What are we learning from the RIFs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At USDA people are finding that there's no severance if you decline the "reasonable offer" of the deferred resignation program.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1jpy5wy/usda_no_severance_for_rifs_if_decline_reasonable/

Sounds like the OP in that thread is mistaken. An HR person from USDA chimed in and said op misunderstood.

[Anonymous]

At least based on HHS, they’re picking random boxes on an org chart. It seemed like the bigger the box, the more likely it would be cut bc they’re looking for large numbers within a box. Boxes are tied to org code so all ppl in the box went regardless of the normal RIF bump/retreat policies .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least based on HHS, they’re picking random boxes on an org chart. It seemed like the bigger the box, the more likely it would be cut bc they’re looking for large numbers within a box. Boxes are tied to org code so all ppl in the box went regardless of the normal RIF bump/retreat policies .

Yes it seems they’re doing this. But does DOGE define the competitive area or is it already coded into the system somehow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least based on HHS, they’re picking random boxes on an org chart. It seemed like the bigger the box, the more likely it would be cut bc they’re looking for large numbers within a box. Boxes are tied to org code so all ppl in the box went regardless of the normal RIF bump/retreat policies .

Yes it seems they’re doing this. But does DOGE define the competitive area or is it already coded into the system somehow?

I think DOGE is defining it by organization code. There will be legal challenges to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least based on HHS, they’re picking random boxes on an org chart. It seemed like the bigger the box, the more likely it would be cut bc they’re looking for large numbers within a box. Boxes are tied to org code so all ppl in the box went regardless of the normal RIF bump/retreat policies .

Yes it seems they’re doing this. But does DOGE define the competitive area or is it already coded into the system somehow?

I think DOGE is defining it by organization code. There will be legal challenges to this.

Yes. This is why we won’t know the full extent of the damage until months or a year from now. In the meantime, most people will move on if they can while others will struggle to find another job. Many agencies won’t function at all in practice.

[Anonymous]

[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least based on HHS, they’re picking random boxes on an org chart. It seemed like the bigger the box, the more likely it would be cut bc they’re looking for large numbers within a box. Boxes are tied to org code so all ppl in the box went regardless of the normal RIF bump/retreat policies .

Yes it seems they’re doing this. But does DOGE define the competitive area or is it already coded into the system somehow?

I think DOGE is defining it by organization code. There will be legal challenges to this.

Where do you find organization code?

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who retired ant the end of January and still has not seen their pension or vacation payout.

[Anonymous]

Even in the best of times it’s not unusual to have to wait months for the first pension payments. Hope they start soon!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who retired ant the end of January and still has not seen their pension or vacation payout.

That's pretty standard. So many people are retiring that staff can't keep up.

Assume it will get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are offices defined for RIFs? Still confused about this.

Pretty much the whole group under one supervisor. Different agencies probably have different names, but it can be any functional group.

How would that work in an agency like the Forest Service when each forest has employees with different responsibilities? Probably the Park Service as well. Surely they cannot RIF all the employees assigned to one park or one forest. Would doge just rif every biologist or ecologist or trail maintenance employee across the Forest Service?

Why not? It goes into disrepair and then you claim govt isn't working and you need to privatize it. Or sell rights to mine/log etc.

+1 people are still talking about it like it's downsizing for the efficiency. The goal is to destroy programs and institutions so they can never recover. They are not hiding the ball even.

[Anonymous]

Also SES positions have always been able to be assigned to any open SES position if needed by the agency. But HHS is using that as a way to get people to quit. They are assigning SES employees at NIH in Bethesda to remote locations in the Indian Health Service. Not because they expect or want those SES employees to take those positions, but they want those SES employees to quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are learning that the other show has not yet dropped. Based on the infrastructure they cancelled and the leadership they forced out (2-3 levels below cabinet) they are planning significant reorganization, presumably with lackeys installed to effect major policy changes. I expect a return to the essentially unregulated era like pre-FDR.

They cancelled operations, administration, all library staff, and (announced today) the entire in house learning & professional development division. Whether any of this will be reorganized under an equally functional but duplicative structure remains to be seen.

What people don’t understand is that the system was highly functional. Any functional system contains some redundancy, that is to be expected; a healthy amount of redundancy prevents crises should one piece have a problem.

I know I'm preaching to the choir.. but they are changing policy based on what? All the experts they led go? In the long run these policy changes need to be based on sound evidence or they won't stand in the courts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[img]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least based on HHS, they’re picking random boxes on an org chart. It seemed like the bigger the box, the more likely it would be cut bc they’re looking for large numbers within a box. Boxes are tied to org code so all ppl in the box went regardless of the normal RIF bump/retreat policies .

Yes it seems they’re doing this. But does DOGE define the competitive area or is it already coded into the system somehow?

I think DOGE is defining it by organization code. There will be legal challenges to this.

Where do you find organization code?

Mine is in my full position description. It’s called Admin Code.

[Anonymous]

Has the NTEU filed an action about the HHS rifD, will they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How are offices defined for RIFs? Still confused about this.

Pretty much the whole group under one supervisor. Different agencies probably have different names, but it can be any functional group.

How would that work in an agency like the Forest Service when each forest has employees with different responsibilities? Probably the Park Service as well. Surely they cannot RIF all the employees assigned to one park or one forest. Would doge just rif every biologist or ecologist or trail maintenance employee across the Forest Service?

Why not? It goes into disrepair and then you claim govt isn't working and you need to privatize it. Or sell rights to mine/log etc.

+1 people are still talking about it like it's downsizing for the efficiency. The goal is to destroy programs and institutions so they can never recover. They are not hiding the ball even.

Yeah they cut mining safety oversight. It's basically just an all out war on workers.