Board of Veterans Appeals (Attorney Advisor)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently interviewed for this position and took a subsequent writing test. If anyone is in a similar position, have you heard back either way about an offer?

In addition, to those that currently hold this position, could you describe a typical day? Finally, on other websites I've seen a lot of negativity so please share your experience, level of job satisfaction, and anything else you would find helpful for someone interested in this position. Thank you in advance!

I really want to know if this person ever took the job and, if so, if they are still employed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

How is the legal market for new grads? Must be booming if BVA figures it's fine to fire attorneys quarterly as they need a pipeline of new hires to keep production moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

How is the legal market for new grads? Must be booming if BVA figures it's fine to fire attorneys quarterly as they need a pipeline of new hires to keep production moving.

That combination of inexperienced attorneys and inexperienced judges should be fun. Very pro-veteran.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

Management's proposal is apparently in response to a recent case they lost. It is absolutely an attempt to provide maximum flexibility and more opportunities to fire people.

[Anonymous]

More new judges with no experience in veterans' law were announced by the Board this month. It must be great to write for a judge who has no idea what you're writing about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

In the federal government you can always fire people even if they hit annual goals. You can place someone on a PIP at any time. I had a person not make a single goal in 3 months and I placed them on a PIP immediately. I didn't wait until the end of the fiscal year.

[Anonymous]

So which happened? Did the person have cancer or their child died?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

In the federal government you can always fire people even if they hit annual goals. You can place someone on a PIP at any time. I had a person not make a single goal in 3 months and I placed them on a PIP immediately. I didn't wait until the end of the fiscal year.

People like you are the reason that federal employees should support their unions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

In the federal government you can always fire people even if they hit annual goals. You can place someone on a PIP at any time. I had a person not make a single goal in 3 months and I placed them on a PIP immediately. I didn't wait until the end of the fiscal year.

People like you are the reason that federal employees should support their unions.

Yes, and people like you who moan about quarterly goals are the reason managers think employees are lazy. I don't work at BVA but at another place with similar issues of quarterly versus annual production. One office has quarterly goals and another doesn't - similar work. The office with quarterly goals consistently does better at meeting its annual goals and their production is more efficient. The office without quarterly goals has people who do jack all spring and early summer and then push out 20 poor-quality cases at the end of the fiscal year, which their managers have to spend overtime reviewing and fixing to meet the annual goal and standards. Even production is better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting, the combination of federal style handbook, the period outside of quotations, mixed with only one space after a period. Says a lot about who wrote or edited it.

Okay, but are the underlying allegations of gross mismanagement untrue? That's the main question.

The management shills would prefer to debate about grammar errors rather than substance and a hostile work environment.

A hostile work environment looking to get even more hostile too, if the reports about the 2023 performance standards are to be believed. Supposedly, management wants to implement quarterly goals as well as annual goals. This creates the "fun" situation in which an attorney could meet or exceed the annual goal but still fall short of a single quarterly goal within that time period and be denied a bonus. Or maybe even fired? More great management from the BVA!

In the federal government you can always fire people even if they hit annual goals. You can place someone on a PIP at any time. I had a person not make a single goal in 3 months and I placed them on a PIP immediately. I didn't wait until the end of the fiscal year.

People like you are the reason that federal employees should support their unions.

Yes, and people like you who moan about quarterly goals are the reason managers think employees are lazy. I don't work at BVA but at another place with similar issues of quarterly versus annual production. One office has quarterly goals and another doesn't - similar work. The office with quarterly goals consistently does better at meeting its annual goals and their production is more efficient. The office without quarterly goals has people who do jack all spring and early summer and then push out 20 poor-quality cases at the end of the fiscal year, which their managers have to spend overtime reviewing and fixing to meet the annual goal and standards. Even production is better.

That's not what happens at BVA. If you had any idea how work was distributed and processed there, you would know that it would be very hard/impossible to slack off all year and do 3 months of work in 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

So what’s preferable, this job or homelessness?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what’s preferable, this job or homelessness?

You lose your dignity with either outcome, but this job is slightly more preferable than homelessness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what’s preferable, this job or homelessness?

or....they could act reasonable and not foster such a horrible working environment.