Are things calming down, Feds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:RIF takes time to formulate ranking orders. That’s why things appear quiet. You better believe every agency is putting together lists.

Unless you're GSA, where they decide to take the easy way out and just fire entire divisions/offices - no need to rank people when you axe that way.

Assuming they're not looking to delete a whole division, do they rank within a division, or across the whole agency, irrespective of division?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calm before the storm OP. Worst is yet to come.

This. OP is the guy standing on his front doorstep during tornado season in the eye of the storm saying “I think we’re OK, guys. It’s so QUIET.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

Meh. Sorry, I’m not being a frog. I’m well aware of what’s happening, but really—there’s nothing I can do other than keep my own division’s records organized, and prioritize statutorily mandated work. We have yet to see what the end result will be for USAID.

Question for you—are you dismissed or on leave still?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

Meh. Sorry, I’m not being a frog. I’m well aware of what’s happening, but really—there’s nothing I can do other than keep my own division’s records organized, and prioritize statutorily mandated work. We have yet to see what the end result will be for USAID.

Question for you—are you dismissed or on leave still?

That’s exactly what the frog said!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

Meh. Sorry, I’m not being a frog. I’m well aware of what’s happening, but really—there’s nothing I can do other than keep my own division’s records organized, and prioritize statutorily mandated work. We have yet to see what the end result will be for USAID.

Question for you—are you dismissed or on leave still?

That’s exactly what the frog said!!

What exactly is helpful about panicking? They’re going to have to RIF me or fire me without cause. Either way, they’re going to pay up. If that time comes, I’ll get loud. Right now, I’m surviving. I’m keeping my head cool and keeping my staff as protected as I can by being a good manager. I’m sorry about what happened at USAID but you should be focusing on suing them for wrongful termination, not telling others to panic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

Meh. Sorry, I’m not being a frog. I’m well aware of what’s happening, but really—there’s nothing I can do other than keep my own division’s records organized, and prioritize statutorily mandated work. We have yet to see what the end result will be for USAID.

Question for you—are you dismissed or on leave still?

+1 Every Agency is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

I am at another agency treated similarly. I did freak out a bit though, especially when I saw what was happening at USAID, and I was glad I did. I was prepared (got all of my personal things out of the office, got all of my employment documents, had already set up ways to speak with coworkers without work email/phones) when they started kicking us out of our work accounts and later the building.

[Anonymous]

Nope, still crazy-go-nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

What exactly do you think you can do before? We can’t strike. What leverage do you think we have? Do our job REALLY good so they appreciate us? Write to the Oligarch newspapers? Look for another job, that’s what I’m doing because that’s the only prep worth anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great thread/question! After weeks of despair, I started feeling better late last week. It hit me like a ton of bricks that much of this is performative nonsense. I work for an agency that's been pretty strategic with protecting its employees, not having us respond to Elon's bullsht emails, etc. Even our dismissed DEI employees are back now. They are doing different work but back.

So, to answer your question, yes, my stress is down, and I can tell because I'm not checking the jobs forum as much, lol. No, I don't think we are out of the woods, but I feel much better than I had been.

Defense Health Agency?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

What exactly do you think you can do before? We can’t strike. What leverage do you think we have? Do our job REALLY good so they appreciate us? Write to the Oligarch newspapers? Look for another job, that’s what I’m doing because that’s the only prep worth anything.

I keep thinking about this. We can’t strike but we did sign an oath to defend our government from enemies foreign and domestic. At what point in the dismantling of the government do we need to take action to defend it in line with our oath. My agency is being gutted and sold off for parts. Just showing up every day and waiting for the RIF feels unpatriotic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great thread/question! After weeks of despair, I started feeling better late last week. It hit me like a ton of bricks that much of this is performative nonsense. I work for an agency that's been pretty strategic with protecting its employees, not having us respond to Elon's bullsht emails, etc. Even our dismissed DEI employees are back now. They are doing different work but back.

So, to answer your question, yes, my stress is down, and I can tell because I'm not checking the jobs forum as much, lol. No, I don't think we are out of the woods, but I feel much better than I had been.

Defense Health Agency?

The head of DHA was forced out last week. Things at DHA were calm, but have now begun to get crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

What exactly do you think you can do before? We can’t strike. What leverage do you think we have? Do our job REALLY good so they appreciate us? Write to the Oligarch newspapers? Look for another job, that’s what I’m doing because that’s the only prep worth anything.

I keep thinking about this. We can’t strike but we did sign an oath to defend our government from enemies foreign and domestic. At what point in the dismantling of the government do we need to take action to defend it in line with our oath. My agency is being gutted and sold off for parts. Just showing up every day and waiting for the RIF feels unpatriotic.

So if they try to eliminate us en masse, we go on strike and then they can legally fire us for cause? This seems like playing into their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel calm for now. I will worry about things when they happen.

This. We’re in for a long haul, people. Constantly freaking out does no good, at all. It’s what they want us to do. Staying calm is resisting.

That, and as a supervisor, I can’t afford to be flipping the f out all the time.

This. They talk a lot of talk, but when I look at it immediately surroundings, dry little has changed other than the fact that I see my staff in person a bit more. Not that what HAS happened elsewhere isn’t horrible—it’s just not happening to me and there’s very little I can do to help other than stay calm and competent.

USAID person here. This was my attitude, shared by many coworkers. I now wish we had freaked out more and earlier. We should have blown whistles, created paper trails, questioned orders, coordinated with outside allies.

If I could give advice to my January 20th self, it would be: Do not be the frog in the pot.

What exactly do you think you can do before? We can’t strike. What leverage do you think we have? Do our job REALLY good so they appreciate us? Write to the Oligarch newspapers? Look for another job, that’s what I’m doing because that’s the only prep worth anything.

I keep thinking about this. We can’t strike but we did sign an oath to defend our government from enemies foreign and domestic. At what point in the dismantling of the government do we need to take action to defend it in line with our oath. My agency is being gutted and sold off for parts. Just showing up every day and waiting for the RIF feels unpatriotic.

So if they try to eliminate us en masse, we go on strike and then they can legally fire us for cause? This seems like
playing into their hands.

What? You can demonstrate if you are on admin leave. And definitely if you’ve been terminated.