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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Why are Fed Workers who are not going to office not working? Clean gutters, mow lawns, paint houses, dog walking, intacart, door dash, uber, care.com

In Covid when the rest of us Canned with no back pay and we could not get unemployment payments for months as you guys at Unemployment had dated systems to do it online and shut the offices and stopped answering the phones we all did all of the above to hustle.

Why not work?  My neighbors kids started a car detailing business in driveway in covid, my kids did door dash, instacart and started a side consulting business.

But why are they at starbucks and netflix and chilling go do some work.     [/quote]

some people are, but it is generally restricted by ethics clearance (and those ethics people aren't there right now), and it's not like we can sign up for a job that would be consistent in the future (nor would someone needing a consistent hire, hire us).[/quote]

that is a big fat lie. Look Gardners by me are charging $1,000 to clean up leaves this year. Are you telling me if a Fed rang my doorbell and said for $800 cash I will remove all your leaves is not allowed? Or detail a car for $200 cash, or paint your neighbors kids bedroom for $500 bucks.

Sounds like excuses. Or you could just barter. When my family had financial troubles when I was a teen we need new water heater in summer. Mom made a deal I work for guy a few weeks in summer for free. He was really happy. Was kinda fun. I spend a month helping him on jobs. That is barter a Fed could do that. Plus Feds kids and spouse can work. If all five of you are sitting home doing nothing and you are expecting handouts when there is a massive labor shortage that is crazy. [/quote]

Whenever I'm breaking my agency's ethics rules, I for sure also like to add a side of tax fraud. [/quote]

Right?! I snorted when I read PP.

I wish people understood the very tight restrictions placed on federal employees (that are not placed on your members of Congress!)

I have to report every source of income to my agency, including my spouse's eBay sales. I have to submit all the statements from our 401(k) and 529 accounts for review, every year. I can't teach a night class or pick up a side gig without approval. I can't own certain stock. I can't accept certain gifts. I can't run for office or fundraise for candidates. I am specifically forbidden from helping friends and relatives who are trying to interact with any federal agency or court (so, I can't help grandma figure out her SSA paperwork). 
I don't pay under the table, I don't hire anybody whose legality is in question, I don't do anything that could look like a favor or a conflict of interest - because my job is on the line.

All for PP to say "hur, why don't you consult on the side?" PP, you don't [i]want [/i]a federal bureaucracy that consults on the side, that is a corrupt system![/quote]

Exactly. People don't realize what you sign up for when you are a federal employee. My DHs federal job governs which stocks I can own.

It's not like feds can just go off and get another random job, particularly if it is at all related to your current position, or even if it's not. [/quote]

Yep, same for my HHS job. Most people with my type of job outside of the fed consult on the side, or develop spin-off companies, or (very commonly) accept honorariums for invited lectures/seminars. All of those are forbidden in the government, even if you aren’t in a policy-influencing role. Heck, I can’t even invest in most of the usual individual stocks that others would (mutual funds are ok). I even had to get ethics approval to join my neighborhood HOA board and volunteer as a science fair judge. Even the appearance of a conflict of interest is forbidden.[/quote]

+1, I have to report that I'm the volunteer treasurer for a club.

I can't serve on the board of my church because the church has a retirement fund for staff that is invested in companies my agency might regulate: creates the appearance of a conflict of interest.[/quote]

I just love that you're held to this standard, and you and your coworkers all valiantly defend the optics, while certain people (not going to get political though I'll be general) accept gifts from foreign governments, manipulate the stock market, and insist that foreign dignitaries, security, etc. stay in private locations owned by them or their businesses or their friends....[/quote]

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