Decentralization of fed govt begins: HHS employees eligible for permanent remote work

[Anonymous]

This seems a positive step for the environment, for traffic congestion, for the agency that can optimize allocation of space and office resources, and for employees to have more flexibility. If people do move out of the DMV, it might make housing more affordable and relieve overcrowded schools.

I think moving to remote work is the direction everyone should go, unless there’s a need for a physical presence. I think the government should be taking the lead to do this and incentivize private companies to do it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before we talk about a mass exodus, read the agreement carefully.

The condition for granting remote work is "The employee’s duties require less than 16 hours per bi-weekly pay period at the agency worksite."

And you know who gets to decide that? Management. There is nothing in there about clear criteria for when "duties require."

I think maybe wait and see how many people actually get approved.

Eh. For HHS, who needs to go to the worksite except for people in a lab? They're office jobs.

I'm not taking a position on what jobs require onsite presence. I'm just pointing out that management has full discretion to make the call. And we know that MANY organizations have decided that "office jobs" still require a certain amount of onsite presence.

I wouldn't expect the floodgates to open based on this union agreement.

+1 I just read it and for my particular agency I wouldn't expect much change from where we are now. Maybe NIH but it's not that hard to say your job requires you to meet for in person meetings two days per pay period. This is supervisor discretion.

At least at FDA, this decision is not being left up to individual supervisors. It is by job duties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

Houston is also vastly more important as a bioscience hub than Montgomery County. They have the Texas Medical Center and biotech/science research centers associated with both Rice and Texas A&M.

But for many of us, a red state is a non starter. No way in hell Im' moving to a red state, period.

No worries- we are full!

[Anonymous]

How will new college grads ever integrate into a workforce without the hands on mentoring and bull sessions where ideas emerge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Well that’s definitely not true. I’m a fed and DH is NIH. We specifically moved to Frederick County to escape MoCo’s crime and terrible policies. And several of DH’s coworkers live in FredCo for the same reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

I lived in Houston and I wouldn’t go back unless they pay me at least 1M/year. One of the most ugly, boring place I have been.

[Anonymous]

Time to apply to HHS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

I lived in Houston and I wouldn’t go back unless they pay me at least 1M/year. One of the most ugly, boring place I have been.

You're right, but I moved here anyway. I'm making higher locality pay than DC and didn't go overboard on house (bought big, not huge) so save a few $K in taxes. It's a great WFH lifestyle and when I get tired of the flat ugly landscape I'll just dip into my extravagant savings and fly somewhere nice. Hell, you can even temporarily remote work from a summer/winter home for a few months. There is zero reason to stay in the DC rat race on federal salary when you are remote

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

Houston is also vastly more important as a bioscience hub than Montgomery County. They have the Texas Medical Center and biotech/science research centers associated with both Rice and Texas A&M.

But for many of us, a red state is a non starter. No way in hell Im' moving to a red state, period.

Same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

I lived in Houston and I wouldn’t go back unless they pay me at least 1M/year. One of the most ugly, boring place I have been.

You're right, but I moved here anyway. I'm making higher locality pay than DC and didn't go overboard on house (bought big, not huge) so save a few $K in taxes. It's a great WFH lifestyle and when I get tired of the flat ugly landscape I'll just dip into my extravagant savings and fly somewhere nice. Hell, you can even temporarily remote work from a summer/winter home for a few months. There is zero reason to stay in the DC rat race on federal salary when you are remote

Than why even live there?? If cheap is a must for you, find someplace cheap and decent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How will new college grads ever integrate into a workforce without the hands on mentoring and bull sessions where ideas emerge?

I’m concerned about this. I WFH five days a week with a nice office I can go into (or not) whenever I want but with two teens who couldn’t wait to go. Ack to school, I can’t picture them starting and ending their careers in their houses. At least one is proactively pursuing a job that is inherently not WFH. It has also been identified as an issue with new staff members, and age has no correlation with them having a problem with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

Houston is also vastly more important as a bioscience hub than Montgomery County. They have the Texas Medical Center and biotech/science research centers associated with both Rice and Texas A&M.

But for many of us, a red state is a non starter. No way in hell Im' moving to a red state, period.

Same.

We are all grateful. No one wants you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s just say it, Montgomery county is one of the most diverse, educated, and wealthy counties in the area.

It’s hard to find all three in the DMV (or the country) at a lower COL. NIH’s employees reflect that. They’re not leaving MoCo to go live in Frederick, Carroll, or Washington County.

Pfffff......Houston has lower median cost of homes than MoCo and is diverse. Unlike MoCo and MD, TX's economy is booming across the state. TX's overall tax burden is significantly lower too.
This is just one example from many, but look what kind of starter home a family can get in Houston for <$300k:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4342-Bugle-Rd-Houston-TX-77072/28139562_zpid/

What are you going to get in MoCo for under $300k? Some rundown shack? Permanent WFH gives families SOOOOOOOOOO many more opportunities to live elsewhere in order to save on COL. People complain so much all the time about the lack of housing affordability in the DMV. Well, now you are free to address the problem by moving elsewhere while keeping your job!

I lived in Houston and I wouldn’t go back unless they pay me at least 1M/year. One of the most ugly, boring place I have been.

You're right, but I moved here anyway. I'm making higher locality pay than DC and didn't go overboard on house (bought big, not huge) so save a few $K in taxes. It's a great WFH lifestyle and when I get tired of the flat ugly landscape I'll just dip into my extravagant savings and fly somewhere nice. Hell, you can even temporarily remote work from a summer/winter home for a few months. There is zero reason to stay in the DC rat race on federal salary when you are remote

Than why even live there?? If cheap is a must for you, find someplace cheap and decent.

Houston is cheap and decent but I also make more money here than feds in DC. I was just agreeing with pp that the flat landscape is ugly compared to Fall in VA or MD. But I can live with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How will new college grads ever integrate into a workforce without the hands on mentoring and bull sessions where ideas emerge?

I’m concerned about this. I WFH five days a week with a nice office I can go into (or not) whenever I want but with two teens who couldn’t wait to go. Ack to school, I can’t picture them starting and ending their careers in their houses. At least one is proactively pursuing a job that is inherently not WFH. It has also been identified as an issue with new staff members, and age has no correlation with them having a problem with it.

They stay in their college towns and meet up with their friends after work. They don't need to be friends with coworkers.