Feeling so stuck in current fed job

[Anonymous]

19 years in next week, also a 15, but acting (officially) for my exec who took the DRP, still doing my own work, the executive work, admin work since we lost our admin to DRP too, and half of another departed attorney’s work since we lost 3/5 of the people in my office. I’m am drowning in work. I used to love my job. I have no SES ambitions (even if I did, who wants it now?), but here I am, acting as an SES. I hate it all. And the no TW and lack of flexibility…I’ve been able to telework since 2007, return to office is such a bs misnomer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS-15 with 16 years in. I don’t hate the work (and at times find it mentally satisfying), but the current environment, working with a 20% decrease in workforce, full-time RTO, zero flexibility, no designated office space (so we are hoteling and shuffling our things back and forth everyday), make the current job miserable.

But with so much time invested, including the pension plan that I’ve been working for all these years towards, lead to feeling stuck. Not to mention I keep hearing the job market is terrible.

How is everyone managing?

Welcome to corporate America for the last 20 years

Great! When can we expect to receive corporate-level pay?

[Anonymous]

Age 46 with 22 years in. GS-14. I feel like I am wearing golden handcuffs. I'm mostly in it at this point to try to get the guaranteed lifetime health insurance. There's been quite a few days this year when I've wanted to quit, but I don't want to abandon my coworkers by giving them my work when I leave.

I'm working in HR and am responsible for answering everyone's questions about DRP, resignation, VERA, retirement...etc. I've never seen so much work before. I have three times as many retirements to manage this year as any other year. I've been answering so many phone calls, IMs, help desk tickets, and emails that it's totally overwhelming and I feel like I can't handle it all and there's no way I can provide my usual excellent customer service.

I don't have any kids, but my parents' health has deteriorated significantly over the last six months. My mom has maybe a year left to live and my dad possibly a few more years.

I start thinking about unofficially retiring on the $2M, I have saved and invested over my career, and waiting for my deferred annuity at age 60.

[Anonymous]

How much will your deferred annuity be? $2M is not a lot these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS-15 with 16 years in. I don’t hate the work (and at times find it mentally satisfying), but the current environment, working with a 20% decrease in workforce, full-time RTO, zero flexibility, no designated office space (so we are hoteling and shuffling our things back and forth everyday), make the current job miserable.

But with so much time invested, including the pension plan that I’ve been working for all these years towards, lead to feeling stuck. Not to mention I keep hearing the job market is terrible.

How is everyone managing?

Welcome to corporate America for the last 20 years

Great! When can we expect to receive corporate-level pay?

Also in corporate America do they install additional cameras monitoring your every move like they just recently did at my federal office building and does your CEO repeatedly talk about how lazy and inefficient/wasteful you are like ours does?

[Anonymous]

Do we think they’ll do another round of VERAs next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 3 years in and I'm bored out of my mind and want to die. I'm only 36.

Would you recommend moving within the federal government?

I mean, putting histrionics aside, it would mean completing another probationary period, but is it more of the same crap?

If you’re already bored after 3 yrs, you should leave immediately. It won’t get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much will your deferred annuity be? $2M is not a lot these days.

Geez people. 2 mil is plenty, especially with no kids, and especially if you get away from DC and similar high cost places and have no mortgage and no ambitions for frequent luxury travel or expensive hobbies, and the ability to make a few dollars here and there if and when you want to.

[Anonymous]

It’s definitely depressing, but I’m taking plenty of leave when I need it, sick days, and keeping my head down and doing the work. I’m 10 years in, mid-late career, and don’t have any interest in taking a non fed job at this point. Wish me luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should at the very least look for another job. As a 15 you may make more in the private sector which is worth more than the pension. I know plenty of feds who are leaning back, taking vacation, not working overtime, but that makes your career a meaningless job. As a former fed I couldn’t handle becoming the type of employee DOGE was characterizing us as. I enjoy having a meaningful career. That is why I became a fed to begin with. I don’t think public service will be what it was in our lifetime. Stick around for the salary until you can find something that is a more fulfilling fit, but at least look.

t

Assuming you’re mid-career, you would have to make A LOT more in private sector to make up for the pension and health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this thread. I’m a 14 and have 10 years. Just turned 46 and have a small child. I used to absolutely love my job. All work has essentially stopped since January. For someone who is high performing and accustomed to be very busy, I now dread everyday and feel really depressed. I don’t want to leave, but feel like I’m contributing nothing and learning nothing. I’m doing online trainings and taking leave but it just really sucks. Do I leave? Do I stick it out to see if it gets better? I just don’t know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GS-15 with 16 years in. I don’t hate the work (and at times find it mentally satisfying), but the current environment, working with a 20% decrease in workforce, full-time RTO, zero flexibility, no designated office space (so we are hoteling and shuffling our things back and forth everyday), make the current job miserable.

But with so much time invested, including the pension plan that I’ve been working for all these years towards, lead to feeling stuck. Not to mention I keep hearing the job market is terrible.

How is everyone managing?

Welcome to corporate America for the last 20 years

Great! When can we expect to receive corporate-level pay?

Also in corporate America do they install additional cameras monitoring your every move like they just recently did at my federal office building and does your CEO repeatedly talk about how lazy and inefficient/wasteful you are like ours does?

Yes. And much worse on your workstation and virtual desktops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 3 years in and I'm bored out of my mind and want to die. I'm only 36.

Would you recommend moving within the federal government?

I mean, putting histrionics aside, it would mean completing another probationary period, but is it more of the same crap?

At 36 with 3 years in, I would just get out. I don’t think there’s anywhere in federal government that doesn’t suck.

I agree and you're too far from retirement to bank on any promised benefits.

[Anonymous]

I’m 18 years in and in my early 50s. I hope to hold out till 57 but I really wish I’d been eligible for VERA when it was offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Age 46 with 22 years in. GS-14. I feel like I am wearing golden handcuffs. I'm mostly in it at this point to try to get the guaranteed lifetime health insurance. There's been quite a few days this year when I've wanted to quit, but I don't want to abandon my coworkers by giving them my work when I leave.

I'm working in HR and am responsible for answering everyone's questions about DRP, resignation, VERA, retirement...etc. I've never seen so much work before. I have three times as many retirements to manage this year as any other year. I've been answering so many phone calls, IMs, help desk tickets, and emails that it's totally overwhelming and I feel like I can't handle it all and there's no way I can provide my usual excellent customer service.

I don't have any kids, but my parents' health has deteriorated significantly over the last six months. My mom has maybe a year left to live and my dad possibly a few more years.

I start thinking about unofficially retiring on the $2M, I have saved and invested over my career, and waiting for my deferred annuity at age 60.

Also a GS-14, with 18 years in, but fortunately, I can leave in 8 years. The golden handcuffs are definitely a thing. I'm too close to walk away. I don't know that I'd have 17 years in me though if I had to wait until 57. I still like and enjoy the work more days than not, but I do struggle sometimes with not being able to provide the level of quality input that I used to. My work unit had a 25-50% vacancy rate for months this year and I've been feeling it. Have you scheduled any leave? I've scheduled a staycation.