Anyone been on-boarded to a federal agency since the freeze? Or advice from federal HR people?

[Anonymous]

Specifically, if you were given a tentative offer and no start date, or a start date after the February cut-off, have you been given an EOD? Or have you been given any positive updates?

Or, if you're in HR with a federal agency, how are you all handling these situations? The position I was offered is a 1082 series (writer/editor) and neither it, nor the agency that hired me, can be considered exempt or critical.

I was given a TO the day before inauguration. My BI was initiated that day (should have been quick, because no security clearance was necessary). I was fingerprinted on the morning of the 23rd, and then... the freeze was enacted. I get in touch with my HR contact every couple of weeks, but there is still no real news--they appear to be in a holding pattern. I would love a reason or two to keep hoping.

I realize there is a whole thread on this, but it seems to have died. I'm new to DCUM, so I don't know the etiquette--if posting a new thread on an old subject is against the rules, I apologize!

[Anonymous]

Just keep waiting. Agencies are going to start to get exemptions and/or OPM is going to come out with their 90 day plan. Nothing HR can do until those things happen.

Our agency is identifying the most critical openings and moving forward to fill those

[Anonymous]

The only thing we're allowed to ask for exemptions on are the things that were excluded. I'm in HR and we just got approval for an exemption process last week, so those are starting to come in. There is literally no way we could entertaining hiring a writer/editor unfortunately. I think you'll probably have to wait until the freeze is over.

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for your replies! I am fine waiting for the freeze to end, if that's what it takes. I'm employed now, and I hadn't given my current employer notice yet, so that's good. I also understand that the writer/editor position isn't mission critical. I guess I'm more nervous that the offer will be cancelled. If I had assurance that I'd get the job eventually, the waiting would be easier.

[Anonymous]

I'm sitting on a tentative offer with no start date. I've done the fingerprinting. I have not heard anything for weeks. But I was told early on that the agency was making a case to hire the position I was selected for as they saw the position as mission critical (but not related to national security, health or defense).

At my current agency (in a different cabinet department), we (agency supervisors) didn't receive written instructions regarding the freeze from the department until about a week and half ago. Interestingly, the wide release of the instructions coincided with confirmation of the new Secretary. The instructions didn't really say anything new regarding tentative offers issued before the freeze. It indicated that those offers could go forward if they got the Secretary's approval. So, I interpret that as exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

I'm just trying to be patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm just trying to be patient.

That's about the best you can do right now. Agencies are getting piecemeal guidance from OPM and the administration which is slowly being disseminated to HR, so they probably don't have a lot to tell candidates unfortunately.