Federal employees "working from home"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm guessing no one is going to talk about this on here, but my kid's dad is a very well-paid fed who is constantly on personal vacation. I mean, I've lost track of how many times per year he has been off traveling, plus breaks with the kids winter break, spring break, summer vacations, being chaperone for their field trips, able to pick them up early after school, attend their sports practices at times most people are working. This is has been ongoing for years. How much leave to federal employees get or is he milking the system? It would be impossible that this is carryover year after year and he is not the type to be up on his computer late into the night. I am working in the wrong sector.

It sounds like you need a therapist, rather than complain about your ex using his benefits. It's absolutely unhealthy that you're angry about him taking time off with his kids, picking them up from school, attending sports practice, and joining field trips. Anyone else would be calling him a damn good dad.

+1000!!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand this view that working at home is not working. People in the office are constantly going out to get premium coffee, sometimes multiple times a day. No one in office is doing just a 30 minute lunch if they step foot out of their building. That's in addition to all the impromptu meetings in conference rooms that end up being 1 hour of chatting. All that time wasting is in public view and yet people still pretend being in office is productive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe he was a jerk to you, op, but he’s clearly not a jerk as a dad. Just let go of your resentment towards him or it will really drive a wedge between you and your child. I frankly wouldn’t care if my ex was a stripper if he made an effort to pick up our kid everyday and go to soccer games, etc. You need to get a grip on reality here. Your resentment means he’s living rent free in your head and you are only one making yourself (and hopefully not your kid) suffer.

I wouldn't make assumptions about his contributions as a parent. Physically looking present is only one aspect of parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the pick ups and practices he might be flexing. He can leave for a few hours and either start early or end later to cover the time away. He should have enough leave to cover a week for winter break, spring break, and summer break. That leaves a week for a vacation and 5 days to cover field trips, etc.


He may get his bonus as leave hours instead of money. I can't tell you if he is slacking or not, but he could be working 40 hours and performing as expected and still be able to do the things he does with his child. One of the advantages of being a Fed is the work life balance.

On our dime.

Hahaha. It's always a certain type with this quip. Guess what, if you are a private sector lawyer and make twice a fed lawyer and its because you charge your clients insane hourly fees, your fancy car is on my dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. As a federal contractor, I see both sides. I interact closely with federal employees who struggle with work life balance because of the work expectations. I'm baffled that in a separate federal agency its so vastly different where he can be away so often under so many circumstances.

So, your ex may be more efficient and have better time management skills than the feds you work with? Or they may look stressed but you have no idea when they are off and when they are on, really? Your ex may be getting shit done at 7am and then free at 4pm but you're only seeing the 4pm part. If he's well liked at work and doing well by his family, what's the problem you're trying to identify? Or are you just mad he has it better figured out than you do?

[Anonymous]

Hate the game not the player.

[Anonymous]

A lot of my neighbors probably think this about me too, but as a fed, unlike many of my private sector counter parts, I have to account for all of my hours on an actual timesheet.

So yes, you see me at school pickup at 3:30 PM, because I started my workday at 7 AM, and sometimes have to log back on later. Yes, I can take random teacher workdays off with my kid because I include them in planning how to use my 20 vacation days and 4-5 days off time off awards every year. Yes, i can take kids to some appointments using sick leave (although my spouse, who's salaried and doesnt have to account for his time, has done more thos year). Yes, you see me out exercising midday a couple times a week because I have to take a 30 minute unpaid lunch break, and if I am teleworking and don't have video meetings after, I'd rather spend it running than eating.

It probably looks like I'm never working, because you aren't in my house while I'm working. But I account for 40 hours every single week, mostly active work, and approved leave if not. OP, have you looked at your ex's time sheets?

[Anonymous]

I like how we are all back to justifying our existence because OP is mad her husband is an involved father and he probably gets accolades and she hates him.

This is an interpersonal problem between ex-spouses and has nothing to do with anyone else’ work schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this view that working at home is not working. People in the office are constantly going out to get premium coffee, sometimes multiple times a day. No one in office is doing just a 30 minute lunch if they step foot out of their building. That's in addition to all the impromptu meetings in conference rooms that end up being 1 hour of chatting. All that time wasting is in public view and yet people still pretend being in office is productive.

It's almost as bad as people who think that SAH moms don't work.
It's the whole idea that work and home are mutually exclusive

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked for the government for 20 years. It’s interesting that the instinct of most posters on here is to defend WFH, the time the dad has with his kids, federal employee time-off benefits, etc. In other words, when confronted with the possibility of abuse, federal workers quickly rally around the flag. My experience with such knee-jerk responses is that many know there is abuse, but they don’t want light shed on it. Why? Because they do it too. They don’t want the gravy train to stop. Another typical response to such allegations is that federal employees need a break because they are underpaid. Again, this is all about distraction. For the work performed, many, many Federal employees are overpaid, especially when lifetime benefits are considered. This is even more egregious at the financial regulators. I know. Been there, done that. OP, what you describe is abuse and fraud. It has nothing to do with flexible work arrangements. Unfortunately, I could name you a dozen people from my former agency division that do as your ex does. Yes, they abuse the system. Any “jealousy” on your part is really outrage that this can be happening, and yes, a bit of “if this is how it works, why not me.” But, this isn’t how it should work. You are right to question it.

Yup, everyone’s colluding. That must be it.

It’s interesting to me that you think people pushing back on what’s an obvious troll post must have a nefarious reason to do so. What other reason could they possibly have for defending themselves when they’re part of a workforce that is the constant target of disingenuous attacks from certain political groups whose primary motive is to lower their own tax bill at everyone’s expense?

Reread my post. I don’t need to wonder if this happens, I know that it does. I’ve witnessed it. I knew a young woman who had a child out of wedlock. Even after she returned to work, no one knew where she was. She was never available for assignments. During COVID, she went to live with her mother. Anytime someone raised an issue, her Director covered for her. She became an untouchable. She makes $200k. There are many stories like this. I’m not a troll. I’m channeling reality.

frequently someone who appears untouchable is actually on a PIP and their management is dealing with the process. while they are dealing with the process they cannot publicize anything about the process, including the fact that the employee is being dealt with. management will cover for the employee rather than jeopardize the process in any way.

that said, as others have pointed out, different agencies inherently have different flexibilities, and of course those flexibilities have increased as a result of pandemic. as others have noted, maxiflex schedules can allow people to start working as early 6am, and allow them to break up their day and finish up their workday upto midnight. they can also accrue credit hours by working more than 8 hours on one day in order to take leave on another. it doesn't sound like OP is actually familiar enough with their ex-spouse's agency or work to know what their work actually entails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand this view that working at home is not working. People in the office are constantly going out to get premium coffee, sometimes multiple times a day. No one in office is doing just a 30 minute lunch if they step foot out of their building. That's in addition to all the impromptu meetings in conference rooms that end up being 1 hour of chatting. All that time wasting is in public view and yet people still pretend being in office is productive.

Yesssss. When I was in the office, I had a coworker who spent hours in our area talking about NOTHING AT ALL. She got maybe an hour of work done a day. I am not kidding. At least I'm getting some work done now at home. In blessed silence.

[Anonymous]

Worker hard at home than I did in the office. F. Off OP.

[Anonymous]

If this were a random person, go ahead and report it. But given it’s your ex, I recommend just leaving it alone regardless of what he is doing. He’s doing enough not to get fired. You know his work ethic, what do you think? I’m not federal but am very efficient and I can do my job in maybe 70% of the time. I get excellent reviews.

Or maybe his office is looking for a reason to fire him and you give them ammunition. Then what? He loses his job and your child suffers. If not now, if you have primary custody, then surely in the future when you would appreciate the extra college savings. Think big picture here.

[Anonymous]

He could also have comp time from working on the weekends when he doesn't have the kids.

[Anonymous]

At my agency it’s pretty common to get time off aware of 40 additional hours.