SEC - Reorg

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that ignoring the CBA was beyond the pale. But complaining about not having townhalls and asking people to work a full day before a holiday (when they already get 25 days of leave per year and 14 federal holidays off)? Please. Whine a little more.

The “old school” leadership is a welcome change. The problem is, ignoring contracts is not “old school.” Major fail.

I frankly don't care if we don't have regular town halls, but given all the upheaval in the gov and the change in head count, I think doing a single town hall which isn't just prepared remarks meant for DOGE/the admin like his first one was isn't that big of an ask. Sure, it won't be that helpful ultimately, but that first town hall and the radio silence since isn't a great way to get staff on board to fulfill what you are actually trying to do.

Perhaps he’s under the impression that the hundreds of managers (esp office heads) should be communicating with their own staff about these things and that it’s wasteful and unnecessary for the CHAIRMAN to have to inform staff about every little thing.

Of course, if managers aren’t doing that, that’s a problem. But take it up with them.

I'm manager-level and there's nothing to communicate. We've been directed to say nothing because we don't know anything. That's why this whole thing is frustrating.

Maybe bc there’s nothing to communicate?

Let me know when PA drops a 400 person Rif plan that had been in the works for months. Then I’ll admit I was wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that ignoring the CBA was beyond the pale. But complaining about not having townhalls and asking people to work a full day before a holiday (when they already get 25 days of leave per year and 14 federal holidays off)? Please. Whine a little more.

The “old school” leadership is a welcome change. The problem is, ignoring contracts is not “old school.” Major fail.

I frankly don't care if we don't have regular town halls, but given all the upheaval in the gov and the change in head count, I think doing a single town hall which isn't just prepared remarks meant for DOGE/the admin like his first one was isn't that big of an ask. Sure, it won't be that helpful ultimately, but that first town hall and the radio silence since isn't a great way to get staff on board to fulfill what you are actually trying to do.

Perhaps he’s under the impression that the hundreds of managers (esp office heads) should be communicating with their own staff about these things and that it’s wasteful and unnecessary for the CHAIRMAN to have to inform staff about every little thing.

Of course, if managers aren’t doing that, that’s a problem. But take it up with them.

I'm manager-level and there's nothing to communicate. We've been directed to say nothing because we don't know anything. That's why this whole thing is frustrating.

Maybe bc there’s nothing to communicate?

Let me know when PA drops a 400 person Rif plan that had been in the works for months. Then I’ll admit I was wrong.

I don't think anyone could shill harder for PA if they tried. Must be angling for a 10th floor post or are already there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that ignoring the CBA was beyond the pale. But complaining about not having townhalls and asking people to work a full day before a holiday (when they already get 25 days of leave per year and 14 federal holidays off)? Please. Whine a little more.

The “old school” leadership is a welcome change. The problem is, ignoring contracts is not “old school.” Major fail.

You must be a long-timer? Or I agree, PA is on DCUM. But not everyone gets 26 days, it takes forever to get to that level of accrual. And 11 holidays, not 14 but maybe that was a typo.

Of course I can take leave. I don’t care about the 2 hours. I care more about what it says when Chairmen have been doing it for decades for at least some holidays if not all. So it would actually be “old school” to do it vs. not. Even my private employers have done that. Call me whiny, I don’t really care. Just don’t call me Roger.

I don’t think the two hours are required by any stretch of the imagination and I don’t feel entitled to it. Happy to use my leave and I often worked through the two hours anyway. It is a small gesture of appreciation and kindness that does not go unnoticed. Pick something else then, if not that. It’s just an example.

+1. It's a small gesture towards employees that other agencies are making. That he won't even do something that small is indicative of his position towards his employees. I would expect our next raise to be small if we even get one at all.

[Anonymous]

So is anyone else operating under the assumption that if we get shut down, this time we aren't getting paid at all? Yes I know it's legislated blah blah but this WH does what it pleases and I can see PA just nodding along. Any chance they'll use this as a chance to do actual RIFs? I mean I guess not bc why not fire - no severance then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So is anyone else operating under the assumption that if we get shut down, this time we aren't getting paid at all? Yes I know it's legislated blah blah but this WH does what it pleases and I can see PA just nodding along. Any chance they'll use this as a chance to do actual RIFs? I mean I guess not bc why not fire - no severance then.

It isn't up to PA if we get paid after a shutdown. I would guess that the Senate wouldn't pass anything which overrules the existing law saying we get back pay, but the admin could just ignore it and not pay people and scotus would just give the OK. There won't be RIFs. The agency is still important to the admin's agenda and many divisions which write rules (to deregulate in this case) are barely scraping by already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For all the complainers, I think the agency could have done a LOT worse than PA. We seem to luck out. By “disdain,” I think you mean he doesn’t kiss staff’s butt.

As if GG just adored the staff! Lol.

GG at least gave the staff decent raises for the first time in years. And he gave us our now taken away telework that was effective and the staff sorely misses but PA won’t reinstate. And allowed for a two hour dismissal prior to holidays that PA for some reason thinks is stupid and won’t do even though OPM has issued guidance saying it’s ok.

It’s not really about kissing the staff’s butt. It’s the fact that there are little things he could be doing that he chooses not to. It sends a message. Sure, it could be a lot worse and everyone appreciates that it’s not. But we should also be able to call the issues like we see them.

This really sounds like whining. If you want to leave early before a holiday, take 2 hours of leave.

Taking leave is not the point, which you did seem to miss. The point is (and this is for you also)… Don’t be an arsehole.

PP- i am not- but it seems like you are. I think a lot of my colleagues are spoiled and entitled. I am so sick of the fake reasonable accommodations to telework. We have great positions, no one has been riffed and we make good money. Everyone that wanted to leave could go and got a nice VSIP.

i'm sorry, what? 2.5 months pay in the middle of a recession to leave the federal government and consulting for 5+ years is utter trash, and you call it NICE? sure it's a nice bonus for the VERA-takers, but a terrible VSIP on its own.

and no one has been riffed... yet. reorg still hasn't happened, and there is no telling how much they are going to screw with people's lives or do forcible demotions. oh and most of the DC 14s make too much to earn a severance if they DO get riffed.

and i don't know why you think folks are getting fake RAs. there are plenty of people that could have managed their disabilities without a RA with pre-covid levels of telework, but just can't do 8.5 hours in the office daily + commute. if the only flexibility you give them is going through the RA process, that's what's going to happen.


How many people have a reasonable accommodation that they can’t commute to an office setting. Many of them still travel and exercise and are so bold they post pictures of performing such activities. It is a total fraud!

[Anonymous]

Agreed. The RAs may not be “fake”, but they are a stretch that most ethical staff would not abuse/game. I’ve realized a couple of colleagues are home with RAs that had no issue before RTO. It’s not hard to see a specialist and have them cook something up for you, but it’s obvious to your colleagues and doesn’t earn you any goodwill with them. HR should be tougher, because it otherwise hurts morale for everyone else, but for whatever reason, they’re not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. The RAs may not be “fake”, but they are a stretch that most ethical staff would not abuse/game. I’ve realized a couple of colleagues are home with RAs that had no issue before RTO. It’s not hard to see a specialist and have them cook something up for you, but it’s obvious to your colleagues and doesn’t earn you any goodwill with them. HR should be tougher, because it otherwise hurts morale for everyone else, but for whatever reason, they’re not.

lol. Goodwill from my colleagues. Yeah, that’s my big priority right now.

[Anonymous]

I guess the union is only communicating with paying members now. I haven’t heard from them since Feb. (had been at the agency for a few months). I was just about to join too. But certainly not now.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-sec-staff-should-not-worry-about-shutdown-layoffs-union-says-2025-09-26/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. The RAs may not be “fake”, but they are a stretch that most ethical staff would not abuse/game. I’ve realized a couple of colleagues are home with RAs that had no issue before RTO. It’s not hard to see a specialist and have them cook something up for you, but it’s obvious to your colleagues and doesn’t earn you any goodwill with them. HR should be tougher, because it otherwise hurts morale for everyone else, but for whatever reason, they’re not.

lol. Goodwill from my colleagues. Yeah, that’s my big priority right now.

Wow! I hope SEC doesn’t eliminate telework as a reasonable accommodation, like CDC dod. We do have a few legit disabled people, and that would be very unfortunate for them. The fakers should be fired.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. The RAs may not be “fake”, but they are a stretch that most ethical staff would not abuse/game. I’ve realized a couple of colleagues are home with RAs that had no issue before RTO. It’s not hard to see a specialist and have them cook something up for you, but it’s obvious to your colleagues and doesn’t earn you any goodwill with them. HR should be tougher, because it otherwise hurts morale for everyone else, but for whatever reason, they’re not.

lol. Goodwill from my colleagues. Yeah, that’s my big priority right now.

Wow! I hope SEC doesn’t eliminate telework as a reasonable accommodation, like CDC dod. We do have a few legit disabled people, and that would be very unfortunate for them. The fakers should be fired.

CDC did that for like one day, its not happening anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. The RAs may not be “fake”, but they are a stretch that most ethical staff would not abuse/game. I’ve realized a couple of colleagues are home with RAs that had no issue before RTO. It’s not hard to see a specialist and have them cook something up for you, but it’s obvious to your colleagues and doesn’t earn you any goodwill with them. HR should be tougher, because it otherwise hurts morale for everyone else, but for whatever reason, they’re not.

It's so annoying when people pretend they know what medical conditions someone else has. Just because you don't see it or it doesn't render them immobile doesn't mean it doesn't qualify as a disability.

I don't have an RA but it doesn't bother me at all that people do. Commuting is physically and mentally unhealthy for nearly everyone, anyway. So many of my coworkers are exhausted or sick in the office because of RTO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the union is only communicating with paying members now. I haven’t heard from them since Feb. (had been at the agency for a few months). I was just about to join too. But certainly not now.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-sec-staff-should-not-worry-about-shutdown-layoffs-union-says-2025-09-26/

Because they sent something only to those who paid you won’t join? They do that all the time and have been for years. Sometimes non paying get the email but not always. I have been at the agency almost 20 years and finally joined. The lawsuits they have filed will take forever. As will it take forever for the arbitration to get appealed and maybe to district court. But I’m willing to help pay for someone to keep fighting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I guess the union is only communicating with paying members now. I haven’t heard from them since Feb. (had been at the agency for a few months). I was just about to join too. But certainly not now.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-sec-staff-should-not-worry-about-shutdown-layoffs-union-says-2025-09-26/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I guess the union is only communicating with paying members now. I haven’t heard from them since Feb. (had been at the agency for a few months). I was just about to join too. But certainly not now.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/us-sec-staff-should-not-worry-about-shutdown-layoffs-union-says-2025-09-26/

Because they sent something only to those who paid you won’t join? They do that all the time and have been for years. Sometimes non paying get the email but not always. I have been at the agency almost 20 years and finally joined. The lawsuits they have filed will take forever. As will it take forever for the arbitration to get appealed and maybe to district court. But I’m willing to help pay for someone to keep fighting.

Haven’t heard a PEEP from them since early March (except a request to fill out a survey in June)! So they get to pretend that I’m a “member of the bargaining unit” but then they give me zero updates during all this chaos over the last 6 months, other than asking me to do something for THEM???

Frankly, I hope they get shut down — all they care about is collecting dues, apparently.