Return to work- fed edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DOT still full steam ahead, as of a meeting last week.
Managers ses to return first week January, various modes starting after that.
I am baffled.

Yeah I'm sure you're baffled.

Do you imagine the people teleworking would otherwise be unloading ships? LOL, if govies or military were sent to unload ships, you'd howl about overreach and misuse of funds.

People are buying an unprecedented amount of stuff. Pete can't force companies pay enough to attract new drivers, and he can't get us all real therapy to cut down on retail therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do you imagine the people teleworking would otherwise be unloading ships? LOL, if govies or military were sent to unload ships, you'd howl about overreach and misuse of funds.

People are buying an unprecedented amount of stuff. Pete can't force companies pay enough to attract new drivers, and he can't get us all real therapy to cut down on retail therapy.

NP. I've got no problem sending the Guard to unload ships, because it's better than what we're using them for now. Maybe they can drive their marked CBP truck, in uniform, to the shipyard instead of to the busted cocaine pickup at Whataburger. [FWIW I am a military spouse.]

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/12/08/death-drugs-and-a-disbanded-unit-how-the-guards-mexico-border-mission-fell-apart/

[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.

Thank you! I’ve tried doing it via phone, but no one answers.

[Anonymous]

USDA was scheduled to phase back in Jan 3 - March, now delayed until further notice.

[Anonymous]

Some higher ups at SSA already returned on Dec. 1, others that used to tekework 3 days BEFORE the pandemic can continue teleworking for now.

[Anonymous]

EPA just pushed back managers and non-union employees return by another month. They’re still finalizing unions agreements so no start date stated for them yet.

I’m non-Union and was supposed to start back 1 day a week in late January, now it’s late Feb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:EPA just pushed back managers and non-union employees return by another month. They’re still finalizing unions agreements so no start date stated for them yet.

I’m non-Union and was supposed to start back 1 day a week in late January, now it’s late Feb.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm out of the country and left my work electronics at home. I'm also non-union and was starting to get anxious about late January as I have a child too young to be vaccinated.

It sounds like that when we go back, we will only have to be in the office two days per pay period, which I have absolutely no issues with -- unless I commute the hour in and spend the whole day in my office on Teams calls with my door shut. If that's the new normal, it sounds like a waste of commuting time. When it's safe for us to meet in person, I'll be looking forward to seeing my colleagues in person a few days a pay period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:EPA just pushed back managers and non-union employees return by another month. They’re still finalizing unions agreements so no start date stated for them yet.

I’m non-Union and was supposed to start back 1 day a week in late January, now it’s late Feb.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm out of the country and left my work electronics at home. I'm also non-union and was starting to get anxious about late January as I have a child too young to be vaccinated.

It sounds like that when we go back, we will only have to be in the office two days per pay period, which I have absolutely no issues with -- unless I commute the hour in and spend the whole day in my office on Teams calls with my door shut. If that's the new normal, it sounds like a waste of commuting time. When it's safe for us to meet in person, I'll be looking forward to seeing my colleagues in person a few days a pay period.

My agency (not EPA) is talking about taking your office away if coming in only a few days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:EPA just pushed back managers and non-union employees return by another month. They’re still finalizing unions agreements so no start date stated for them yet.

I’m non-Union and was supposed to start back 1 day a week in late January, now it’s late Feb.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm out of the country and left my work electronics at home. I'm also non-union and was starting to get anxious about late January as I have a child too young to be vaccinated.

It sounds like that when we go back, we will only have to be in the office two days per pay period, which I have absolutely no issues with -- unless I commute the hour in and spend the whole day in my office on Teams calls with my door shut. If that's the new normal, it sounds like a waste of commuting time. When it's safe for us to meet in person, I'll be looking forward to seeing my colleagues in person a few days a pay period.

My agency (not EPA) is talking about taking your office away if coming in only a few days.

I’d sit in the janitor’s closet if it means I only have to come in 2x pay period

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:EPA just pushed back managers and non-union employees return by another month. They’re still finalizing unions agreements so no start date stated for them yet.

I’m non-Union and was supposed to start back 1 day a week in late January, now it’s late Feb.

Thanks for sharing this. I'm out of the country and left my work electronics at home. I'm also non-union and was starting to get anxious about late January as I have a child too young to be vaccinated.

It sounds like that when we go back, we will only have to be in the office two days per pay period, which I have absolutely no issues with -- unless I commute the hour in and spend the whole day in my office on Teams calls with my door shut. If that's the new normal, it sounds like a waste of commuting time. When it's safe for us to meet in person, I'll be looking forward to seeing my colleagues in person a few days a pay period.

My agency (not EPA) is talking about taking your office away if coming in only a few days.

I’d sit in the janitor’s closet if it means I only have to come in 2x pay period

I love my office, which I've had for more than a decade. But I'd happily give it up for more work from home days.

[Anonymous]

At my agency, we don't fit in the office anyway and pre pandemic they'd been trying to encourage those eligible to go home full time because we were running out of office space.

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread to see if any updates...

Nothing new at my agency

[Anonymous]

DOT: No updates. Still allegedly on track to return in groups/modes this month.

[Anonymous]

Same at Energy. 3 phases. Phase 1 starts in about 10 days. Phase 2 is two weeks after, phase 3 is 2 weeks after phase 2 (mid feb).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my agency, we don't fit in the office anyway and pre pandemic they'd been trying to encourage those eligible to go home full time because we were running out of office space.

Where's this? My agency had space problems but responded by making cubicles really tiny, even though telework would make a lot more sense.