Saw the Trump comment re: telework and dismissal, any words of sane advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Trump was talking about a union contract for SSA workers. I imagine that just breaking a union contract is going to result in some sort of lawsuit. Details of who decides what have been discussed in many threads here. At any rate, it’s going to be slow and not some sort of instantaneous thing Trump can do to those SSA employees overnight.

He'll make it happen, believe him

You actually believe everything he says?? No, these things take time and no civil service protections won't disappear overnight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My agency was 80% telework for years, including Trump 1.0. We didn't have the physical space (in a private building) and still don't have space (just moved this fall to another private building with a smaller footprint based on pre-pandemic plans of 80% telework). Assume there are occupancy laws that can't force us all into a space meant for 25% of us at any given time?

They can cram you into open office seats or even do fixed swing shifts.

[Anonymous]

I hope my agency is prepared to hire more people. I have been gladly working 10-hour days (and sometimes even more) to get all my work done (I kind of brought this on myself because I am very efficient and also very reliable), but that will be abruptly stopping when I have to go into the office more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All you fed haters do realize that the govt gives us a transit subsidy. It will cost the taxpayer more in Metro fares to have us come in every day. So you would have to cut that...but then you would have to cut all of the subsidies. Don't think congress wants to start paying their own commuting costs. So quit with the wasting taxpayer money thing.

And I won't be able to get much work done while sitting in the hallway, because there is no space, and not connected to the internet because the Wi-Fi has crashed.

I don't know why the idea persists that all of us going back to the office will make the country run perfectly.

I don't think they believe it, the MAGA types are just all about hurting people and they think we're an easy mark. The reality is, I'm a lawyer, I have savings and I can get another job. But I do actually care about the work I do and I'm going to try to keep doing it if I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - have a few years and moved due to husbands job and my agency transitioned my role to remote because of my portfolio. I am far, far away and I truly miss DC but we cannot afford it and kids are in elementary school.

I find so much meaning in my work and I’d be willing to even go in satellite offices but I don’t know if that is enough. It just makes me sad that the address of my work will drive if I keep my job. I wonder if I’m being too positive and hopeful and should be jumping ship instead.

Why can’t you afford it when so many of us - and plenty of other people in your position - can?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly people, OP was remote before covid, what are you talking about "go to work?"

I don't know, I was hired remote and I'm also worried. I certainly can't afford a house in or near DC. Our best hope is that 1) they'll go after management-directed remote work last, and 2) they'll station us in close by offices instead of requiring us to move.

Yeah, look at the previous posts. I don’t think this is what is being targeted. It is the people who were full time in office prior to covid who have been home for most of the past 4 years. While I am sure many get their work done, I get that it is a perception problem (and bo doubt some do abuse it) for positions of public trust. I have no problem whatsoever ordering people back to work.

It’s not “back to work”, we all work, and personally, I work more at home, it’s back to the office.

Please. Spare me the sensitivities. Get your fat a$$ back to the office. Feel better? Or your fired.

This is the exact type of classy and insightful comment I would expect from a Trump sycophant.

Including the grammar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My agency was 80% telework for years, including Trump 1.0. We didn't have the physical space (in a private building) and still don't have space (just moved this fall to another private building with a smaller footprint based on pre-pandemic plans of 80% telework). Assume there are occupancy laws that can't force us all into a space meant for 25% of us at any given time?

They can cram you into open office seats or even do fixed swing shifts.

I mean you simply can't fit twenty people into one office. I don't think you understand the staff/space ratio many agencies have, we were about 85% remote before COVID and then even then they were running out of office space. Post COVID they gave up the lease on multiple buildings and then we've also hired thousands of people. The math doesn't math.

[Anonymous]

My colleagues who went remote mostly moved out of the area for various reasons (spouse's job), but are great workers so were kept on. Some are even managers. They are living Trump's dream of working for the Fed outside of DC.

I took an OPM course on managing telework 10 years ago where the message was: good employees are going to do a good job, whether they are in office or telework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My agency was 80% telework for years, including Trump 1.0. We didn't have the physical space (in a private building) and still don't have space (just moved this fall to another private building with a smaller footprint based on pre-pandemic plans of 80% telework). Assume there are occupancy laws that can't force us all into a space meant for 25% of us at any given time?

They can cram you into open office seats or even do fixed swing shifts.

Will take quite a bit of time and $$ to redo an office for an open office. Taking down all the office walls and setting up all the outlets and communications for each desk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - have a few years and moved due to husbands job and my agency transitioned my role to remote because of my portfolio. I am far, far away and I truly miss DC but we cannot afford it and kids are in elementary school.

I find so much meaning in my work and I’d be willing to even go in satellite offices but I don’t know if that is enough. It just makes me sad that the address of my work will drive if I keep my job. I wonder if I’m being too positive and hopeful and should be jumping ship instead.

Why can’t you afford it when so many of us - and plenty of other people in your position - can?

Since we’re demanding personal details, you go first. What’s your title, salary, HHI, and social security number?

[Anonymous]

Trump says a lot of things. Why are you so agitated, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My agency was 80% telework for years, including Trump 1.0. We didn't have the physical space (in a private building) and still don't have space (just moved this fall to another private building with a smaller footprint based on pre-pandemic plans of 80% telework). Assume there are occupancy laws that can't force us all into a space meant for 25% of us at any given time?

They can cram you into open office seats or even do fixed swing shifts.

But why? How does that make sense?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My colleagues who went remote mostly moved out of the area for various reasons (spouse's job), but are great workers so were kept on. Some are even managers. They are living Trump's dream of working for the Fed outside of DC.

I took an OPM course on managing telework 10 years ago where the message was: good employees are going to do a good job, whether they are in office or telework.

I am one of those employees who went fully remote (to take care of elderly relative). I make less money living away from DC so I'm not sure how bringing me back saves money or is more efficient. We have quite a few fully remote people in our office and honestly they are the better employees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So Trump has no idea that many of us were working from home long before Covid? And there is no office space for us now??

I am not union either OP...and I think we are most at risk. We will be back first and more. I think there will be many unplanned messy retirements with no transition time.

No office space when the last time in the office? Rooms and rooms of empty space

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trump says a lot of things. Why are you so agitated, OP?

This. It's a sound byte, it doesn't mean anything specific. I hate these panicked threads based on some throwaway comment.

If you need the certainty or it will help your stress, start job hunting. If you can wait and see, do that (I am). Either way cut back on your news consumption because you will get nothing relevant to WFH there.