unprofessional team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shutting down telework may not be that easy if these are bargaining unit employees (which 10-1 they are, otherwise they'd have been out the door long ago based on the behavior OP describes)

no way. I had telework revoked in my office of 50. Some of my coworkers had it written into their sign on contracts. Didn't matter. Telework was gone and there was nothing HR, the union or anyone else could do about it. Telework is at the discretion of your boss. We had 60% of the workforce leave in 2 years. But it was the best employees who left, not the slackers who abused telework.

[Anonymous]

There is a way around this, but on e-mails, turn on return receipt. At least you may know if they open it or not.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the Fed supervisor that you must tread lightly. I'm also a Fed and have seen it backfire when a new supervisor came in and tried to make all of these changes that have been suggested. I'd start small by setting the expectation that every phone call and email must be returned within x hours (1 or 2) while on telework otherwise telework can be revoked. Then see how things go. If response time doesn't improve, revoke telework. You simply can't correct all of these issues at once without great risk to yourself. Baby steps.

[Anonymous]

I'd argue that the majority of slackers in Club Fed are boomers who're either good friends with higher-ups and/or protected classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd argue that the majority of slackers in Club Fed are boomers who're either good friends with higher-ups and/or protected classes.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shutting down telework may not be that easy if these are bargaining unit employees (which 10-1 they are, otherwise they'd have been out the door long ago based on the behavior OP describes)

no way. I had telework revoked in my office of 50. Some of my coworkers had it written into their sign on contracts. Didn't matter. Telework was gone and there was nothing HR, the union or anyone else could do about it. Telework is at the discretion of your boss. We had 60% of the workforce leave in 2 years. But it was the best employees who left, not the slackers who abused telework.

Similar experience. Plug can be pulled on telework at any time. Also found that people left. This wasn't just due to the change in policy, but the way management seemed intent on treating staff like they were teenage interns. The better people decided to move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:crew of Millennials?

This is the usual intergenerational angst. I feel the same way about boomers. All the slackers at my agency are topped out boomers who know they could never find another job. And they know they can't be fired because of potential age discrimination lawsuits. In my specific group, it's a young team of millennials pulling all the weight. Let me tell you how great it is to work your ass off so that Old Joe Shmoe can get a few more years in before he retires and collects 70% of his top 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:crew of Millennials?

This is the usual intergenerational angst. I feel the same way about boomers. All the slackers at my agency are topped out boomers who know they could never find another job. And they know they can't be fired because of potential age discrimination lawsuits. In my specific group, it's a young team of millennials pulling all the weight. Let me tell you how great it is to work your ass off so that Old Joe Shmoe can get a few more years in before he retires and collects 70% of his top 3.

Joe is going for 80%. Otherwise, ITA although Gen X is pulling weight too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The risk of shutting down teleworking for all is this will annoy the productive members of your team

True, and some may leave. Those who like their jobs can be pressured to lean hard on those who are slacking. It works in sports (e.g., coach says everyone does laps until Johnny starts catching passes), it works in the military (e.g., drill sergeant says everyone drop and give me 20 every time Private Joker makes a wisecrack), and it even works in the office (e.g., boss says everyone stays late until John Smith gets his work done).

Peer pressure is a wonderful motivator because it's not the boss putting pressure on the under-performer - it's his/her peers.

I disagree. Peer pressure doesn't work in a government office. In fact, it usually works in the opposite direction: People end up feeling defeated, like it doesn't matter if they work hard because they'll still have to stay late because of Johnny Slacker. So either then end up doing Johnny Slacker's work for him (because it's easier that way) or they leave for another job.

[Anonymous]

In fairness to Johnny Slacker, many of those type were promoted into jobs they were never qualified for and they don't have the skill set to do what you're asking. It's not laziness so much as total incompetence.

[Anonymous]

Update?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a new federal supervisor. My team is mainly GS-12s, with a few 13s. I have been with them for a month and they routinely don't show up to scheduled meetings. Another office scheduled a meeting during lunch time and even though this is not a recurring meeting, every person on the team refused to come to the meeting. People blast music in an open cubicle environment. There is a lot of socializing and chit chatting. One employee was on medical leave and came to a team party. People are on telework schedules that do not make sense to me. Routinely, they call in unscheduled leave. People teleworking do not respond by phone or voice mail. I have been working here for a month and am at a loss. I have started addressing this behavior and people act like I am the unbelievable one. How has this office functioned like this for so long and how do I reign in this behavior and set expectations that we do our work and behave as the professionals we are on paper?

Pick your battles. Don't try to overcorrect because it will bite you in the butt. Choose which issues are the most annoying and address those first. Once those are in place go on to the next issue until you either have transferred out the non-compliant or the ship starts to shape up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd argue that the majority of slackers in Club Fed are boomers who're either good friends with higher-ups and/or protected classes.

+1000

I'm in total agreement. I'm the youngest one in my office and all the deadweight are the boomers. I've gotten stuck doing most of their work and it's burning me out.

*There's only 5 of us in our office*