i think my contractors are still working even though the feds were all sent home. no idea how long that will continue...

My company mostly does work for NIH and EPA. Almost all our contracts are at stop-work. We are required to use PTO, and once that's used up, it's leave without pay. I have been LWOP for a week and a half. I'm close enough to retirement that I might just throw in the towel at this point, perhaps try to do freelance work or even get a retail job or substitute teach for a couple years. I don't see my company surviving to be honest. Some of our contracts are related to programs that have been cut or are likely to be cut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious what agencies you are doing contracting for.

Are you asking generally or a specific PP? Many contractors work for agencies this administration is specifically targeting -- e.g., NOAA, EPA, Energy, VA - the list goes on and on. Not to mention all the USAID contractors who lost their jobs at the very beginning.

I do a lot of work (well, used to) for one of the agencies I listed. While it has absolutely been a terrible year for me, I think my federal clients have had it much worse. At least my management supports me and isn't actively trying to make my life hell.

I was asking generally. I am a contractor myself but almost exclusively DOD and IC. Things have not been great even on this side, so was curious where others were working. I’m sorry you had a terrible year…I feel you and hope things get better.

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious what agencies you are doing contracting for.

Are you asking generally or a specific PP? Many contractors work for agencies this administration is specifically targeting -- e.g., NOAA, EPA, Energy, VA - the list goes on and on. Not to mention all the USAID contractors who lost their jobs at the very beginning.

I do a lot of work (well, used to) for one of the agencies I listed. While it has absolutely been a terrible year for me, I think my federal clients have had it much worse. At least my management supports me and isn't actively trying to make my life hell.

So far, okay. However, we are running out of work since our Fed counterparts can't approve or assign more. I suspect by the end of month, we will be asked to take leave or be let go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the company and contract. DH is now home and burning through vacation to keep a paycheck. His company is not offering to cover salaries while people aren’t billable. We are okay, but he has people on his team who are hurting.

What does this mean? A salary is a salary. I don't see how they can choose not to pay-- it's not connected to billable hours unless that's the specific arrangement.

They would have to lay off.

You can put employees on a leave of absence and that is what a lot of companies are doing.

I’m curious what agencies you are doing contracting for.

Candidly, it's a mess. Lots of layoffs and no end in sight. Trying like crazy to get a job outside of this industry, but haven't had any luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the company and contract. DH is now home and burning through vacation to keep a paycheck. His company is not offering to cover salaries while people aren’t billable. We are okay, but he has people on his team who are hurting.

What does this mean? A salary is a salary. I don't see how they can choose not to pay-- it's not connected to billable hours unless that's the specific arrangement.

They would have to lay off.

You can change things. They dont have unions. After 9/11 my friends company just cut salaries 20 percent for a few months. Did not want to lay off as they had a lot of projects on hold but could not afford to do full pay. And some companies like my old company, leave of absenses, FMLA, vacation time, sick time when we hit a slow time we pushed people to use up leave rather than lay offs as when work came back be fully staffed and could run months with no vacation days.

Or change employee status to hourly I guess then they only get paid when there it work. Or do a real lay off where you actuall will call them back when work reappears. Trouble is these companies need all there staff in a few weeks when everything reopens so mass firings will put them in a bind when work comes in.

They have to get creative. Best for both workers and company.

Not great.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the company and contract. DH is now home and burning through vacation to keep a paycheck. His company is not offering to cover salaries while people aren’t billable. We are okay, but he has people on his team who are hurting.

What does this mean? A salary is a salary. I don't see how they can choose not to pay-- it's not connected to billable hours unless that's the specific arrangement.

They would have to lay off.

NP - but our company is covering people temporarily with overhead while we wait on decisions re: submitted proposals. If we don't win any, there will be lay offs. They want people staffed so we can start right away if we do win.

I should add - these are not federal RFPs - some are state/local govt/foundation-funded.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the company and contract. DH is now home and burning through vacation to keep a paycheck. His company is not offering to cover salaries while people aren’t billable. We are okay, but he has people on his team who are hurting.

What does this mean? A salary is a salary. I don't see how they can choose not to pay-- it's not connected to billable hours unless that's the specific arrangement.

They would have to lay off.

NP - but our company is covering people temporarily with overhead while we wait on decisions re: submitted proposals. If we don't win any, there will be lay offs. They want people staffed so we can start right away if we do win.