Surprise email from Supervisor

[Anonymous]

i am a new fed.

I was surprised to receive an email from my supervisor asking me not to change my telework days and spend a minimum eight hours a day in the office. I had notified him few weeks ago a situation that would prevent me to be on the office on a specific day I had suggested. an alternate day he never responded. After a few weeks. He sent an email copying my skip Level asking me to stick to my approved in person days only. I am very confused. Is this a disciplinary action? Why did he never speak to me or respond to my communication sent earlier and just sent me Written, communication adding my skip level. I thought i was keeping him informed it looks like something is amiss. I am anxious and confused. what should I do

[Anonymous]

How is your performance otherwise? Is he looking for a reason to fire you? Never been a Fed, but in my company we bend the WFH rules a bit for strong performers but are sticklers for poor performers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is your performance otherwise? Is he looking for a reason to fire you? Never been a Fed, but in my company we bend the WFH rules a bit for strong performers but are sticklers for poor performers.

I am new two months in trying to fit in figure out.

[Anonymous]

You should be asking to switch not notifying. How many days are you in the office? Are you working eight hours on those days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
i am a new fed.

I was surprised to receive an email from my supervisor asking me not to change my telework days and spend a minimum eight hours a day in the office. I had notified him few weeks ago a situation that would prevent me to be on the office on a specific day I had suggested. an alternate day he never responded. After a few weeks. He sent an email copying my skip Level asking me to stick to my approved in person days only. I am very confused. Is this a disciplinary action? Why did he never speak to me or respond to my communication sent earlier and just sent me Written, communication adding my skip level. I thought i was keeping him informed it looks like something is amiss. I am anxious and confused. what should I do

He answered your email, answering your QUESTION, which you incorrectly assumed to be a "oh by the way, heads up".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should be asking to switch not notifying. How many days are you in the office? Are you working eight hours on those days?

Also, what came up that prevented you from being in?

[Anonymous]

HI OP - I was once a supervisor in a federal agency. I'm so sorry for the email. I'm reading something concerning in the email. In addition to the telework day chain he or she mentions 8 hours a day. That I read means that someone knows you aren't at your desk for that minimum. That plus trying to change a fixed telework day is alarming. They may be starting a paper trail. Do you have any review coming up

[Anonymous]

What does your telework agreement say, OP? In my business unit at my agency, normally you would ask permission for situational telework for the day you can’t make it into the office, and then you wait until you get approval or you follow up. Did you actually get approval first? Also, what’s a skip level, is that your supervisor’s supervisor? That doesn’t sound like disciplinary action to me, but each agency may differ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should be asking to switch not notifying. How many days are you in the office? Are you working eight hours on those days?

Also, what came up that prevented you from being in?

DP - perhaps the protocol is that you should have taken a PTO or sick day (you may not have any accrued, I realize) instead of moving around the Telework day. It does make sense that the agency needs to know what day you are teleworking - and actually at a screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
i am a new fed.

I was surprised to receive an email from my supervisor asking me not to change my telework days and spend a minimum eight hours a day in the office. I had notified him few weeks ago a situation that would prevent me to be on the office on a specific day I had suggested. an alternate day he never responded. After a few weeks. He sent an email copying my skip Level asking me to stick to my approved in person days only. I am very confused. Is this a disciplinary action? Why did he never speak to me or respond to my stepaway from communication sent earlier and just sent me Written, communication adding my skip level. I thought i was keeping him informed it looks like something is amiss. I am anxious and confused. what should I do

He answered your email, answering your QUESTION, which you incorrectly assumed to be a "oh by the way, heads up".

Good point i should have asked not notified . l am working 8 hours but have to go to a quieter place as my neighbor runs team calls on speaker and it’s very hard for me to work or run my call in my cube.

[Anonymous]

You’ve only been there two months and are already trying to change your schedule?

[Anonymous]

He didn’t respond right away because he was talking to others (HR, his boss) about how to handle. They clearly told him to respond in writing. I would be very, very careful, OP. You are still on probation period, so getting a strong start should be your highest priority. Whatever it is that would keep you out of the office on a day you’re supposed to be in, you need to find a workaround. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
i am a new fed.

I was surprised to receive an email from my supervisor asking me not to change my telework days and spend a minimum eight hours a day in the office. I had notified him few weeks ago a situation that would prevent me to be on the office on a specific day I had suggested. an alternate day he never responded. After a few weeks. He sent an email copying my skip Level asking me to stick to my approved in person days only. I am very confused. Is this a disciplinary action? Why did he never speak to me or respond to my communication sent earlier and just sent me Written, communication adding my skip level. I thought i was keeping him informed it looks like something is amiss. I am anxious and confused. what should I do

He answered your email, answering your QUESTION, which you incorrectly assumed to be a "oh by the way, heads up".

You would have a very good point except for the reference to the 8 hour minimum (unless OP mentioned that in the first email). Someone thinks she's not putting in the minimum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HI OP - I was once a supervisor in a federal agency. I'm so sorry for the email. I'm reading something concerning in the email. In addition to the telework day chain he or she mentions 8 hours a day. That I read means that someone knows you aren't at your desk for that minimum. That plus trying to change a fixed telework day is alarming. They may be starting a paper trail. Do you have any review coming up

Yes I have 90 day evaluation coming up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He didn’t respond right away because he was talking to others (HR, his boss) about how to handle. They clearly told him to respond in writing. I would be very, very careful, OP. You are still on probation period, so getting a strong start should be your highest priority. Whatever it is that would keep you out of the office on a day you’re supposed to be in, you need to find a workaround. Good luck.

I agree. I'm the former fed who is worried about the mention of the 8 hour minimum. I find that concerning. OP, why did he say that?