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

If there's a shut down, I'm totally calling my MAGAT dad and telling him to send us a check.

Can I get one too?

ME THREE!

We have to start paying for daycare in December. I will shit a brick if I miss a paycheck.

[simpsongal]

It's just frustrating to work in this climate. We're trying to carry out our mission but this Administration and Congress are not making things easy. Operating on a CR also makes for a lot of shortsighted and poor decisions.

[eclaires]

So will they work through Christmas if the government shuts down to get it reopened? OR will they go home for like 10 weeks of vacation and then come back?

I want this to at least ruin their Christmas if we have a shutdown. PETTY.

[lishie]

I'm feeling incredibly overworked already, and my friends at other agencies are feeling the same. We feel stretched to the brink, and see no evidence of any relief coming. Instead, it seems like federal workers have giant targets on their backs. I've been a government employee my entire career and I don't think I've ever felt this badly about my job.

I feel like any minimal benefits we had previously are being chipped away. I know I won't be essential if we shut down, and I dread the idea of no pay for a few weeks. The only bright side would be time off around the holidays.

I have no faith in the current administration.