Feds and stress

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

[Anonymous]

I’m mission critical and was not allowed to VERA or DRP. I resigned anyway and just logged off on my last day of work. Very sad and very relieved. I have a great new job opportunity and start the day after Labor Day. I just didn’t have another 3+ years of this in me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

So say no! Or think through if it's worth it for you to say no, given that they might leave and the work situation might get worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

I'm surprised you still think doing work has anything to do with you still being employed. None of the federal employee firings have actually been about production, cost savings, or efficiency. My agency hasn't talked about the mission in months, it's all about complying with RTO EOs etc like we are some communist country. You say you get your employees but I don't think you actually get what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

So say no! Or think through if it's worth it for you to say no, given that they might leave and the work situation might get worse.

See, you get it. It’s a stupid situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

I'm surprised you still think doing work has anything to do with you still being employed. None of the federal employee firings have actually been about production, cost savings, or efficiency. My agency hasn't talked about the mission in months, it's all about complying with RTO EOs etc like we are some communist country. You say you get your employees but I don't think you actually get what's going on.

You are delusional if you think the powers that be aren’t going to pounce on any opportunity to get rid of another person. I’m not giving them an easy reason to fire me, thanks. You sound like someone who has no idea what managers are dealing with right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

I'm surprised you still think doing work has anything to do with you still being employed. None of the federal employee firings have actually been about production, cost savings, or efficiency. My agency hasn't talked about the mission in months, it's all about complying with RTO EOs etc like we are some communist country. You say you get your employees but I don't think you actually get what's going on.

You are delusional if you think the powers that be aren’t going to pounce on any opportunity to get rid of another person. I’m not giving them an easy reason to fire me, thanks. You sound like someone who has no idea what managers are dealing with right now.

No PP, but what are your employees doing that you haven’t say no to? We cannot TW so asking to TW at my agency is a non-starter. Don’t even ask. But I allow my employees to use their sick or annual leave however they need so long as the work is getting done and I’m sympathetic to their mental health needs. Everyone is stressed and you said your employees are acting like jerks but are you showing them that as their manager you care about them?

[Anonymous]

No PP, but what are your employees doing that you haven’t say no to? We cannot TW so asking to TW at my agency is a non-starter.

Not PP, but I asked for one day of situational telework to take my son to a mid-day doctor's appointment and he said no. I thought that was a total jerk move, so I took off not only the day of the appointment but the next two days, using annual leave (which I have a ton of) and did no work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take time off when I need it. I don’t work unpaid overtime. I protect my privacy and my peace and only respond to requests from my staff during certain hours. I work out and am focusing on my health (using my sick leave to get to doctor’s appointments I always put off before).

In many ways, my life is actually better, outside of work.

At work, it’s hell.

I usually can flip a switch and turn it off when I get in my car and leave. Sometimes I cry in my car on the way home and feel a bit hopeless. That’s when I realize I need a break, so I take some time off.

I fantasize about quitting, moving far away, and starting a small business. Often.

I hear you. My work isn’t hell but my agency is in this reorg limbo and the uncertainty is unsettling. Plus, it’s hard going to work knowing you aren’t appreciated and are vilified by this administration. We have zero TW flexibility-not even ad hoc for an occasional drs appt whereas others in the dept seem to have gotten some of that back. I appreciate my outside of work time so much more and try not to take it for granted. I’ve been coming in earlier and leaving earlier so I’m no longer in the office after 5pm. I find that’s much better for my mental and physical health. I take sick leave when I need to and I never check email from home unless it’s an absolute emergency. I refuse to give extra of my time until I get my flexibility back. The politicals here send us fake emails about how we’re appreciated yet we’re still treated like children. It’s disgusting. I show up for my 8.5hrs and that’s it. I’ll go back to working hard when we’re done with this regime.

It’s not the telework policy that’s making me crazy. Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation. And I just end up doing all of the work that isn’t getting done, because I like being employed. I seriously question whether a lot of the people that work with and for me realize that they are lucky to have jobs right now.

I'm surprised you still think doing work has anything to do with you still being employed. None of the federal employee firings have actually been about production, cost savings, or efficiency. My agency hasn't talked about the mission in months, it's all about complying with RTO EOs etc like we are some communist country. You say you get your employees but I don't think you actually get what's going on.

You are delusional if you think the powers that be aren’t going to pounce on any opportunity to get rid of another person. I’m not giving them an easy reason to fire me, thanks. You sound like someone who has no idea what managers are dealing with right now.

No PP, but what are your employees doing that you haven’t say no to? We cannot TW so asking to TW at my agency is a non-starter. Don’t even ask. But I allow my employees to use their sick or annual leave however they need so long as the work is getting done and I’m sympathetic to their mental health needs. Everyone is stressed and you said your employees are acting like jerks but are you showing them that as their manager you care about them?

We can telework, a little, under certain situations. They push it, and the reality is that I’ve been far too caring. I have to hear all of the whining and explain my every decision to people or else they do dumb shit and act out. But that’s why I’m on leave today. Everyone can just wait until Monday. And the work is NOT getting done without me, that’s the issue—but god forbid I deny a leave request. I’d have to document it six ways until Sunday and sign a freaking affidivit swearing I didn’t do it for an illegal reason. GMAFB.

[Anonymous]

A LOT of stress. And I think most managers have at least one employee who has gone off the rails over all of this. They're making my life hell disciplining and putting them on a PIP. It's just nonstop admin work that I didn't need. I already had a very, very full load of work due to people leaving. Why didn't doge do anything useful about that?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A LOT of stress. And I think most managers have at least one employee who has gone off the rails over all of this. They're making my life hell disciplining and putting them on a PIP. It's just nonstop admin work that I didn't need. I already had a very, very full load of work due to people leaving. Why didn't doge do anything useful about that?!

This. It’s so dysfunctional. Worse than ever.

[Anonymous]

Well, it is, in the sense that I am a manager and everyone is unhappy and acting out. I get why but they’re all also being jerks, pushing the envelope on everything, daring me to say no. I am pretty aggravated from top to bottom right now. It’s an impossible situation.

Eh, what do you expect people to do when their employer is both treating them like crap and can only replace every 4 of them that leave with one person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious what other Feds are doing to manage stress these days.

Try heroin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A LOT of stress. And I think most managers have at least one employee who has gone off the rails over all of this. They're making my life hell disciplining and putting them on a PIP. It's just nonstop admin work that I didn't need. I already had a very, very full load of work due to people leaving. Why didn't doge do anything useful about that?!

The point of DOGE was to set up this exact situation.

This is round 2 - the RIFs/firings/DRP were round 1.