Did your agency address "fork in the road"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. All hands call with management and union reps in my corner of SSA today. Our acting commissioner found out about this plan when she got her email. Zero advance notice given to agencies, which is unheard of.

They cannot tell us what’s best for our individual situation. But the acting commissioner (currently SES) in an email, plus my component management and the union all strongly advised we “hit pause,” and wait until there is more guidance and information so that we can make the best decision possible given out individually situation. They told us there were many outstanding questions, and they were trying to get answers in time for us to me an informed decision. They reminded us that we had until 2/6, so there was no need to feel forced into a decision this week.

I work for good people though.

uh, the Administration has only been in place a few days and has been rather busy. These are sweeping changes to cut down on waste and bloat. Did your agency head (acting, presumably) expect an engraved notice? Everyone has known this was coming since November

Tell me you have no idea how the government works without telling me you have no idea how the government works.

[Anonymous]

Many of us non-feds are horrified by what is happening. We are worried for our fed friends and for our communities. This level of incompetence combined with the disdain for federal workers is appalling and disgusting. I'm so worried for our country. In no way do I think they are trying to cut down on waste and bloat. They just don't want rich people to pay taxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of us non-feds are horrified by what is happening. We are worried for our fed friends and for our communities. This level of incompetence combined with the disdain for federal workers is appalling and disgusting. I'm so worried for our country. In no way do I think they are trying to cut down on waste and bloat. They just don't want rich people to pay taxes.

Thank you pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of us non-feds are horrified by what is happening. We are worried for our fed friends and for our communities. This level of incompetence combined with the disdain for federal workers is appalling and disgusting. I'm so worried for our country. In no way do I think they are trying to cut down on waste and bloat. They just don't want rich people to pay taxes.

Thank you pp.

+1 and the rich don’t think the government applies to them anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of us non-feds are horrified by what is happening. We are worried for our fed friends and for our communities. This level of incompetence combined with the disdain for federal workers is appalling and disgusting. I'm so worried for our country. In no way do I think they are trying to cut down on waste and bloat. They just don't want rich people to pay taxes.

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Authoritarianism is scary.

[Anonymous]

My agency just confirmed it wasn't a phishing scam, since di many people thought it was. That was it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of us non-feds are horrified by what is happening. We are worried for our fed friends and for our communities. This level of incompetence combined with the disdain for federal workers is appalling and disgusting. I'm so worried for our country. In no way do I think they are trying to cut down on waste and bloat. They just don't want rich people to pay taxes.

+1. Thank you. I’m detailed to a very backlogged program where I am helping people (over the phone) in a red state state solve benefits problems. The sheer number of 60+ year old red state men who have gone out of their way to thank me for returning their call, acting like a professional and basically doing my job this week has really been heartening. I’m shocked at the amount of kindness I’m getting from a red state/ MAGA demographic. They have always pleasant to work with. A few nasty people. But if you are nice, 95% are nice in return But, the last week has been different. A lot of people going out of their way to say “I want to make sure you know I do appreciate the job you do”.

The tech bros may have contempt. People may have issues agencies or programs from the federal government. But I’ve been talking to a MAGA heavy demo (most of who are themselves in stressful situations) and am getting the strong sense they don’t like what’s happening here— at least as it appears it’s to me, a human who spends a half hour talking to them, my program or my agency.

My non detail job has no public contact and I thought the public facing piece in a red state would be the hard part of this detail. Instead, it’s been the part that makes work worth attending right now. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

DoED was radio silent.

[Anonymous]

Assuming federal spending went from 3T to 7T since 2009, why didn't fed salaries double? Who is getting all the extra cash? Reports say fed workforce is roughly same size.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My agency just confirmed it wasn't a phishing scam, since di many people thought it was. That was it.

It kind of is, ironically, in a meta sense, since all they want is to figure out who will bite. It's not likely a bona fide offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assuming federal spending went from 3T to 7T since 2009, why didn't fed salaries double? Who is getting all the extra cash? Reports say fed workforce is roughly same size.

First, inflation. Second, Trump tax cut killed a revenue stream. Third, a LOT of temporary COVID spending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. All hands call with management and union reps in my corner of SSA today. Our acting commissioner found out about this plan when she got her email. Zero advance notice given to agencies, which is unheard of.

They cannot tell us what’s best for our individual situation. But the acting commissioner (currently SES) in an email, plus my component management and the union all strongly advised we “hit pause,” and wait until there is more guidance and information so that we can make the best decision possible given out individually situation. They told us there were many outstanding questions, and they were trying to get answers in time for us to me an informed decision. They reminded us that we had until 2/6, so there was no need to feel forced into a decision this week.

I work for good people though.

uh, the Administration has only been in place a few days and has been rather busy. These are sweeping changes to cut down on waste and bloat. Did your agency head (acting, presumably) expect an engraved notice? Everyone has known this was coming since November

I’m sorry, explain to me again how paying people not to work cuts down on waste?

I think you posted in the wrong thread. The fork in the road email offers people the option of continuing to work remotely until the end of September at which time they resign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. All hands call with management and union reps in my corner of SSA today. Our acting commissioner found out about this plan when she got her email. Zero advance notice given to agencies, which is unheard of.

They cannot tell us what’s best for our individual situation. But the acting commissioner (currently SES) in an email, plus my component management and the union all strongly advised we “hit pause,” and wait until there is more guidance and information so that we can make the best decision possible given out individually situation. They told us there were many outstanding questions, and they were trying to get answers in time for us to me an informed decision. They reminded us that we had until 2/6, so there was no need to feel forced into a decision this week.

I work for good people though.

uh, the Administration has only been in place a few days and has been rather busy. These are sweeping changes to cut down on waste and bloat. Did your agency head (acting, presumably) expect an engraved notice? Everyone has known this was coming since November

I’m sorry, explain to me again how paying people not to work cuts down on waste?

I think you posted in the wrong thread. The fork in the road email offers people the option of continuing to work remotely until the end of September at which time they resign.

Oh babe no. lol cute though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many of us non-feds are horrified by what is happening. We are worried for our fed friends and for our communities. This level of incompetence combined with the disdain for federal workers is appalling and disgusting. I'm so worried for our country. In no way do I think they are trying to cut down on waste and bloat. They just don't want rich people to pay taxes.

+1. Thank you. I’m detailed to a very backlogged program where I am helping people (over the phone) in a red state state solve benefits problems. The sheer number of 60+ year old red state men who have gone out of their way to thank me for returning their call, acting like a professional and basically doing my job this week has really been heartening. I’m shocked at the amount of kindness I’m getting from a red state/ MAGA demographic. They have always pleasant to work with. A few nasty people. But if you are nice, 95% are nice in return But, the last week has been different. A lot of people going out of their way to say “I want to make sure you know I do appreciate the job you do”.

The tech bros may have contempt. People may have issues agencies or programs from the federal government. But I’ve been talking to a MAGA heavy demo (most of who are themselves in stressful situations) and am getting the strong sense they don’t like what’s happening here— at least as it appears it’s to me, a human who spends a half hour talking to them, my program or my agency.

My non detail job has no public contact and I thought the public facing piece in a red state would be the hard part of this detail. Instead, it’s been the part that makes work worth attending right now. Go figure.

Yeah, MAGA don’t like what’s happening right now and are nice to you - because they need something from you. How is that hard to understand?