Fork - who is waiting until Thursday to decide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know at least 5 pple -myself included- in a fed OGC who are taking the "Fork" offer. I will get "VERA" as well. The option is to go in 5 days/ week, as well as potentially be converted to schedule F and RIF'd with no severance, process, etc.

Our office in a couple of the practice areas is going to completely collapse.

I call BS. 5 lawyers falling for this? No way.

Falling for what? We've been told we are likely to be "schedule F" if we stay. We have to come in 5 days/week, including those who are outside 50 miles (if they cannot find facilities near where they live out of state).

You all are analyzing this like we are in normal times. We are not. Laws are being broken left and right. No one is holding them accountable and it will be forever and a day before all the "fork" lawsuits are resolved. And there is no guarantee that it will be resolved in my favor. By that time, I'll be retired under VERA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re eligible for VERA, that has nothing to do with FORK.

Here is the OPM VERA page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/

Here is the RIF page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force/

Michelle Singletary’s take on FORK: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-workers-should-tell-trump-no-deal-on-resignation-offer/ar-AA1y8OQI?ocid=TobArticle

Some (all?) agencies are saying you can’t do VERA without also doing fork.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know anyone taking it before yesterday, but my agency offered VERA contingent on fork and now I know of a handful who are seriously considering it.

I just came home from work TONIGHT to have my husband tell me his agency said today that VERA is contingent on fork and he has to reply by tomorrow.

He feels that this crowd is so vindictive that since he is eligible for VERA, if he doesn't take it, he would be first to be RIF'd. He's only 52. We didn't budget for him to retire for another 10 years.

And we have to decide by tomorrow. I am terrified and so f'ing angry.

Anyone in their 50s or 60s should understand that age discrimination is illegal, very widespread, and nearly impossible to prove in court. In short, there might not be any other job available if one leaves the civil service at those ages.

The other thing, only Congress can appropriate the funds for this, and they have not (yet) done so. So one could believe one would get severance or other consideration, but then be left high and dry without a job and with none of what has been promised. The risk of taking the “offer” is huge and unbounded.

exactly. I feel like people are majorly failing to understand. If you’re SURE you’re getting fired, makes sense. But otherwise stay put. l

[Anonymous]

I am turning 62 in August and plan to retire then with 30+ years. I am definitely taking it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am turning 62 in August and plan to retire then with 30+ years. I am definitely taking it.

There are three people in my office that are taking it, and they are all in this situation. Just an early retirement shove.

[Anonymous]

What happens if the courts enjoin the fork?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What happens if the courts enjoin the fork?

That’s why I have not taken the offer. I want to wait as long as possible

[Anonymous]

Even if Fork is a scam/not legit, VERA is a good deal for some. I wasn’t interested in Fork, but add VERA to it and I’m considering.

I would miss my job, colleagues and income, but VERA might be hard to pass up. I’m sick of commuting and trying something new might be fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re eligible for VERA, that has nothing to do with FORK.

Here is the OPM VERA page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/

Here is the RIF page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force/

Michelle Singletary’s take on FORK: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-workers-should-tell-trump-no-deal-on-resignation-offer/ar-AA1y8OQI?ocid=TobArticle

But DH's agency is saying VERA was approved for their agency but is contingent on taking fork. They are told VERA is only an option for fork. And we have to decide by tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re eligible for VERA, that has nothing to do with FORK.

Here is the OPM VERA page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/

Here is the RIF page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force/

Michelle Singletary’s take on FORK: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-workers-should-tell-trump-no-deal-on-resignation-offer/ar-AA1y8OQI?ocid=TobArticle

But DH's agency is saying VERA was approved for their agency but is contingent on taking fork. They are told VERA is only an option for fork. And we have to decide by tomorrow.

Then your agency hasn’t really gotten VERA authority.

Here’s why they need things done soon. They need you in admin status for ten days prior to March 14 when the government will shut down. At that point you will have run out of allowable admin leave and will be resigned because you never signed anything other than you quit. The payback law doesn’t apply to non-employees. When a deal is finally struck, the remainder of the year appropriations will be for employees on the books. Agencies don’t get funding per person, they get a pile of funding for all employee services. So there won’t be money to pay you. Even if your career agency likes you and feels bad, they need it to pay for the people they still have and won’t be authorized for a payout without a special appropriation. This is the scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re eligible for VERA, that has nothing to do with FORK.

Here is the OPM VERA page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/voluntary-early-retirement-authority/

Here is the RIF page:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force/

Michelle Singletary’s take on FORK: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-workers-should-tell-trump-no-deal-on-resignation-offer/ar-AA1y8OQI?ocid=TobArticle

Untrue in this instance. For normal VERA, yes. This VERA approval is contingent on forking. OPM is the one who approves any VERA and they have been very clear about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently the actual contract contains a paragraph where the government employee agrees that the deal is not enforceable in court. Can’t confirm because I have not personally seen, but worth reading carefully before signing.

It doesn’t say it’s not enforceable. It says you waive all rights to bring actions you might have brought and aver that you are entering into the agreement voluntarily. That part is pretty standard for agreements to resign. It could still be challenged somewhere if they breach. Probably court of federal claims in a Tucker act suit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:won't taking VERA mean taking a SIGNIFICANT decrease in your pension payments? I'm not a Fed. That's what a friend Fed told me. Why would people do that, especially if you're anywhere close to retirement?

In my case, Vera pension would be 2k per month. If I wait until I am 62, full pension is about 3k (based on today’s salary). Sure you miss out on some money, but what is ten years worth to you? I like my job, like the people I work with, but the commute, bureaucracy and now being the whipping boy for some elected and not elected leaders, VERA sounds pretty good.

How did you figure that out? I’ve got my benefits statement but the latest. Ersuon available online in fro January 2024. Even so, it tells me that retiring at age 62 would bring me $5500 per month. Right now I’m 53 and eligible for VERA, how can I calculate what I would be receiving now should I take VERA?

[Anonymous]

WaPo is reporting 40k took a fork

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WaPo is reporting 40k took a fork

By tomorrow night it will be more than 250k