Coping with despair

[Anonymous]

Getting angry helps OP.

[Anonymous]

I’m forging ahead and doing the bare minimum. I feel apathy at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Come back when you start to feel the impacts of a purposely diminished government. Maybe someone in your family will die of a pathogen or a car accident (which could have been avoided with appropriate safeguards, regulations, and testing in place). Maybe your kid won't be offered any merit aid for college despite how hard they worked to keep that 4.0, because the universities are no longer able to be generous. Feds are being treated inhumanely. The rest of the country is going to have to feel it unfortunately.

Are you kidding me? US universities, especially private ones, should have lost Federal funding long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Why would you think it would create better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers? Contrary to popular belief, most federal workers are working at jobs to do things that Congress has directed the government to do. How’s all that stuff going to get done? The federal jobs piece is kind of the minor piece of what’s going on - the real issue is what won’t happen without people doing the work.

Sure, make it more efficient to fire low performers, most Feds are on board with that (although it actually isn’t impossible now) but this is just taking a ton of expertise on incredibly complex issues and throwing it out the window.

But you’re missing the point: why should Feds have better job security than the private sector? Answer: they shouldn’t. And since they have essentially been unfireable for decades, there are surely many we can do without.

You should be asking why private sector job security isn't better. It should be better, and it used to be.
No federal employee wants private job security to be bad, yet private sector is always trying to drag federal employees down instead of demanding better for themselves. It's the worst kind of self-sabotage, justifying harm to others because you've been harmed.

Like DEI?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Why did you feel the need to post this on this thread? You are either an idiot, insensitive, or both. Run. Along.

PP here. Maybe you don’t like my view, but at least I’m honest. Wishing you all the best.

Okay, so you are an idiot, as there clearly is no "maybe" in the pp's post.

Wow. Now I don’t feel bad for you at all. Not even a little bit. You Feds are mean, vindictive, and entitled. You had this coming. Where were you when those of us in this private sector were laid off and suffered during COVID. You were hiding at home behind your monitors on full pay. Well now it’s your turn. Karma is a B as they say.

NP. I feel like you’re being deliberately cruel to Feds, as though we deserve it. Thing is, I was in the private sector for almost thirty years and got laid off during COVID. I found a good job in the government, although it took a long time, and I’m doing great at it. But I’m in line to lose my job again and probably will. Was it my turn to lose my job twice for reasons that had nothing to do with me or my performance? And should I resent the one caused by a global pandemic or the one caused by an ignorant man-child more? We don’t deserve this. I didn’t deserve this.

Maybe you’re the diamond in the rough, but why did you choose a Federal job? Most of the Feds I know brag about transitioning to the Federal Government for work-life balance. And it’s absurd that Feds are still working from home five years post COVID. No wonder Americans are angry. Enough is enough! But good luck to you. I’m sure you’ll do fine back in the private sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would you say to me - mid 40s, at a FinReg, have never liked it but stayed 10 yrs because frankly after I didn't make partner in biglaw I was done with that life and working like that to not get rewarded so it was a good enough job w a high enough salary so whatever. But now I feel like I have zero options - can't go back to biglaw but if I could even get hired (prob not) they'd want to take me in a practice area related to my FinReg which does NOT interest me. Like it doesn't interest me 40 hours a week, let alone the 60 hour/wk biglaw culture.

So now what?? The only part of my career that I really liked was about 4-5 years of biglaw associate years where I was doing something specialized - think tax litigation (just an example, it wasn't actually tax). So now I have this notion of - can I somehow pivot to doing "tax" on the business side or the law side? Obviously biglaw would never consider it but medium law, some smaller consulting firm? Is this idea completely out to lunch??

Like everyone else I just feel so down, but I feel like my peers in FinReg who aren't looking to stay will happily jump to biglaw FinReg practices and that's that. While I'm floating around not knowing what to do.

I’d consider any offers you can get, esp if you have kids. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Come back when you start to feel the impacts of a purposely diminished government. Maybe someone in your family will die of a pathogen or a car accident (which could have been avoided with appropriate safeguards, regulations, and testing in place). Maybe your kid won't be offered any merit aid for college despite how hard they worked to keep that 4.0, because the universities are no longer able to be generous. Feds are being treated inhumanely. The rest of the country is going to have to feel it unfortunately.

Are you kidding me? US universities, especially private ones, should have lost Federal funding long ago.

Because our government has no interest in ensuring that we have enough doctors and nurses (pssst...we don't), accountants, farmers, and engineers? Makes great sense. Keep America Stupid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you cope with despair when: your missions are trashed; the alliances that underpin U.S. status and relative global peace are shredded; your dedicated, hard-working colleagues are fired; your own position is uncertain; and a group of goons with no understanding of what they are destroying for short-term gain takes over? I am struggling and still want to stay put here for the long haul. How are you all coping?

Get a grip? That plus a good dose of reality (you might get laid off) and humility (stop name-calling and admit there are probably some issues with your work).

Then you join the protests or move on like everyone across this nation for hundreds of years when their jobs are no longer necessary. Suck it up buttercup. You’re destroying this city and job opportunities for everybody else

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What would you say to me - mid 40s, at a FinReg, have never liked it but stayed 10 yrs because frankly after I didn't make partner in biglaw I was done with that life and working like that to not get rewarded so it was a good enough job w a high enough salary so whatever. But now I feel like I have zero options - can't go back to biglaw but if I could even get hired (prob not) they'd want to take me in a practice area related to my FinReg which does NOT interest me. Like it doesn't interest me 40 hours a week, let alone the 60 hour/wk biglaw culture.

So now what?? The only part of my career that I really liked was about 4-5 years of biglaw associate years where I was doing something specialized - think tax litigation (just an example, it wasn't actually tax). So now I have this notion of - can I somehow pivot to doing "tax" on the business side or the law side? Obviously biglaw would never consider it but medium law, some smaller consulting firm? Is this idea completely out to lunch??

Like everyone else I just feel so down, but I feel like my peers in FinReg who aren't looking to stay will happily jump to biglaw FinReg practices and that's that. While I'm floating around not knowing what to do.

Honestly, in your situation, at your age, I’d reach out to recruiters and your network and be grateful for any offer you get.

- middle aged lawyer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Why did you feel the need to post this on this thread? You are either an idiot, insensitive, or both. Run. Along.

PP here. Maybe you don’t like my view, but at least I’m honest. Wishing you all the best.

Okay, so you are an idiot, as there clearly is no "maybe" in the pp's post.

Wow. Now I don’t feel bad for you at all. Not even a little bit. You Feds are mean, vindictive, and entitled. You had this coming. Where were you when those of us in this private sector were laid off and suffered during COVID. You were hiding at home behind your monitors on full pay. Well now it’s your turn. Karma is a B as they say.

Trump sure brings out the worst in some people. WTF is wrong with his supporters? How did they end up so uninformed and cruel?

[Anonymous]

The panda cam got my teen daughter and me through the pandemic:

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/panda-cam

Or other animal cams (naked mole rats, anyone?)

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams

Other zoos have animal cams too.


So sorry to see this happening to so many dedicated feds and contractors. You are greatly appreciated!

Wishing you much fortitude during this dark time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you cope with despair when: your missions are trashed; the alliances that underpin U.S. status and relative global peace are shredded; your dedicated, hard-working colleagues are fired; your own position is uncertain; and a group of goons with no understanding of what they are destroying for short-term gain takes over? I am struggling and still want to stay put here for the long haul. How are you all coping?

Get a grip? That plus a good dose of reality (you might get laid off) and humility (stop name-calling and admit there are probably some issues with your work).

Then you join the protests or move on like everyone across this nation for hundreds of years when their jobs are no longer necessary. Suck it up buttercup. You’re destroying this city and job opportunities for everybody else

MAGAs are really showing their a$$. Don’t worry, Muskrat’s AI is coming for your job too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Why did you feel the need to post this on this thread? You are either an idiot, insensitive, or both. Run. Along.

PP here. Maybe you don’t like my view, but at least I’m honest. Wishing you all the best.

Okay, so you are an idiot, as there clearly is no "maybe" in the pp's post.

Wow. Now I don’t feel bad for you at all. Not even a little bit. You Feds are mean, vindictive, and entitled. You had this coming. Where were you when those of us in this private sector were laid off and suffered during COVID. You were hiding at home behind your monitors on full pay. Well now it’s your turn. Karma is a B as they say.

Trump sure brings out the worst in some people. WTF is wrong with his supporters? How did they end up so uninformed and cruel?

Bitter incels who think they’re getting some kind of payback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Why would you think it would create better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers? Contrary to popular belief, most federal workers are working at jobs to do things that Congress has directed the government to do. How’s all that stuff going to get done? The federal jobs piece is kind of the minor piece of what’s going on - the real issue is what won’t happen without people doing the work.

Sure, make it more efficient to fire low performers, most Feds are on board with that (although it actually isn’t impossible now) but this is just taking a ton of expertise on incredibly complex issues and throwing it out the window.

But you’re missing the point: why should Feds have better job security than the private sector? Answer: they shouldn’t. And since they have essentially been unfireable for decades, there are surely many we can do without.

A few months ago I might have agreed with you. In general, I think it should be much easier to fire low performers in the federal government. And reducing some of the civil service protections seems like a necessary part of that.

But this administration demonstrates the problem with that. They're not going after low performers. They're just trying to punish people they don't like and who they can't control.

Also remember that the justification for lower compensation for highly-skilled, professional federal employees has been based on the idea that the jobs were more secure/stable because of those protections. Are you willing to pay cybersecurity engineers and lawyers what the Fortune 500 companies pay?

yup. I've worked half my life in private industry, now 10 years in federal government. I took a lower-paying government job because I wanted job stability and I really liked the mission. As recently as last year I could get 2-3 times what I currently earn in private industry. State by state, you've allowed your elected body to reduce private employees to have no rights whatsoever as "at-will employees". It really shouldn't be that way, but y'all keep getting what you voted for, good and hard, and now you want to somehow put the blame on civil servants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, it sucks, but it’s just putting Federal workers on a level footing with the vast majority of Americans. Why should Feds have more job security than the rest of us? Maybe it’s time for all Americans to have better workers rights, but I don’t think Feds should be some protected class. If eliminating Federal jobs leads to better efficiencies and cost savings for taxpayers, then so be it.

Come back when you start to feel the impacts of a purposely diminished government. Maybe someone in your family will die of a pathogen or a car accident (which could have been avoided with appropriate safeguards, regulations, and testing in place). Maybe your kid won't be offered any merit aid for college despite how hard they worked to keep that 4.0, because the universities are no longer able to be generous. Feds are being treated inhumanely. The rest of the country is going to have to feel it unfortunately.

Are you kidding me? US universities, especially private ones, should have lost Federal funding long ago.

Because our government has no interest in ensuring that we have enough doctors and nurses (pssst...we don't), accountants, farmers, and engineers? Makes great sense. Keep America Stupid!

This comment is giving “government social engineering everyone’s careers.” Can you, pp, help a fed transition to a farmer? Because that’s what the US needs?

Go back to USSR.