S/O Best and Worst Federal Agencies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the agencies that come up on the best list are there because they have lax environments. Like Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, for example. Sounds like a ridiculous agency with persistent spending that's in violation of the FAR but it makes the top five small agencies quite frequently.

FMCS is fucking ridiculous. i had a mediation there in the fall, in their baltimore office (in hanover, actually). there is one guy there (gary eder - nice dude) and you can just tell he doesn't stress out about jack shit. i bet he does 8 hours of actual work a week. the other offices were just empty.

i had another mediation at the DC headquarters early this year. they have a couple of entire floors, and nobody seemed to be doing shit. both we and the union asked to have the mediation at the union hall, and the mediator basically refused. he didn't want to be bothered to leave his office. seems like the cushiest job in the world.

I like the font of the FMCS sign on K st. It looks like straight out of 1954. I was opposite Gary Eder in a mediation once, I think. Actually FMCS is kind of my dream job - how do you get in there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid USDA like the plague. There is a reason it's called the last plantation. And don't ever do contract work there...

I work there now. It really depends on what Agency you fall into. Some are great to work with. Some are horrible. My first area was mediocre at best. My current area is awesome. Full time telework, responsive boss, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the agencies that come up on the best list are there because they have lax environments. Like Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, for example. Sounds like a ridiculous agency with persistent spending that's in violation of the FAR but it makes the top five small agencies quite frequently.

FMCS is fucking ridiculous. i had a mediation there in the fall, in their baltimore office (in hanover, actually). there is one guy there (gary eder - nice dude) and you can just tell he doesn't stress out about jack shit. i bet he does 8 hours of actual work a week. the other offices were just empty.

i had another mediation at the DC headquarters early this year. they have a couple of entire floors, and nobody seemed to be doing shit. both we and the union asked to have the mediation at the union hall, and the mediator basically refused. he didn't want to be bothered to leave his office. seems like the cushiest job in the world.

Awesome! Thanks for the inside view. Here are some articles on FMCS that are also pretty awesome.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/fmcs-under-congressional-fire-after-examiner-report-on-widespread-waste-and-fraud/article/2539183
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/head-of-scandal-plagued-fmcs-to-resign-following-washington-examiner-series/article/2539828

They fired their Procurement Officer because she was concerned about purchase requests for items not allowable under government purchase rules. An agency devoted to harmonious labor relations escorting somebody out when she tries to do her job, gotta love it. But it's on the Best Agency list, so where do I sign up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Though not an official agency, the federal reserve is a great place to work.

Do you mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve? The Banks of the Federal Reserve are different entities overseen by the Board. Except for NY. They think they run everything. It used to be awesome. It is probably still a step up from most agencies.

Yup. Much different environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NIH is stuck on divisions being top heavy and just employ slave drivers.

So true! I'm looking at other HHS agencies as I type this.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to venture out on a limb and say that the Office of Justice Programs within DOJ is not bad. It's the grant-making arm of DOJ and while it has its share of the typical federal bureaucracy, the work-life balance is pretty decent. We can telework 80% of the time, though if you do that, you lose your dedicated cube space and go to an open office (but they just renovated that space and it's very nice). We can work maxi-flex or AWS. The programs we work on are meaningful, for the most part. In my specific bureau/division, it's a pretty diverse crowd and I would say at least half of the supervisors are minorities and/or women.

I love half of my portfolio and am ambivalent about the other half, though I know it's an important program. I stay because I've established a good reputation and because the work-life balance is terrific.

[Anonymous]

Department of Labor. Asscrack of the Federal Government

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Department of Labor. Asscrack of the Federal Government

I've heard this from many people. The interesting thing is that they're supposed to stand up for worker's rights and yet they manage to be one of the worst agencies in government.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIA is a great place to work.

It's never mentioned on here, but it is the best! I know people from across all Departments/Agencies and the CIA folks are the happiest.

I suspect it has something to do with having the fewest political appointees. They have only three or four. They also tend to use their own processes,for hiring and not USAjobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worked with 20+ agencies in ten years of government consulting, and I can honestly say I haven't seen one that I'd want to work for. Worst by far was FEMA, although the entire Leg Branch gives them a run for their money. Least dysfunctional is probably GSA.

Really??? I work at GSA (only been at one other agency) and I am shocked to hear someone say that. Wow, it must be really bad out there!

I'm sure NASA is a great place to work because it's generally all super smart people doing something they are probably pretty passionate about. Few Federal agencies can make that same claim

NIST and DARPA are like this too.

I've been working with people from GSA for the last few months, and they say it really depends on your code whether not it's good there. They fall somewhere in the middle on the FEVS, which I think is reflective of what I've heard. My Daughter is in the Daycare at NIST, so I know a lot of people there. It seems pleasant enough, but no one is crazy raving. They have a lot of people stuck at GS12. DARPA is super high level people who sort of look down on other agencies, but they do cool things and people do like working there. I think a lot of Defense people are jealous of the work they do and the amount of publicity they get.

I worked at a Navy R&D lab for a very long time and they do some pretty amazing work. But there are many minuses. Worst place to work? No. Definitely not. Best? No. Definitely not.

I currently work at a highly ranked agency and people whine all of the time. I think we have it pretty good, but they're all annoyed all of the time because things are slow to change. I think they hire a lot of people who have, at some point, had private industry experience. Some people come from private and really meld into Government work, but for others it doesn't matter where they are, they just don't get it.

Government work, like every kind of work, has its good and bad sides. Find a good group and a good boss and you'll be happy. But you have to make your own fortune, in a lot of ways. People need to not complain and, instead, find what works for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of the agencies that come up on the best list are there because they have lax environments. Like Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, for example. Sounds like a ridiculous agency with persistent spending that's in violation of the FAR but it makes the top five small agencies quite frequently.

FMCS is fucking ridiculous. i had a mediation there in the fall, in their baltimore office (in hanover, actually). there is one guy there (gary eder - nice dude) and you can just tell he doesn't stress out about jack shit. i bet he does 8 hours of actual work a week. the other offices were just empty.

i had another mediation at the DC headquarters early this year. they have a couple of entire floors, and nobody seemed to be doing shit. both we and the union asked to have the mediation at the union hall, and the mediator basically refused. he didn't want to be bothered to leave his office. seems like the cushiest job in the world.

I like the font of the FMCS sign on K st. It looks like straight out of 1954. I was opposite Gary Eder in a mediation once, I think. Actually FMCS is kind of my dream job - how do you get in there?

yeah, i love the FMCS facade. kinda looks soviet-era or something. unless you were opposite eder a LONG time ago, he is gray-haired, has a mustache. definitely speaks with a "maryland" (not necessarily bawlmer) accent. honestly looks like he coulda been a mobster in the background in goodfellas. very nice dude.

[Anonymous]

EPA OEM: I witnessed its Deputy Director insult a USCG Admiral.

[Anonymous]

Avoid VA.

[Anonymous]

SSA is a cesspit too, at least if you have any career ambition or an IQ above 70.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CIA is a great place to work.

It's never mentioned on here, but it is the best! I know people from across all Departments/Agencies and the CIA folks are the happiest.

I suspect it has something to do with having the fewest political appointees. They have only three or four. They also tend to use their own processes,for hiring and not USAjobs.

No USAJOBS, analysts can stay analysts past gs-15 and get their own 'senior analytical service' track if you don't want to do management/SIS.

Smarter people - I interviewed at FBI and CIA and CIA attracts a higher intellectual level.

This all leads to CIA having the last time I checked almost double the tenure of its employees compared to State.

The downside is you have to open you life up to the Agency and 5 year reinvestigation with full scope poly (junk science) that end your career with something out of your hands is terrible environment.