Biden wants RTO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let not and say we did. Find a way to pay for DC’s needs without taxing federal employees who are already underpaid for their work and can’t afford to live within an hour of the city as it is.

If you’re underpaid why are there 100s of applicants per job opening? Serious question. Seems like your benefits and job security still make it appealing.

As a PP said, “applicants” doesn’t mean the positions are easily filled. I’ve conducted a number of hires for GS15-level SME positions in the past few years and yes, we get a hundred applicants and three quarters of them are immediately rejected for lack of qualifications. And then we went through hiring and started making offers and said “in person two days per pay period” and two candidates in a row said “you’re no longer allowing remote? Then I’m no longer interested.” So I’m not convinced that the jobs are all that appealing to high-level knowledge workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let not and say we did. Find a way to pay for DC’s needs without taxing federal employees who are already underpaid for their work and can’t afford to live within an hour of the city as it is.

If you’re underpaid why are there 100s of applicants per job opening? Serious question. Seems like your benefits and job security still make it appealing.

As a PP said, “applicants” doesn’t mean the positions are easily filled. I’ve conducted a number of hires for GS15-level SME positions in the past few years and yes, we get a hundred applicants and three quarters of them are immediately rejected for lack of qualifications. And then we went through hiring and started making offers and said “in person two days per pay period” and two candidates in a row said “you’re no longer allowing remote? Then I’m no longer interested.” So I’m not convinced that the jobs are all that appealing to high-level knowledge workers.

Yep. I’m doing several people’s work right now, not for the first time in my career, because we’ve had people leave and retire and no one wants the gig for what the management is offering. Force me to commute more than I did in 2019 and I’ll just walk. I’m not the only one. My resume is ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are also forcing private companies to return to office. My spouse has to return and they don’t have desk space for everyone and most calls and business will still be on zoom. It’s all about making business happy.

True. My company tried it and nobody listened. People just didn’t go in. Full blow insubordination. They’ve now toned down their “mandate”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also forcing private companies to return to office. My spouse has to return and they don’t have desk space for everyone and most calls and business will still be on zoom. It’s all about making business happy.

True. My company tried it and nobody listened. People just didn’t go in. Full blow insubordination. They’ve now toned down their “mandate”.

My DH’s employer had a big meeting about how they were expecting people to start going back a few days a pay period. Afterward his manager had a smaller meeting with his component (which is 75% in different cities/time zones) and said because everyone is so spread out all meetings will continue to be on Teams and that she would not be keeping track of where people work from and would not be in the office herself very often to check. I also know that my manager personally has no desire to be back in the office either. So I’m wondering who is going to enforce RTO?

I’ll add that back when I had to go to the office on occasion I would just plan medical appointments and such on those days in order to just go in for a few hours or not at all. Or work credit hours on WAH and shorter days in office. People will find ways to get around this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are also forcing private companies to return to office. My spouse has to return and they don’t have desk space for everyone and most calls and business will still be on zoom. It’s all about making business happy.

The pay is higher though—at least for the kinds of jobs that could be done remotely fairly easily. Those are the people the government is going to lose. Many held on and helped out because the WFH flex is comfortable. Now they’re not willing to do the same work as PS employees for much less pay and a hostile management environment.

Pay is not always higher. Depends on the job. I think sone companies are doing it to get rid of people. If you are hired with wfh it’s terrible to change it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

[Anonymous]

If you’re underpaid why are there 100s of applicants per job opening? Serious question. Seems like your benefits and job security still make it appealing.


Those applicants are not qualified. Lots of jobs go unfilled or are “filled” internally by staff doing more than one person’s work. The benefits are not that appealing once you hit mid career and max out your pay with 20 more years to go before you’re eligible for retirement. Seriously.

Agreed. I am a Government lawyer in a niche area. When we hire, we get thousands of applicants with a law degree, but who have never practiced in the relevant area. While we can train new attorneys on occasion, we need some people with experience, and we are not paying a GS-14 salary to someone without relevant experience. Out of thousands of applicants, 2-3 are actually qualified, and those people are not necessarily taking the job, even if we determine their personalities are a good fit and they have good references (which may not even happen). It is very, very hard to find people who are qualified, will be good employees, and want the job. I find hiring to be a huge time suck that often yields a hire who is someone we are settling on vs. actively want. I don't know if more in office days would affect that either way, though - it was the case pre-2020 too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

We heard you first 1000 times. That’s enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

We heard you first 1000 times. That’s enough.

I pretty much agree, I have heard nothing at work and September is 2.5 weeks away. I think it will start with...we are looking at options to acquire more space through GAO. We will keep you informed. Biden got his press for saying it and the country moved on,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

We heard you first 1000 times. That’s enough.

I pretty much agree, I have heard nothing at work and September is 2.5 weeks away. I think it will start with...we are looking at options to acquire more space through GAO. We will keep you informed. Biden got his press for saying it and the country moved on,

Bingo! All the anxiety or celebration over fed RTO in the District was entirely misguided and way overblown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

We heard you first 1000 times. That’s enough.

I pretty much agree, I have heard nothing at work and September is 2.5 weeks away. I think it will start with...we are looking at options to acquire more space through GAO. We will keep you informed. Biden got his press for saying it and the country moved on,

Bingo! All the anxiety or celebration over fed RTO in the District was entirely misguided and way overblown.

Too bad you have no decision power. Lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

We heard you first 1000 times. That’s enough.

I pretty much agree, I have heard nothing at work and September is 2.5 weeks away. I think it will start with...we are looking at options to acquire more space through GAO. We will keep you informed. Biden got his press for saying it and the country moved on,

Bingo! All the anxiety or celebration over fed RTO in the District was entirely misguided and way overblown.

Too bad you have no decision power. Lol

My decision making power is not the issue. It’s Zients’. In this case he doesn’t have the authorities to order RTO. The agencies all know this and will answer with various bureaucratic responses that equate to continuing with max TW for workers. It is really that simple.
Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My management said they are waiting for additional guidance to the memo. Changes are coming though.

“Waiting for additional guidance” is code-speak for we are ignoring the memo. Until it’s signed by POTUS it matters not.

We heard you first 1000 times. That’s enough.

I pretty much agree, I have heard nothing at work and September is 2.5 weeks away. I think it will start with...we are looking at options to acquire more space through GAO. We will keep you informed. Biden got his press for saying it and the country moved on,

Bingo! All the anxiety or celebration over fed RTO in the District was entirely misguided and way overblown.

Too bad you have no decision power. Lol

My decision making power is not the issue. It’s Zients’. In this case he doesn’t have the authorities to order RTO. The agencies all know this and will answer with various bureaucratic responses that equate to continuing with max TW for workers. It is really that simple.
Lol.

I beg to differ but let’s wait and see

[Anonymous]

Zoom called people back. Amazon is tracking those not in office 3x week and just sent out an email. It’s happening kiddos. Buckle up.

[Anonymous]

Pp who questions COS memo.. How can you be here all day everyday? Aren’t you supposed to be “work” from home?