If you're a fed, are you planning to quit or go back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I predict a lot of people will take FMLA to buy time.

You realize you can’t just “take” FMLA right? And if you lie about a health condition to get time off you’re committing federal fraud, so good luck with that one.

Pp here. Yes, they will need to get a doctor to fill out a form saying they need time off work due to illness. They can cite severe depression or anxiety due to RTO. For many people it wouldn’t be lying.

Alternatively, they can bring a form related to their parents or children and a health situation requiring they take time off work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I predict a lot of people will take FMLA to buy time.

You realize you can’t just “take” FMLA right? And if you lie about a health condition to get time off you’re committing federal fraud, so good luck with that one.

Pp here. Yes, they will need to get a doctor to fill out a form saying they need time off work due to illness. They can cite severe depression or anxiety due to RTO. For many people it wouldn’t be lying.

Alternatively, they can bring a form related to their parents or children and a health situation requiring they take time off work.

+1

I have a special needs child which involves a lot of therapies and IEP meetings etc. I haven’t put in for FMLA because my boss knows about it and is understanding (and I can manage it with telework and flex time). I’ve definitely already thought about this before seeing this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid question…but aren’t there all these govt owned buildings with tons of free space that could be quickly used to house workers if needed?

My understanding is that the gov doesn't own a lot of buildings, other than FBI/CIA and the likes. Most are leased using GSA. Some have been unoccupied for years and are no longer inhabitable or safe - plumbing not working, rodents everywhere, and it will take time to negociate leases and get them ready.

Leased from whom? What are all the buildings that Bowser wants to be turned over to DC by the govt for development that she claims are empty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupid question…but aren’t there all these govt owned buildings with tons of free space that could be quickly used to house workers if needed?

My understanding is that the gov doesn't own a lot of buildings, other than FBI/CIA and the likes. Most are leased using GSA. Some have been unoccupied for years and are no longer inhabitable or safe - plumbing not working, rodents everywhere, and it will take time to negociate leases and get them ready.

Leased from whom? What are all the buildings that Bowser wants to be turned over to DC by the govt for development that she claims are empty.

Leased from property companies like Douglas and Jemal. Per GSA's website there are 184 owned buildings in the DMV vs 504 leased. The only DC buildings I've heard Bowser mention are FBI and DOE, both of which are gross old buildings long slated for replacement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Knowing EM and VR want attrition, curious what everyone's plans are? I don't know anyone who is planning to go back 5 days. Everyone is either moving jobs, planning sabbatical etc. Wondering what the impact will be...

We are already in office 3 days a week so it’s NBD going back 5 if we need to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going back and hoping for a VERA

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back and hoping for a VERA

+1

If I'm 5 years from retirement how would this work? Or would I not be considered? I guess no one knows....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back and hoping for a VERA

+1

If I'm 5 years from retirement how would this work? Or would I not be considered? I guess no one knows....

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going back and hoping for a VERA

+1

If I'm 5 years from retirement how would this work? Or would I not be considered? I guess no one knows....

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/

Thanks I just looked it up too - I don't qualify. I am over 50 with 15 years of service. SIGH

[Anonymous]

I think this is going to YEARS and my plan is to worry about it later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I predict a lot of people will take FMLA to buy time.

You realize you can’t just “take” FMLA right? And if you lie about a health condition to get time off you’re committing federal fraud, so good luck with that one.

Pp here. Yes, they will need to get a doctor to fill out a form saying they need time off work due to illness. They can cite severe depression or anxiety due to RTO. For many people it wouldn’t be lying.

Alternatively, they can bring a form related to their parents or children and a health situation requiring they take time off work.

+1

I have a special needs child which involves a lot of therapies and IEP meetings etc. I haven’t put in for FMLA because my boss knows about it and is understanding (and I can manage it with telework and flex time). I’ve definitely already thought about this before seeing this post.

Similar boat here - my child is not obviously special needs but until recently did an hour of speech and an hour of occupational therapy a week. Her pediatrician had offered to sign FMlA forms but we didn’t need the flexibilities because working from home we could get her from school and drive her to speech or OT without leaving early. (DH works from home but he’s not a fed.) if we’d had to do that and commute I think I would have needed FMLA. I’m sure many Feds are in situations like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing EM and VR want attrition, curious what everyone's plans are? I don't know anyone who is planning to go back 5 days. Everyone is either moving jobs, planning sabbatical etc. Wondering what the impact will be...

We are already in office 3 days a week so it’s NBD going back 5 if we need to.

I’m also in 3 days but cherish the balance I have with the two WFH since those days allow me to be home when kids get home and get dinner started a little earlier. I also like having quiet time at home to get uninterrupted work done. It’s the right balance for me. don’t want to go in 5 days even though I’m already in 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course going back, it's not the end of the world. It won't last forever - little by little, management at every level will make exception after exception until we're back to where we are now - hybrid. I know someone at Amazon HQ who says that WFH is still management discretion, despite the media hype about 5 days/week in office. Very hard to hold to that over the long term, and even senior managers like flexibility too. Just be patient and endure for a little while. This too shall pass. It will pass especially fast when all these feds coming and going at the same time cause massive gridlock in DC.

We elected a dictator so no we are not going to ever again have freedom period

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is going to YEARS and my plan is to worry about it later.

I hope that is the case. I have had full time TW for a dozen or so years now, not just as a Covid thing. Our site by design cannot hold all of us. However, if it does come to it I will simply go back in. It wouldn’t be my preference but is doable. On the plus side my utility bills drop and I am no longer my own IT/maintenance staff nor do I need to buy my own office furniture.

As for VERA - if it becomes an option I could take it. I already meet service time but fall less than a year short of the age requirement. Maybe if it takes a while and/or can use applied leave…we will see.

[Anonymous]

If it's RTO five days with no situational telework, I'll be looking hard for other things. I can handle 5 days RTO with situational telework. It will suck, but whatever. I did it for years. I can do it again.