Enough $ to retire early…ask manager to go remote?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently reached my FIRE number, meaning that I could stop working tomorrow and would have enough money to never work a day in my life

I’m thinking of relocating to a different state (meaning, leaving DC). Has anybody gone through with this idea with their manager? Basically, I would ask to go remote and if not possible, I would quit on the spot now that I have the leverage. Is this a good trump card against managers who may not want to approve remote? Is remote approval still happening in the federal government?

You can give notice on the spot, but quitting in a way that doesn't maximize your pension is the opposite of FIRE. If you are doing it now, put in your paperwork for Dec 31

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently reached my FIRE number, meaning that I could stop working tomorrow and would have enough money to never work a day in my life

I’m thinking of relocating to a different state (meaning, leaving DC). Has anybody gone through with this idea with their manager? Basically, I would ask to go remote and if not possible, I would quit on the spot now that I have the leverage. Is this a good trump card against managers who may not want to approve remote? Is remote approval still happening in the federal government?

You can give notice on the spot, but quitting in a way that doesn't maximize your pension is the opposite of FIRE. If you are doing it now, put in your paperwork for Dec 31

I’ll think about it

And it’s not opposite of FIRE. I’ll get the pension when I’m 62, i saved enough to not rely on it or on Social Security. It will be a nice added cushion but not needed to maintain my expenses

[Anonymous]

This is incredibly agency dependent. An old colleague I stay in touch with recently was approved to be remote so she could make a move, but I know with 95% certainty that wouldn't be approved in my agency right now. Same department, different agencies. So this is a know your crowd kind of thing. In your case it sounds worth asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does your agency have fully remote positions? Mine has a handful but each Office/Division has a specific allotment. One has to be available - they have been very clear that cannot just transition someone who is in office to remote. But when a remote spot is available you can apply to transfer to one of the remote positions.

Thanks, this is actually helpful. I need to ask those remote employees. My section has 3-4 remote people, out of 50. I presume they all reached FI status and had a credible threat. I will need to inquire about these allotments -without asking my manager.

And yes I’m in the federal government

That's not how it works in the feds at all. Federal agencies don't have the flexibility to offer incentives like more money and remote to workers who threaten to quit. And I imagine most federal employees thinking about retirement intend to retire with their benefits, at MRA.

Most common reasons for remote feds would be:
The agency has a liberal policy on remote employees.
The person onboarded remotely during the pandemic and was allowed to convert their position to remain that way.
Reasonable accommodation for a disability.
Hardhship transfer, converted to remote because they had to move with spouse or to be near ailing parents, etc.

Your best bet is probably to tell the agency you need to move for X reasons and are interested in staying on remote, or you won't be able to stay. I think they would be super unimpressed with "I hit my number so I'm just going to walk if if I can't be remote."

To push back on the last bit (them being unimpressed), we are quite short staffed and we only hire during the academic job season (Jan-Mar). Losing one of the 50 would be quite tough for staffing matters, and to avoid losing me they’d simply have to reclassify me as remote. Not sure why that would be a hard decision for the agency/section

NP and I agree with the PP that phrasing it as you're FI and don't need to work isn't the way to go about it. I agree you're better off keeping it general like your life circumstances have changed and you need to be remote in order to continue working. No one is going to give any thought to whether you can afford to retire or not and I don't think that increases your leverage at all because even if you couldn't afford to retire people are just going to think ok this person is going to move or take another job that works for them.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered just filling out your timesheets accurately (ie that you are not in the office) and not coming in once you’re ready to quit, rather than asking? Most of us are required to be given warnings before we’re fired and you shouldn’t care if you’re fired at that point. Though there is a fraud aspect with locality pay if you’ve permanently left the region that would be best to avoid. I am also a fed who hit her number, do not need FERS in retirement or the pension before 62 either. Personally I wouldn’t be willing to do my job without DC locality pay, even if my COL would drop some.

[Anonymous]

OP - can I ask how much have you saved? I have no idea about this stuff. What's a benchmark to have enough to retire?