Federal furloughs...do you think they'll happen?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Furloughs do not involve firing anyone or "trimming the fat." You are confusing furloughs and RIFs.

Right. More than likely, if your agency executes a furlough, you'll all be asked to take one unpaid day (or two) a pay-period. That could trim a lot of excess expense without having to resort to RIFs.

I know that you really hit a lot of family hard, but I would LOVE a 4 day week for a couple of months, even better if I could work 6 hours a day intead of 8.

Ok, lets try this again -- I know that forloughs will hit a lot of families hard, but I would LOVE a 4 day work week for a couple of months, even better if I could work 6 hours a day intead of 8.

Agree. That would be wonderful.

And here lies the problem.

Seriously. I don't believe all you wishful thinkers understand the cumulative effects such "days-off" can have on your benefits, leave accrual, TSP, and paycheck.

[Anonymous]

It all affects those of us at lower grades more than those at the upper grades. The flat salaries have been devastating for me (GS 8) and other support staff, but my GS 12+ colleagues, although not happy, have been able to survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It all affects those of us at lower grades more than those at the upper grades. The flat salaries have been devastating for me (GS 8) and other support staff, but my GS 12+ colleagues, although not happy, have been able to survive.

Agree with this. DH is a 15. We'll be fine. He is worried about his support staff.

[Anonymous]

Its really going to hurt a lot of families..across the board. My DH is a GS-13 and a furlough would cut his paycheck $400 a week. Substantial cut. I'm starting part-time work just in case this drags out too (SAHM here).

[Anonymous]

Don't worry home depot is hiring! http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/06/news/economy/home-depot-hiring/index.html?iid=HP_LN&hpt=hp_t2

[Anonymous]

I went back part-time last week for the same reason.

[Anonymous]

Will I get to select the day of the week I don't work? Does seniority count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do so many of you PPs know what your agency plans to do? Also, how do you know that you are working a X% of your budget?

Our agency has sent several memos, and I have heard about similar memos at other agencies. Our agency said that we will not have furloughs, but I know that other memos from other agencies have indicated that furloughs will occur and have gone has far as indicating what the schedule will be (1 day furlough/week or 2 days per month)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Furloughs do not involve firing anyone or "trimming the fat." You are confusing furloughs and RIFs.

Right. More than likely, if your agency executes a furlough, you'll all be asked to take one unpaid day (or two) a pay-period. That could trim a lot of excess expense without having to resort to RIFs.

I know that you really hit a lot of family hard, but I would LOVE a 4 day week for a couple of months, even better if I could work 6 hours a day intead of 8.

Ok, lets try this again -- I know that forloughs will hit a lot of families hard, but I would LOVE a 4 day work week for a couple of months, even better if I could work 6 hours a day intead of 8.

Agree. That would be wonderful.

And here lies the problem.

How is this a problem - the pay will be reduced to match the hours?

[Anonymous]

Dumb question but can you take leave on furloughed days to reduce the impact on pay?

[Anonymous]

I may (and probably will) get flamed for this, but I have a hard time finding sympathy for people (above a grade 9 that is) that have not planned for this. Maybe it was because I came from private sector before I became a fed, but this situation is hardly a surprise. The environment in Congress has been toxic for many years and the sequestration has hardly been a secret. We all KNEW it could come to this. DH and I planned for it. We pared back expenses and saved, just in case. We also live within our means. I do, however, feel a great deal of sympathy for support staff (9 and below).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question but can you take leave on furloughed days to reduce the impact on pay?

No, because that's the point of furlough is to save money by not paying you. When you're on leave, you still are drawing a salary, so that doesn't save the government any money.

Anonymous wrote:Will I get to select the day of the week I don't work? Does seniority count?

Will depend on your agency. Our's is planning to institute rotating furlough days as one option, that way you don't always have 3 day weekends while I always have thursdays off. Another option they are looking at is to shut down each building/facility for one day per week.

There will be procedures for exempting certain individuals from furlough, but for the most part being SES does not automatically protect you from furlough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it really depends on the agency and the size.

I am a FED and personally its about time they trim some of the useless "fat" out of these agencies. Especially the larger ones where people are just waiting out their retirement or completely inept and collecting a pay check because they "cannot be fired."

If people actually went in and fired some of these people who do nothing, the government could easily cut costs and help with the deficit.

Oh well....wishful thinking.

Sorry- pp here and yes my post had to do with RIFS not furlough. RIFS would help this situation though. Why no RIFS- oh yes, because you cannot be fired in the FED gov even if you do not work. Silly me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dumb question but can you take leave on furloughed days to reduce the impact on pay?

Not a dumb question. A very good one, actually. The answer is, "nobody knows," to all of this. It's too early, we don't have FY13 Appropriations and no one, least of all Congress, has any idea how this is going to play out. Everyone go back to work.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I wonder how long employees would be on a reduced (4 days/week) schedule -- maybe 3-4 months?

It's my understanding this will vary by agency. Even within agencies, it probably will vary by office. For DoD it will be April to September. But offices may be able to reduce their number of furlough days if they can come up with savings elsewhere, which is what the office I support is aiming to do.

PP -- how do you know it'll be April-Sept? Did employees get a memo?

No official memos have gone out yet about timing that I know of. A memo came out in January that said up to 30 calendar days or 22 discontinuous workdays.

This is just what the planners all around us are working toward. DoD is the only federal agency that has to put in a request to furlough. And they must do it 45 days in advance. Deadline to have the request/plan to White House is Feb. 8th and deadline to get it to Congress is Feb. 15. 45 days out from that would be April.