Will SEC escape RIFs due to large number of exits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m praying they lighten up on the RTO once the VERA ends. Like they did it to force people to take VERA and then will say never mind.

Seems doubtful, especially since BU is FT RTO in April.

If RTO (and what they’ve told us publicly so far) is the worst of it, that would be one thing. But transparency re. cutting salaries, benefits, reorganization, demotions, RIFs, etc. would help inform decisions re. VERA/VSIP in this last week. Especially if their goal is to cut more people at the detriment of the agency’s mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the loyalty tests are psychotic, and I know how much harder it can be to manage family life if you're reporting to an office. But I really feel like, in this awful moment, when we're begging for our livelihoods and future financial security, not to mention hoping the bottom doesn't drop off of our property value and our city/region, wasting tears and publicity on RTO is not the point. Losing professions and financial health need to be the focus. We will all be glad to have offices to go to at all in a few months.

I completely agree. There is a lot of negativity in this thread about RTO and criticism of the union for supposedly caving on the issue. But the reality is that RTO is being mandated across nearly every federal agency (except the Fed, according to another poster). Why do we think our agency should be any different? If the most important priority for someone is having the flexibility to work remotely, then they may need to seek employment that allows for that. And before anyone argues that this isn’t about individual preference but rather about the CBA and negotiations—let’s be real. All CBAs across government originally allowed for telework and remote work flexibility, and those provisions have been systematically removed. Attorneys in other agencies are returning to the office, even though they could do the same work from home. Complaining about it seems tone-deaf, given that RTO is the new norm. Whether this takes us back to 2019, 2010, or even 1997 standards is irrelevant—the fact is that every agency is facing this mandate and responding in a way that aims to balance an agency's standing with the administration. As legal professionals, our role is to assess risk and provide informed decision-making guidance. In the grand scheme of things, this shift presents a low-risk adjustment, given the circumstances. We need to recognize that, rather than focusing on what was lost.

[Anonymous]

I mean, I don’t totally agree considering a negotiated contract was breached, but given the current climate, RTO seems like something we’re just going to have to palate.

I agree with another poster though - what’s next? What % are they trying to cut? What was in the reorg plan? Are they cutting salaries to match GS scale? Are they cutting other benefits? Etc etc.

Other agencies are hosting regular town halls and trying to reassure their people. But it’s crickets over there

[Anonymous]

There has been some flexibility with ad hoc telework at other agencies that have returned to office. I expect we will have the same by summer. We will get to a place where getting quality work done is the focus, as opposed to where you are sitting. With a leaner staff, that will just have to be the focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There has been some flexibility with ad hoc telework at other agencies that have returned to office. I expect we will have the same by summer. We will get to a place where getting quality work done is the focus, as opposed to where you are sitting. With a leaner staff, that will just have to be the focus.

What are you basing this off of? What agencies? Why summer?

[Anonymous]

Summer because plans would have been settled by then. The OMB RIF implementation guidance notes the timeline so if no RIF then we will know; if RIF, then those left will know. I agree that before any flexibility arises from RTO mandate, it will likely be no sooner than Summer or early Fall.

[Anonymous]

I don’t see any flexibility on RTO mandate. Project 2025 anticipates folding FINRA and PCAOB into SEC. There will be more than enough people around to do the work if others want flexibility on RTO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I don’t totally agree considering a negotiated contract was breached, but given the current climate, RTO seems like something we’re just going to have to palate.

I agree with another poster though - what’s next? What % are they trying to cut? What was in the reorg plan? Are they cutting salaries to match GS scale? Are they cutting other benefits? Etc etc.

Other agencies are hosting regular town halls and trying to reassure their people. But it’s crickets over there

i think it depends on division. my leadership has been holding regular town halls.

i believe the reorg plan will primarily address the fact that the bulk of the fork/retirements (nearly 12% of staff!) have come out of mid-level leadership. there are a lot of missing branch chiefs and ADs starting in the next few weeks, so teams are just going to have to get bigger and realigned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, I don’t totally agree considering a negotiated contract was breached, but given the current climate, RTO seems like something we’re just going to have to palate.

I agree with another poster though - what’s next? What % are they trying to cut? What was in the reorg plan? Are they cutting salaries to match GS scale? Are they cutting other benefits? Etc etc.

Other agencies are hosting regular town halls and trying to reassure their people. But it’s crickets over there

Honestly, I don't want a town hall until they can tell us something real. Not interested in false assurances. The fact is, there are limited things they control right now and a lot of volatile people who have influence.

I want to know what to expect if I'm fired and what to expect if I stay. I don't want to hear that they really hope not to fire anyone: that's assumed.

[Anonymous]

If 12% of people have left already, do you all really think they will do a RIF? It seems so insanely stupid. I get that they don't want people enforcing anything and no more exams investigations etc and the status quo might hold for a while absent those things but at some point, scandals will happen right?

[Anonymous]

12 percent of staff have NOT left. That’s 600 people. Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:12 percent of staff have NOT left. That’s 600 people. Not even close.

Why the hell do NONE of us who work at this agency have ANY IDEA what the freaking plans are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 percent of staff have NOT left. That’s 600 people. Not even close.

Why the hell do NONE of us who work at this agency have ANY IDEA what the freaking plans are?

Wish FIRREA pp would come back. They were more informative than anyone else….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 percent of staff have NOT left. That’s 600 people. Not even close.

Why the hell do NONE of us who work at this agency have ANY IDEA what the freaking plans are?

Yep. It’s pathetic. How sad it is that some people have nothing else better to do in life than pretend to “lead” and babysit a federal agency and treat federal workers like crap. Really? Is that your only career option?

Though I’m sure they won’t forget to remind staff to send their 5 bullets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 percent of staff have NOT left. That’s 600 people. Not even close.

Why the hell do NONE of us who work at this agency have ANY IDEA what the freaking plans are?

If plans were (presumably) submitted to OPM yesterday, why would you expect to have heard about them? This isn’t something that is going to leak easily.

I’m not sure folks at other agencies where nothing has happened yet have any better idea of what may happen in the future.