Anonymous wrote:What's the word on the possibility of a RIF? I heard it won't happen but I keep asking myself why SEC would be special in that scenario and can't come up with an answer that gives me comfort.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't a big deal for me but was for many as I was the only staff person in my group who didn't take Friday off. Granted it was Good Friday + spring break but many of the people who took off observe neither and just needed out by Thursday.

I have plenty of annual leave so will be using it flexibly as well. Already thinking a Friday off maybe every 2-3 weeks just for errand running etc. so I'm not dealing with Costco etc. on Saturday [no I was not doing this during WFH but when you're at home all day going out to run errands at 6 or 8 pm is NBD; after being out of the house close to 50 hrs last week, it wasn't going to happen.]

Don't forget to use some of your sick leave too, it doesn't get paid out if you leave. A little headache probably best to take the day off and recover.

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't a big deal for me but was for many as I was the only staff person in my group who didn't take Friday off. Granted it was Good Friday + spring break but many of the people who took off observe neither and just needed out by Thursday.

I have plenty of annual leave so will be using it flexibly as well. Already thinking a Friday off maybe every 2-3 weeks just for errand running etc. so I'm not dealing with Costco etc. on Saturday [no I was not doing this during WFH but when you're at home all day going out to run errands at 6 or 8 pm is NBD; after being out of the house close to 50 hrs last week, it wasn't going to happen.]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has “handlers”?
I think he wrote it.
I really hope they offer some type of departure - Vera, DRP or something - after the budget is finalized in September.

+1. Keeping this job is not worth RTO.

Was the first week that traumatizing?

Thanks for that. No, it wasn’t. But there isn’t any point, the commute adds stress, and I am missing time with my family and kids. In the grand scheme of life, it’s just not worth it to me, financially or otherwise.

Everyone can feel their own feels and make their own decisions. That is how I feel and if there is another exit road coming up, I am going to take it.

THIS. Honestly it was a big deal for me - I'm close in so it wasn't a marathon commute. I too see no point in it. I have been wanting to go out on my own for a while, but yeah this confirmed I'm doing it. I'm going to hang in for a while and use my time at work to plot out that next step bc why not get paid to do that. But after that I'm out. If there's a VSIP in that time, great. If not, there's a date circled on a calendar anyway. Yes it's a risk but there's more to life than sitting in a box for a few more decades for a pension.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has “handlers”?
I think he wrote it.
I really hope they offer some type of departure - Vera, DRP or something - after the budget is finalized in September.

+1. Keeping this job is not worth RTO.

Was the first week that traumatizing?

Thanks for that. No, it wasn’t. But there isn’t any point, the commute adds stress, and I am missing time with my family and kids. In the grand scheme of life, it’s just not worth it to me, financially or otherwise.

Everyone can feel their own feels and make their own decisions. That is how I feel and if there is another exit road coming up, I am going to take it.

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Anonymous wrote:How long do we expect this RTO to last? Make it until July? Is the consensus that the SEC union will win at arbitration?

Arbitration is just the beginning. Even if Union wins agency can appeal. Everyone goes in during appeal. We are talking years of process.

I think we are back to the office for the duration. Doesn’t matter if the union wins or loses. Other agencies are losing their unions.

I’m hopeful this won’t be the case. Once Philly and LA go to fully remote because they don’t have an office and misery rises and it becomes clear it is only way to improve morale (which Paul said he’d do) we will get some form of regular back.

When do LA and Philly go remote? I know there were dates in that email but don’t recall. IDK if I were LA or Philly right now I’d be worried that they’ll quietly put everyone on admin leave when the leases run out and then close those offices. Wasn’t that part of the plan for SEC - to consolidate and make it more DC centric? I hope I’m wrong. But I also don’t see how a few hundred ppl in LA and Philly makes them bring telework back.

Anyone else thing it’s shady that Paul hasn’t been sworn in yet? Is he having cold feet?

I always assumed he had to start at the beginning of a pay period like the rest of us plebes so could be Monday.

I heard Friday at the earliest - so it keeps being pushed back. Rumor has it he’s also unreachable - like not responding to calls or emails from commissioners. Not the mark of someone who wants to do this and was a commissioner himself who thought highly of the place. He’s either not coming or he’s going to come in and very quickly step down to “spend time with family.”

I also heard he was unreachable earlier in the week. When I heard this news there was some thought he would start Monday, but perhaps things have changed. It was clear that he’d been radio silent no one really had a clue when he would start. I’ve also heard that he wants to be sworn in at the White House and that the delay was related to scheduling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long do we expect this RTO to last? Make it until July? Is the consensus that the SEC union will win at arbitration?

Arbitration is just the beginning. Even if Union wins agency can appeal. Everyone goes in during appeal. We are talking years of process.

I think we are back to the office for the duration. Doesn’t matter if the union wins or loses. Other agencies are losing their unions.

I’m hopeful this won’t be the case. Once Philly and LA go to fully remote because they don’t have an office and misery rises and it becomes clear it is only way to improve morale (which Paul said he’d do) we will get some form of regular back.

When do LA and Philly go remote? I know there were dates in that email but don’t recall. IDK if I were LA or Philly right now I’d be worried that they’ll quietly put everyone on admin leave when the leases run out and then close those offices. Wasn’t that part of the plan for SEC - to consolidate and make it more DC centric? I hope I’m wrong. But I also don’t see how a few hundred ppl in LA and Philly makes them bring telework back.

Anyone else thing it’s shady that Paul hasn’t been sworn in yet? Is he having cold feet?

I always assumed he had to start at the beginning of a pay period like the rest of us plebes so could be Monday.

I heard Friday at the earliest - so it keeps being pushed back. Rumor has it he’s also unreachable - like not responding to calls or emails from commissioners. Not the mark of someone who wants to do this and was a commissioner himself who thought highly of the place. He’s either not coming or he’s going to come in and very quickly step down to “spend time with family.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He has “handlers”?
I think he wrote it.
I really hope they offer some type of departure - Vera, DRP or something - after the budget is finalized in September.

+1. Keeping this job is not worth RTO.

Was the first week that traumatizing?

Anonymous wrote:So how was the week for everyone - besides the spring breakers?

Horrible? Can you keep doing it as long as you need to - like you get a new job, get old enough for a VERA etc? Anyone thinking of just quitting w no job? Or was it NBD?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long do we expect this RTO to last? Make it until July? Is the consensus that the SEC union will win at arbitration?

Arbitration is just the beginning. Even if Union wins agency can appeal. Everyone goes in during appeal. We are talking years of process.

I think we are back to the office for the duration. Doesn’t matter if the union wins or loses. Other agencies are losing their unions.

I’m hopeful this won’t be the case. Once Philly and LA go to fully remote because they don’t have an office and misery rises and it becomes clear it is only way to improve morale (which Paul said he’d do) we will get some form of regular back.

When do LA and Philly go remote? I know there were dates in that email but don’t recall. IDK if I were LA or Philly right now I’d be worried that they’ll quietly put everyone on admin leave when the leases run out and then close those offices. Wasn’t that part of the plan for SEC - to consolidate and make it more DC centric? I hope I’m wrong. But I also don’t see how a few hundred ppl in LA and Philly makes them bring telework back.

Anyone else thing it’s shady that Paul hasn’t been sworn in yet? Is he having cold feet?

I always assumed he had to start at the beginning of a pay period like the rest of us plebes so could be Monday.

I heard Friday at the earliest - so it keeps being pushed back. Rumor has it he’s also unreachable - like not responding to calls or emails from commissioners. Not the mark of someone who wants to do this and was a commissioner himself who thought highly of the place. He’s either not coming or he’s going to come in and very quickly step down to “spend time with family.”

News reporting when he was being picked indicated that he was reluctant to take the job. Supposedly didn't want to clean up GGs mess (unclear whether that was related to the budget situation or the regulatory situation). I think all of the DOGE craziness started after he agreed to do it as well. OTOH I'm sure he owes some favors to the people that bought his consulting firm from him so he's probably locked in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long do we expect this RTO to last? Make it until July? Is the consensus that the SEC union will win at arbitration?

Arbitration is just the beginning. Even if Union wins agency can appeal. Everyone goes in during appeal. We are talking years of process.

I think we are back to the office for the duration. Doesn’t matter if the union wins or loses. Other agencies are losing their unions.

I’m hopeful this won’t be the case. Once Philly and LA go to fully remote because they don’t have an office and misery rises and it becomes clear it is only way to improve morale (which Paul said he’d do) we will get some form of regular back.

When do LA and Philly go remote? I know there were dates in that email but don’t recall. IDK if I were LA or Philly right now I’d be worried that they’ll quietly put everyone on admin leave when the leases run out and then close those offices. Wasn’t that part of the plan for SEC - to consolidate and make it more DC centric? I hope I’m wrong. But I also don’t see how a few hundred ppl in LA and Philly makes them bring telework back.

Anyone else thing it’s shady that Paul hasn’t been sworn in yet? Is he having cold feet?

I always assumed he had to start at the beginning of a pay period like the rest of us plebes so could be Monday.

I heard Friday at the earliest - so it keeps being pushed back. Rumor has it he’s also unreachable - like not responding to calls or emails from commissioners. Not the mark of someone who wants to do this and was a commissioner himself who thought highly of the place. He’s either not coming or he’s going to come in and very quickly step down to “spend time with family.”