Return to work- fed edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope the Social Security offices open soon. No one ever answers the phone. I need a face to face appointment.

For what?

The continued closure of social security offices is bad for a lot of people, use your imagination:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/social-security-coronavirus/2021/12/18/0e3b9508-4bc1-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html

My aunt recently retired from there, she worked at a local office in the Midwest. She was pretty pro-telework before the pandemic, Covid-cautious, and frankly, not always the most sympathetic to the clients she served as she got older. But even she has acknowledged how much this has hurt some of the neediest individuals and that it’s undermining confidence in the agency’s mission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mid-size agency here. No notice on back to office but did get notice on new telework policy if/when we ever go back:

-Four days required in office per pay period. Up to six days telework. (Pre-pandemic was the opposite - 6/4).

-Option to work 10 hour days, so an additional AWS day (up to two) per pay period.

-standard work hours 10-2pm. Work hours can be anywhere from 5am -10 pm (subject to approval).

-some other nuances.

Pretty happy with this.

We are probably at the same agency, ha! But I’m pretty happy with the new policy too.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omicron is all over the news now. Everything is beginning to get canceled or push back again. Do you guys still think agencies will move forward as planned?

Yes. Because we are all getting omicron no matter what they do unless we lockdown EVERYTHING.

Same at our agency. Already back and no changes due to omicron.

[Anonymous]

My agency just delayed our return. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omicron is all over the news now. Everything is beginning to get canceled or push back again. Do you guys still think agencies will move forward as planned?

Yes. Because we are all getting omicron no matter what they do unless we lockdown EVERYTHING.

Same at our agency. Already back and no changes due to omicron.

Which one? A lot of trolls here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope the Social Security offices open soon. No one ever answers the phone. I need a face to face appointment.

For what?

The continued closure of social security offices is bad for a lot of people, use your imagination:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/social-security-coronavirus/2021/12/18/0e3b9508-4bc1-11ec-b73b-a00d6e559a6e_story.html

My aunt recently retired from there, she worked at a local office in the Midwest. She was pretty pro-telework before the pandemic, Covid-cautious, and frankly, not always the most sympathetic to the clients she served as she got older. But even she has acknowledged how much this has hurt some of the neediest individuals and that it’s undermining confidence in the agency’s mission.

And, thank goodness your aunt has retired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IRS Counsel prior posters — did you see new telework stuff? Four days is good huh?

I saw it, but am not eligible since I haven’t been with Counsel 3 years yet, most of my career was spent in another agency. I started with Counsel about 6 months pre COVID. So to me it feels a little like a punishment, in that I’ve been successfully working from home for almost 2 years when it suited them, but now am not eligible for the expanded telework plan. And the way I read it was that you can sign up in January and then the next option to sign up would be 6 months later, so June, and then it’s unclear when/if the next option to sign up would be. I’ll still be a month short of 3 years in June.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IRS Counsel prior posters — did you see new telework stuff? Four days is good huh?

I saw it, but am not eligible since I haven’t been with Counsel 3 years yet, most of my career was spent in another agency. I started with Counsel about 6 months pre COVID. So to me it feels a little like a punishment, in that I’ve been successfully working from home for almost 2 years when it suited them, but now am not eligible for the expanded telework plan. And the way I read it was that you can sign up in January and then the next option to sign up would be 6 months later, so June, and then it’s unclear when/if the next option to sign up would be. I’ll still be a month short of 3 years in June.

IRS Counsel who already hit my 3 years and planning to request the special Level 3 telework. Absolutely bring this up to union leadership. Tax lawyers are in demand right now and you have options if you want to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IRS Counsel prior posters — did you see new telework stuff? Four days is good huh?

I saw it, but am not eligible since I haven’t been with Counsel 3 years yet, most of my career was spent in another agency. I started with Counsel about 6 months pre COVID. So to me it feels a little like a punishment, in that I’ve been successfully working from home for almost 2 years when it suited them, but now am not eligible for the expanded telework plan. And the way I read it was that you can sign up in January and then the next option to sign up would be 6 months later, so June, and then it’s unclear when/if the next option to sign up would be. I’ll still be a month short of 3 years in June.

IRS Counsel who already hit my 3 years and planning to request the special Level 3 telework. Absolutely bring this up to union leadership. Tax lawyers are in demand right now and you have options if you want to leave.

Yea, that’s the thing though, I’m almost 20 years into federal service. I don’t really want to leave! It just feels like a slap in the face, like the new rules should apply to new employees, but if you are on rolls as of the start date you should be able to request any of the options. Especially since they are doing away with the one year new hire no telework policy entirely. So they are giving more trust to newly hired folks than those of us who have been slogging it out this whole time. And granted it was only 6 months, but my rear end was there every day because they wouldn’t except me from the no telework policy when I started even though I’d been in federal service teleworking 3x a week for 15 years prior to joining counsel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My agency just delayed our return. Thanks

Which agency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omicron is all over the news now. Everything is beginning to get canceled or push back again. Do you guys still think agencies will move forward as planned?

Yes. Because we are all getting omicron no matter what they do unless we lockdown EVERYTHING.

Same at our agency. Already back and no changes due to omicron.

Which one? A lot of trolls here.

NRC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Omicron is all over the news now. Everything is beginning to get canceled or push back again. Do you guys still think agencies will move forward as planned?

Yes. Because we are all getting omicron no matter what they do unless we lockdown EVERYTHING.

Same at our agency. Already back and no changes due to omicron.

Which one? A lot of trolls here.

NRC

How does it feel to be back in the office? We are supposed to go back mid Feb. I can't even imagine what that's like after 23 months of WFH.

[Anonymous]

Expanded telework starting in spring, but if you TW more than 3 days a week, no office, no cube, no desk, just hoteling. I understand it but will be bringing my own keyboard and mouse and hope we get lockers…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Expanded telework starting in spring, but if you TW more than 3 days a week, no office, no cube, no desk, just hoteling. I understand it but will be bringing my own keyboard and mouse and hope we get lockers…

That's sounds crazy and near sighted and, for that, something my agency may try too. Which dept?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Expanded telework starting in spring, but if you TW more than 3 days a week, no office, no cube, no desk, just hoteling. I understand it but will be bringing my own keyboard and mouse and hope we get lockers…

If you are only coming in 2 or fewer days a week that sounds worth it to me. Similar set up at my company (not a fed). I'm not a fed, but plan to go in once a week in the new year. Fine to lug this stuff in as a tradeoff for WFH most of the time.