VERA

[Anonymous]

I envy all my colleagues who were in a position to retire and did so. If you have good options run and don’t look back.

[Anonymous]

Take it.

You are in a burning house. You can't save any more pets, the other adults need to save themselves. Get out before you burn to death.

[Anonymous]

Take VERA. If they put you on admin leave, they are looking for any reason to get rid of you. If you don't go first, you may end up in front of a disciplinary board or they will take your clearance if you have one. Trust me, go now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know the answer but I keep second guessing myself. I work in a VERY politically-charged agency and have a target on my back with the new administration. They’ve placed me on admin leave and have done this with many others. They are offering me VERA, which I am seriously considering. 22 years, comfortable amount in TSP, a job in the private sector is there for me with comparable salary. I see the writing on the wall with my extremely toxic agency and know I should exit now. I have really enjoyed my career and the people at my agency, a very small part of me wants to ride it out. It’s just so sad all around.

Bookmark this, set a calendar reminder to come back in a year and I bet you will wonder if you even actually write this. The writing is so on the wall.

[Anonymous]

Please take it. I’m so happy for each person that can get out with these benefits. I was pushed out 8 months short of Vera eligibility and it’s just awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please take it. I’m so happy for each person that can get out with these benefits. I was pushed out 8 months short of Vera eligibility and it’s just awful.

Ugh, PP. So sorry. Rooting for you to get a new job you enjoy or a return down the road that lets you secure your benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been there. Turned down VERA then mourned the loss of my job/career as it was and started looking, then they offered VERA again and I took it and I have no regrets (except I do feel really bad for the people I left behind).

Anyway my advice would be to take the time to come to grips with the loss of what you had and grieve that and then move forward with what’s best for you now, which is almost certainly the VERA.

Are you getting another job? Is it enough to live off of?

When I sat down and tried to figure out if we had enough to retire it turned out the answer was yes. I was a little surprised but really the key was being able to stay on the federal health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Admin leave means they are building a disciplinary case against you. If they are offering VERA and a clean SF50, absolutely take it and leave. If you try to stick it out, they will come with a disciplinary proposal and there’s no functional MSPB to which you can appeal.

Your former job no longer exists. You can have time to mourn when you retire.

[Anonymous]

Take it and run like you stole something.

[Anonymous]

OP here, just following up to say thank you for all of your thoughts and advice. I took it and am relieved, also excited about next steps and road ahead.

[Anonymous]

You are so lucky. If I could get a VERA I'd take it immediately. Instead I'm stuck here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are so lucky. If I could get a VERA I'd take it immediately. Instead I'm stuck here.

I’m so sorry, I wish you well and hope that things will improve in 2026. 2025 sure has been a year, good riddance to it.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone think that agencies will offer VERA again next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, what are you waiting for?
This is call a blessing in disguise!

Yeah, this is nothing to deliberate over. I'm 6 years, 3 months from qualifying for VERA and would happily take it if it were an option.

Just wait until millennials qualify for VERA. We will have zero qualms clearing the halls. LOL

[Anonymous]

With my colleagues, all of those who thought they would get jobs didn’t get them. Many are now “consulting” or “still investigating” with no nibbles. If you actually have a new job in hand, take it, but other than that, stay put. Those of us who stayed saying “you’ll have to push us out, we won’t preemptively jump ourselves” have survived and will get paid once the government reopens.