What is your federal agency telling you re: RTO? (No other rants/comments!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DoD divisions are RTO 5 days a week by Feb 10. If you don't report, you're considered AWOL. No flexibility.

So no 4-10 or 5-4-9? YOu have to be 5-8?

I think those would stay. You are working your full time hours in the office, which is 40 hours.

[Anonymous]

State said a while ago March 1st for teleworkers, but managers notified everyone yesterday we are now expected next Monday Feb 7th. So 2 full days notice. I'm not clear if it was only our Bureau or State wide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For supervisors, how are you handling discussions around this with your employees? I find it challenging to balance toeing the company line for risk of being fired with being sympathetic to how disruptive this will be to people’s lives (though I feel some of the DCUM responses are a bit entitled also)

I'm a supervisor and I honestly don't care.

Take the deal and come to work or quit. I'm sick and tired of the entitlement from other federal workers. Democracy goes both ways. We all sat through years of DEI training and the other craziness during the Biden years that a lot of us disagreed with. I remember sitting in training and having some GS14 patronize us and tell us if we disagreed with DEI then we were racist. Hope she likes unemployment and all the other people who joined in enjoy their commutes.

"Elections have consequences" - Barrack Hussein Obama

Your post has some racist dogwhistle language in it. I’m glad you’re not my supervisor. You shouldn’t be allowed to manage anyone.

It's probably someone that doesn't actually work for the federal government. I've been at my agency for over a decade and we never had any DEI training. And if there was anything to that effect it certainly was not mandatory.

As I have written elsewhere here I probably had over 30 hours of mandatory DEI training during the Biden administration. Most of it done at night because I was too busy during the day.

Oh, yeah? What were the trainings? Name the courses.

“Things that never happened: conservative derangement edition”
“Fiction writing for DCUM”

You’re full of it bro. I don’t even think we have 30 hours of training in general.

You have clearly never been a manager at the Department of Labor.

Well you got me there. Never worked at DoL but have worked at two other agencies and we never had anything close to 30 hours of training AND nothing involving DEI.

DOL employee here and yes, this is a lie. 5 years in the agency and a new manager, and I think I have done about an hour a year of anything like unconscious bias trainings, across administrations. A lot of trainings are optional. Maybe people felt peer pressure to do them but there have been very few mandatory DEI related trainings, the most I can remember is an unconscious bias training years ago, during the Trump administration!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told:
-still have AWS
-still have situational telework and we'd only need to get manager's approval
-they're still unsure about remote people but will likely find them places to work near their homes.

Seems like this won't be a big deal for remote people like it was thought.

They haven’t clarified if I have to be in the office the 5 days for 8 hours, or if I can go into the office 10-3, and do the rest teleworking at home. If I can’t telework at all on a regular basis like that, I will just do my 8 and leave the laptop in the office. F*ck them.

Unless you have another job offer and are trying to decide whether to take it, why are you asking this? You’ll just encourage a no or firm stance that affects all workers. Stop.

Because this kind of flexibility is good???? Are you thick? That’s why I’m asking. I can’t get fired as a fed for working 40 hours. I just won’t work more than 40 as I tend to do with the telework flexibilities

That went over your head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DoD divisions are RTO 5 days a week by Feb 10. If you don't report, you're considered AWOL. No flexibility.

So no 4-10 or 5-4-9? YOu have to be 5-8?

Those alternative schedules have been around since the 1980s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FDA, RTO 3/17, refused to send anything in writing (supes were tasked with calling each person by phone)

Was there any explanation for why it’s so much sooner than in the memo HHS sent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told:
-still have AWS
-still have situational telework and we'd only need to get manager's approval
-they're still unsure about remote people but will likely find them places to work near their homes.

Seems like this won't be a big deal for remote people like it was thought.

They haven’t clarified if I have to be in the office the 5 days for 8 hours, or if I can go into the office 10-3, and do the rest teleworking at home. If I can’t telework at all on a regular basis like that, I will just do my 8 and leave the laptop in the office. F*ck them.

we haven’t been told this either and no one wants to clarify, but it is pretty clear that 10-3 would be pushing it. 8:45-4:45 might be more tenable. “full time at the office” likely means full time.

when i jokingly said i would turn in my work phone, management—who are very reasonable—said we still need to be able to do our jobs. i get that. they are being asked a lot here.

Why are you asking this? Of course the answer will be FT at the office. What someone says and does are two different things.

In the private sector it’s now pretty common to leave early or arrive late for the commute and finish up at home. Don’t ask; just do it.

Asking = answer is NO and you’re insubordinate

You have to have permission to ad hoc. Our timekeeping system requires you specify TW vs office. If I put in for 8 hours in office, but it was really 6 plus 3 at home, it’s time card fraud. As a supervisor, I’m just telling people to get their 8 in at the office and go home—the irony is that these employees typically work a lot of overtime and that’s probably going to stop now since they have to commute 10+ hours a week they would have otherwise been working. If they need flexibility on a day here and there I can allow it, but a split schedule is not allowed at my agency. 4 hour shifts and office sharing would be one way to handle the lack of space though. But seems like the whole point of this is to get people to quit, so I don’t think we will do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told:
-still have AWS
-still have situational telework and we'd only need to get manager's approval
-they're still unsure about remote people but will likely find them places to work near their homes.

Seems like this won't be a big deal for remote people like it was thought.

They haven’t clarified if I have to be in the office the 5 days for 8 hours, or if I can go into the office 10-3, and do the rest teleworking at home. If I can’t telework at all on a regular basis like that, I will just do my 8 and leave the laptop in the office. F*ck them.

we haven’t been told this either and no one wants to clarify, but it is pretty clear that 10-3 would be pushing it. 8:45-4:45 might be more tenable. “full time at the office” likely means full time.

when i jokingly said i would turn in my work phone, management—who are very reasonable—said we still need to be able to do our jobs. i get that. they are being asked a lot here.

Why are you asking this? Of course the answer will be FT at the office. What someone says and does are two different things.

In the private sector it’s now pretty common to leave early or arrive late for the commute and finish up at home. Don’t ask; just do it.

Asking = answer is NO and you’re insubordinate

You have to have permission to ad hoc. Our timekeeping system requires you specify TW vs office. If I put in for 8 hours in office, but it was really 6 plus 3 at home, it’s time card fraud. As a supervisor, I’m just telling people to get their 8 in at the office and go home—the irony is that these employees typically work a lot of overtime and that’s probably going to stop now since they have to commute 10+ hours a week they would have otherwise been working. If they need flexibility on a day here and there I can allow it, but a split schedule is not allowed at my agency. 4 hour shifts and office sharing would be one way to handle the lack of space though. But seems like the whole point of this is to get people to quit, so I don’t think we will do that.

Thank you for this information. This explains a lot about what everyone is going through. We're so used to doing a call getting on the road, etc. Totally agree with you. Sorry that call is outside the 8 hours I will be physically at the office. You need to reschedule. It's going to be mighty inefficient. Please don't quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told:
-still have AWS
-still have situational telework and we'd only need to get manager's approval
-they're still unsure about remote people but will likely find them places to work near their homes.

Seems like this won't be a big deal for remote people like it was thought.

They haven’t clarified if I have to be in the office the 5 days for 8 hours, or if I can go into the office 10-3, and do the rest teleworking at home. If I can’t telework at all on a regular basis like that, I will just do my 8 and leave the laptop in the office. F*ck them.

we haven’t been told this either and no one wants to clarify, but it is pretty clear that 10-3 would be pushing it. 8:45-4:45 might be more tenable. “full time at the office” likely means full time.

when i jokingly said i would turn in my work phone, management—who are very reasonable—said we still need to be able to do our jobs. i get that. they are being asked a lot here.

Why are you asking this? Of course the answer will be FT at the office. What someone says and does are two different things.

In the private sector it’s now pretty common to leave early or arrive late for the commute and finish up at home. Don’t ask; just do it.

Asking = answer is NO and you’re insubordinate

You have to have permission to ad hoc. Our timekeeping system requires you specify TW vs office. If I put in for 8 hours in office, but it was really 6 plus 3 at home, it’s time card fraud. As a supervisor, I’m just telling people to get their 8 in at the office and go home—the irony is that these employees typically work a lot of overtime and that’s probably going to stop now since they have to commute 10+ hours a week they would have otherwise been working. If they need flexibility on a day here and there I can allow it, but a split schedule is not allowed at my agency. 4 hour shifts and office sharing would be one way to handle the lack of space though. But seems like the whole point of this is to get people to quit, so I don’t think we will do that.

Can it only be 8 or does it have to be 8.5 for lunch? I can never get a straight answer to this lol

[Anonymous]

We still haven't gotten our RTO notices. For the Agencies who are already starting back in office full time, what are you being told about situational telework? Does it exist, or is your telework agreement completely null and void?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told:
-still have AWS
-still have situational telework and we'd only need to get manager's approval
-they're still unsure about remote people but will likely find them places to work near their homes.

Seems like this won't be a big deal for remote people like it was thought.

They haven’t clarified if I have to be in the office the 5 days for 8 hours, or if I can go into the office 10-3, and do the rest teleworking at home. If I can’t telework at all on a regular basis like that, I will just do my 8 and leave the laptop in the office. F*ck them.

we haven’t been told this either and no one wants to clarify, but it is pretty clear that 10-3 would be pushing it. 8:45-4:45 might be more tenable. “full time at the office” likely means full time.

when i jokingly said i would turn in my work phone, management—who are very reasonable—said we still need to be able to do our jobs. i get that. they are being asked a lot here.

Why are you asking this? Of course the answer will be FT at the office. What someone says and does are two different things.

In the private sector it’s now pretty common to leave early or arrive late for the commute and finish up at home. Don’t ask; just do it.

Asking = answer is NO and you’re insubordinate

Well... our timecards indicate telework or onsite work. We literally have different numbers depending on where you're working. So working from home and charging to the onsite number seems awfully close to timecard fraud. So depending on your supervisor who actually signs your timecard, it might be worth asking the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone hear from NASA?

Goddard is expected to be onsite now, with flexibility and exceptions until 2/28. "Full compliance" for RTO on 2/28. So far flexible hours are still allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told:
-still have AWS
-still have situational telework and we'd only need to get manager's approval
-they're still unsure about remote people but will likely find them places to work near their homes.

Seems like this won't be a big deal for remote people like it was thought.

They haven’t clarified if I have to be in the office the 5 days for 8 hours, or if I can go into the office 10-3, and do the rest teleworking at home. If I can’t telework at all on a regular basis like that, I will just do my 8 and leave the laptop in the office. F*ck them.

we haven’t been told this either and no one wants to clarify, but it is pretty clear that 10-3 would be pushing it. 8:45-4:45 might be more tenable. “full time at the office” likely means full time.

when i jokingly said i would turn in my work phone, management—who are very reasonable—said we still need to be able to do our jobs. i get that. they are being asked a lot here.

Why are you asking this? Of course the answer will be FT at the office. What someone says and does are two different things.

In the private sector it’s now pretty common to leave early or arrive late for the commute and finish up at home. Don’t ask; just do it.

Asking = answer is NO and you’re insubordinate

You have to have permission to ad hoc. Our timekeeping system requires you specify TW vs office. If I put in for 8 hours in office, but it was really 6 plus 3 at home, it’s time card fraud. As a supervisor, I’m just telling people to get their 8 in at the office and go home—the irony is that these employees typically work a lot of overtime and that’s probably going to stop now since they have to commute 10+ hours a week they would have otherwise been working. If they need flexibility on a day here and there I can allow it, but a split schedule is not allowed at my agency. 4 hour shifts and office sharing would be one way to handle the lack of space though. But seems like the whole point of this is to get people to quit, so I don’t think we will do that.

Can it only be 8 or does it have to be 8.5 for lunch? I can never get a straight answer to this lol

You only enter the number of hours “worked” on your time card at my agency. Maybe some agency’s track your lunches but we don’t. So, you could take your lunch at the end of the day and no one would really know. I suppose the badge swipes could tell the story if people wanted to really crack down. I do 8.5 hours in the building and leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FDA, RTO 3/17, refused to send anything in writing (supes were tasked with calling each person by phone)

Was there any explanation for why it’s so much sooner than in the memo HHS sent?

The explanation was that they are trying to get people to take the Fork but that supervisors can’t actively encourage it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DoD divisions are RTO 5 days a week by Feb 10. If you don't report, you're considered AWOL. No flexibility.

So no 4-10 or 5-4-9? YOu have to be 5-8?

I think those would stay. You are working your full time hours in the office, which is 40 hours.

We have not been told that we cannot keep compressed schedules, or maxi flex