Tell them the truth but don’t scare them. Tell them you need to cut back until you get a new job- and actually cut back. Get rid of streaming, don’t eat out, etc. Lead by example and show them when times are tough it’s okay but you need to cut back/ work hard.

Ask them for things they can do to help- say you need to apply for roles etc so they will need to do their own laundry, clean the bathrooms, clean up after dinner, etc and pull more weight so you can spend time getting a new job. They are old enough that they should be doing that now anyway but if not tell them the time they help with those tasks is time you can be working toward getting a new job/ applying for a role in case you’re laid off.

Then start looking for a new job. Use your network, contacts and actually do it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids this age. There is no way to tell them anything but the truth. They would worry more if we tried to hide it from them.

Just be matter of fact. This happened. We have plenty of savings. We may need to cut back a bit but everything is going to be fine.

The same thing any private sector parent says to a kid after a layoff.

Man, you Feds are so precious aren’t you! Acting like the first people to ever be laid off in the history of man.

Sorry the US government never wanted to hire you.

You cannot be serious. Most people are not willing to work for less than the market says they are worth.

Again, sorry you didn’t make the cut. You have to be willing to be of service to something other than money to join the ranks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have kids this age. There is no way to tell them anything but the truth. They would worry more if we tried to hide it from them.

Just be matter of fact. This happened. We have plenty of savings. We may need to cut back a bit but everything is going to be fine.

The same thing any private sector parent says to a kid after a layoff.

Man, you Feds are so precious aren’t you! Acting like the first people to ever be laid off in the history of man.

Sorry the US government never wanted to hire you.

You cannot be serious. Most people are not willing to work for less than the market says they are worth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One child in 8th grade and one in 10th grade.

They have lived through a bunch of government shut downs - and now this.

Tell them the truth. You are going to lose your job and changes are likely to occur. They KNOW something is up, be honest about what this administration intends to do your family. Praying you don't have daughters

+1 your children are teenagers and you would be doing them a disservice if you don’t tell them the truth.

It’s unfortunate that this is happening but that’s how the world works sometimes. Your teenagers need to see that you can handle it and be resilient.

But you need to tell them the whole truth. It’s not just about losing a job. It’s about the country losing its foundations. I’m trying not to scare my kid, but I’ve been talking a lot more about our family’s history, which included migration from failed states.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One child in 8th grade and one in 10th grade.

They have lived through a bunch of government shut downs - and now this.

Tell them the truth. You are going to lose your job and changes are likely to occur. They KNOW something is up, be honest about what this administration intends to do your family. Praying you don't have daughters

+1 your children are teenagers and you would be doing them a disservice if you don’t tell them the truth.

It’s unfortunate that this is happening but that’s how the world works sometimes. Your teenagers need to see that you can handle it and be resilient.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason people are shocked is because laws are not being followed here. This is not how you conduct a RIF. Every week the courts are issuing some kind of TRO because the administration is testing the limits of its power. Don’t make dumb comparisons to the private sector. This is the force of the United States government being deployed against its own.

That’s really all there is to say.

Yes. A perfect summary of a situation that should be inconceivable.

The feeling that most of us seem to be struggling to name, is betrayal. And the sense of knowing it won’t stop here.

Anonymous wrote:I have kids this age. There is no way to tell them anything but the truth. They would worry more if we tried to hide it from them.

Just be matter of fact. This happened. We have plenty of savings. We may need to cut back a bit but everything is going to be fine.

The same thing any private sector parent says to a kid after a layoff.

Man, you Feds are so precious aren’t you! Acting like the first people to ever be laid off in the history of man.

Sorry the US government never wanted to hire you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree that the bark is worse than the bite and there are very few people who aren't still getting their paycheck, if any.

You dont need to tell your kids anything because nothing has happened to you. You can talk about changes in government if you think they're interested. You can talk about logistics changes if your in office days are changing.

If you are laid off you tell them it's fine and that you'll be making responsible choices to keep the family running.

You dont need to be dramatic.

Ooo, op you clearly don't know anyone who worked with USAID. There are thousands of contractor and implementer orgs that worked for USAID that are out of jobs!!!

This happens at private sector every day.

are you the same poster on every thread? do you realize how people take government jobs with expectation of lower pay but better stability/benefits and they have specialized skills that don't exist in private sector (usaid). i'm not even a federal employee and cannot understand these repeated dumb comments

I can't either. This person is one broken record. "blah blah happens all the time"

What a gaslighter they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taking it? Lots of people have been "put on" admin leave. Not a choice.

“Lots”? Who?

All of USAID for starters. Read much?

And they are firing probationary employees. Not sure how PP has missed this news.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason people are shocked is because laws are not being followed here. This is not how you conduct a RIF. Every week the courts are issuing some kind of TRO because the administration is testing the limits of its power. Don’t make dumb comparisons to the private sector. This is the force of the United States government being deployed against its own.

That’s really all there is to say.

Yes. A perfect summary of a situation that should be inconceivable.