Anonymous wrote:I find it sad that most of the posters who love their fed jobs love them because they're easy and flexible.

And I know dozens (DOZENS) of associates and partners at BigLaw firms who hate their work and the absurd time commitments, and agree that it isn't necessarily harder than what I or my colleagues did/do, yet they wish they could get jobs in our office when they open up.

I think you're focus it out of focus.

Difficult, inflexible jobs are not necessarily good things or things people seek out, or feel good about having.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Lawyer for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. I like my job a lot. I work 40 hours per week from home. I get paid overtime and bonuses every quarter. I can earn maternity comp time due to a union contract. There is room for advanncement within the agency should I choose to go that route. That said, the work is very repetitive but I like the area of law. I am on the Trademark side. The benefits far outweigh the downsides, of which there are few.

Do you feel like a cog or you work at a white collar sweatshop?

Not the PP you quote but I'm the one who retired after 26 yrs.

I did not feel like a cog or that I worked at a white collar sweatshop.

I worked for an agency whose mission I believed in, even if many of the career and political managers were clueless buffoons or worse. I took management positions for 20+ years even though it was not what I sought (unlike many of the striving narcissists who do seek out SES and other management jobs) because, as I joked to one friend 20+ yrs. ago, "if I take the job at least I know which asshole is in charge and they have to come through me" to get certain things done.

I held my subordinates, managers, and peers, to standards, and they didn't always like it but I was known as an honest broker who was not going to cowtow to further their agendas. I had enough substantive expertise and independent portfolio to be able to manage up and make sure that they could not push me out. After 26 years I left on my terms, not theirs.

I have no regrets at leaving and colleagues tell me the level of absurdity and amateurism has (regrettably) only increased in the short time since I left.

I think my situation is somewhat unique, but I don't think the 2 choices you posit are a binary set ... there are other possibilities, too.

Anonymous wrote:Yes; federal law enforcement; enter as a GS-5 and get automatic promotions to GS-13 and fairly easy in my agency to get a 14 and 15; get paid LEAP (an additional 25% of GS salary); have a take home car (gas and repairs paid for by Gov't); travel the world (with many opportunities to be stationed for 3-5 years overseas); early retirement; and get to play "cops and robbers." Best job ever. Not sure what I'm going to do when I grow up though......

I hope that car is used FOUO (for official use only) or your ass should be chopped liver since you know you're not permitted to even make a personal detour with it coming to & from work.

I just retired after 26 yrs., attorney, last 21+ in a law enf. arm of a regulatory agency. Did not enjoy the last 7 yrs. or so with increasingly amateurish and arrogant management but overall, yes I enjoyed it (though I have a hard time recommending a federal career starting now).

For the PP I'm quoting, I'm hoping you know & understand the rules and abide by them, if you don't shame on you, you're doing a disservice to thousands who do and don't play fast and loose.

Anonymous wrote:I find it sad that is what you took from this thread.

+1

I find it sad that is what you took from this thread.

Anonymous wrote:I find it sad that most of the posters who love their fed jobs love them because they're easy and flexible.

I agree with you, PP.

I find it sad that most of the posters who love their fed jobs love them because they're easy and flexible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Lawyer for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. I like my job a lot. I work 40 hours per week from home. I get paid overtime and bonuses every quarter. I can earn maternity comp time due to a union contract. There is room for advanncement within the agency should I choose to go that route. That said, the work is very repetitive but I like the area of law. I am on the Trademark side. The benefits far outweigh the downsides, of which there are few.

Do you feel like a cog or you work at a white collar sweatshop?

I am the writer of that post. My hours are so flexible that I don't feel like I work in a sweatshop. I have no trouble meeting the requirements of the job and I am able to take time of when I need to. I've received outstanding ratings for the last 15 years. I do joke that I essentially "make widgets" but that is also my choice. If I wanted to do other things within the agency it would require me to go into the office more often. It is a tradeoff.

I can't speak for the people on the Patent side. They may feel differently. Personally, I've always viewed law firm work as a white collar sweatshop. That said, there are days in which I do regret not having worked at a law firm when I had the chance.

Love it- Federal Law Enforcemet. More years in than I have left to go. Great benefits. Can't complain.

Yes, I like my job. I am a Federal Librarian. I was in a another agency for a long time where the legal librarians were poorly treated. I hated that job. I have moved to another agency and I really like the job and my colleagues. I am grateful to have work!

Yes. I work for NIH and my office is four miles from my house. hours are good. Work is a little boring. But because I am a single mom - logistically it works out great for now.

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Lawyer for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. I like my job a lot. I work 40 hours per week from home. I get paid overtime and bonuses every quarter. I can earn maternity comp time due to a union contract. There is room for advanncement within the agency should I choose to go that route. That said, the work is very repetitive but I like the area of law. I am on the Trademark side. The benefits far outweigh the downsides, of which there are few.

Do you feel like a cog or you work at a white collar sweatshop?

yes, believe in the mission, fair pay, overworked, but enjoy the job

Ditto, PP. I work for the staff of an independent (nonpartisan) advisory board. We provide expertise to Congress. We have a board of experts who meet regularly to set the research agenda, review the staff analyses and make recommendations based on the analyses to Congress. I manage all aspects of my research projects, from planning to data analysis to writing to making presentations. The work is generally very interesting, I believe strongly in our mission, and I think we provide an invaluable product to Congress (and thus to taxpayers). I would hate to think of Congress making decisions on these programs without our input. My colleagues are smart, hard-working, dedicated people and generally terrific to work with.

I could make much more money in the private sector, but I am paid well enough (more than most Americans) and have good benefits and job security. And I'm proud of the contribution I make.

Yes. I love my agency, believe in its mission, and love my work. I feel truly fortunate.