Anonymous wrote:Make sure you bring your form that has your vacation accrual and sick leave! I've switched several times and it is a pita to maker sure you are getting the vacation accrual rate and back sick leave you deserve

This!! Get it from YOUR HR division don't just print it yourself.

Thanks for the tips everyone! I did negotiate a higher salary, but I'm already between 5 and 15 years, so as much as I'd like to try for more annual leave, I'll let that one go. So I need to remember to keep copies of my statements and SF-50s and to make sure they don't sit me under a sewer pipe.

I changed agencies last year. Definitely agree with keeping a copy of your leave and earnings statements and any prior SF-50s. I have my SCD currently off by a pay period at my agency in all of their systems, and have been trying to fix it for nearly a year.

My husband did an agency change in May and is still waiting for his timekeeper to enter his past annual and sick leave accruals into the system as well. We use the same timekeeping system despite being in different agencies, yet while my timekeeper entered my accruals the same day I gave them my old LES, my husband has been waiting 2 months.

Beware that commerce due to renovations is making people sit in the sub basement several floors below ground level with no windows and sewer pipes running overhead

Make sure you bring your form that has your vacation accrual and sick leave! I've switched several times and it is a pita to maker sure you are getting the vacation accrual rate and back sick leave you deserve

I switched agencies. My tips are: don't assume you can work the same hours and don't assume you can do the same work at home. Clear absolutely everything that is essential to you ahead of time.

I know several people who were able to do this with very little disruption. A couple of things - you can negotiate a higher grade and/or a higher vacation accrual band when you transfer agencies. Something to ask about!

I changed years ago from one agency to another. It was pretty seamless. I would imagine that the culture of Commerce is much different than DoD. I would sit back, get the lay of the land, observe the culture, ask questions and learn your new job well.

I'm currently at DoD but have been offered a job with Commerce. Has anyone made a switch from one big agency to another? Any tips or things I should consider before accepting?