Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And people wonder why the general public has such disdain for federal government employees. Thanks for confirming that, OP.

Sure. Everybody at private companies/firms are "on" for 7.5-9.5 hours per day, never check DCUM, pay bills, etc.

No, thanks, I don't want to buy that bridge you have for sale.

I am. I'm in a private company routinely work 9 hour days (and then answer email and prep for the next day after I get home). And, oh yeah, can't remember the last time I didn't work over the weekend. There is no checking DCUM, paying bills, running errands or anything else at work.

All of this and, trust me, not only can I get fired, but sometimes the place gets "re-organized" so I get a new supervisor and have all new office politics to navigate.

I bet you get paid at least 2x what I earn as a govt worker. I, too, go to the gym during the day and do home tasks. The difference between me and OP is that I absolutely kill it at my job. I just get my work done faster than others. I have asked for more work, but they dont have any than what I am assigned. So I do my job (well) and then take care of myself. I also am low paid. So there is that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Work to Live.

I think a lot of us have unrealistic expectations of how hard we should be working.

Set realistic goals, reach those goals, and repeat. No need to be "#1 A+ Allstar" at work.

Agreed, but that means finding a job that fits those goals not abusing the one that you have. Seems that OP would be perfect for a part-time gig but that would a pay cut and I am sure we can all guess how Op would feel about that option.

+1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And people wonder why the general public has such disdain for federal government employees. Thanks for confirming that, OP.

Sure. Everybody at private companies/firms are "on" for 7.5-9.5 hours per day, never check DCUM, pay bills, etc.

No, thanks, I don't want to buy that bridge you have for sale.

I am. I'm in a private company routinely work 9 hour days (and then answer email and prep for the next day after I get home). And, oh yeah, can't remember the last time I didn't work over the weekend. There is no checking DCUM, paying bills, running errands or anything else at work.

All of this and, trust me, not only can I get fired, but sometimes the place gets "re-organized" so I get a new supervisor and have all new office politics to navigate.

Anonymous wrote:Your career is taking a backseat because you're trying to be there more for your kids, and trying to reduce stress in your life. Good for you.

The kids will grow up before your very eyes, and every early departure from work will be worth it for those extra hours you got with them/things you got to do with them. Ignore anyone who tells you anything else.

Keep doing what you're doing.

Worth it for who? As a taxpayer, I don't want to fund her filling out forms and leaving early to shuttle her kids to activities.

Anonymous wrote:When I read your post title, I expected this thread to be about your husband's work dwarfing your own within the family, or your career taking a backseat to your child's special needs, or something similar. I was surprised to read the actual post.

See 16:01.

Pressure to be "#1 A1+ Allstar" is both internal and external in this area.

When I read your post title, I expected this thread to be about your husband's work dwarfing your own within the family, or your career taking a backseat to your child's special needs, or something similar. I was surprised to read the actual post.

^I should clarify: the vast majority of office jobs don't take 8 hours. Obviously if your position requires you to interact with the public, you have to be there for them during business hours.

The 40 hour work week is a crock. Technology was supposed to make our lives easier by streamlining all the stuff that used to take hours. And it HAS -- but we are still expected to "fill the time." I'm sorry, but unless you're a moron, it does not take a full 8 hours to do the vast majority of jobs, nor does it take 5 days a week. Honestly, with technology being what it is, there are a WHOLE LOT of jobs that should be 8 hours 3 days a week, or maybe 4 hours a day 5 days a week.

If you can get away with it, great. Many people wish they could join you.

Your career is taking a backseat because you're trying to be there more for your kids, and trying to reduce stress in your life. Good for you.

The kids will grow up before your very eyes, and every early departure from work will be worth it for those extra hours you got with them/things you got to do with them. Ignore anyone who tells you anything else.

Keep doing what you're doing.

Why can't you fill out your forms after 8 pm at night? That's what I do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And people wonder why the general public has such disdain for federal government employees. Thanks for confirming that, OP.

Sure. Everybody at private companies/firms are "on" for 7.5-9.5 hours per day, never check DCUM, pay bills, etc.

No, thanks, I don't want to buy that bridge you have for sale.

Well, guess what. When there are slackers in private industry (and there are), they eventually get fired. Does that surprise you? And, I'm not funding them through my tax dollars, like I'm paying for the G-7s who inhabit every cubicle at the EPA and work about as hard as OP does.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And people wonder why the general public has such disdain for federal government employees. Thanks for confirming that, OP.

Sure. Everybody at private companies/firms are "on" for 7.5-9.5 hours per day, never check DCUM, pay bills, etc.

No, thanks, I don't want to buy that bridge you have for sale.

I really picked the wrong major in college (nursing). Ass busting non stop stress for 25$/hr. (Not DC area)
I'm an idiot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP. If I work out (at home or at a gym) at 8 pm or later, I'm so revved I can't fall asleep for hours. I'm already a bit of an insomniac, so I don't want to make sleeping any more difficult. I understand why OP doesn't want to plan to work out in the evenings, especially if she's discovered that she's too tired to do it, or too revved afterwards to sleep.

Oh, and this makes it ok to just skip out of work for an hour or more - OP, do you put in a leave slip for the times that you are out. I hope you stay on your supervisors good side bc while is a hard to get fired from a federal job the one exception is time and attendance fraud.

OP said she leaves at 7 for work and leaves at 4:30. If she gets to work at 8am, then that's 8.5 hours. I imagine her workday is 7.5 hours. If she works out during lunch, it's fine.

Why don't you go for a walk with your kids at night and have that be your workout some days?