Doubt this will impact agencies...

[BuzzH]

I just thought about this....I hope to retire...in about 7 months. If I worked for the feds, it would be like a bonus to retire early at the same time I was going to anyway!

What a deal! Gotta be tens of thousands if not more federal employees in the same position ...

One big hurdle, is it legal?

I wouldn't take the bait.

 

[ismith]

What I thought was really funny about that buyout for the Forest Service was that six months later a bunch of the guys and gals that took the buyout were back at work, at their old desk, doing the same job they left, only as private contractors making twice the money they were making as government employees. All while collecting their retirement.

Are you a time traveler from the future? If so, I have some questions for you, mostly cryptocurrency related............

 

[gouch]

Are you a time traveler from the future? If so, I have some questions for you, mostly cryptocurrency related............

No, buyouts are nothing new. In my 26 years working for the fed, I went through two of them. I was really praying for another when I was getting ready to retire.

 

[TheJason]

One big hurdle, is it legal?

I wouldn't take the bait.

Doesn’t this need to come via legislation?

Edit I was thinking in terms of funding. Probably the bigger issue are the CBA agreements. I know in ours there cannot be a substantial change in working conditions without bargaining.

 

[ismith]

No, buyouts are nothing new. In my 26 years working for the fed, I went through two of them. I was really praying for another when I was getting ready to retire.

Dang, you sure?

 

[NDGuy]

Doesn’t this need to come via legislation?

We don't need any pesky rules or laws anymore you nerd

 

[rogerthat]

So, you're not Chinese?

我是

 

[ismith]

我是

 

[cgasner1]

@Nick87

 

[gouch]

Dang, you sure?

I may be old, but I still have a couple of functioning memory brain cells. Yup, I'm sure.

As far as people not going back to the office. My last 12 years working for the fed, I had my own personal cubicle in a big office. On Monday morning I would go in and check my e-mails and phone messages then take my laptop out of the docking station and leave. I would spend the next three nights in a motel somewhere then Thursday night I would come back to my cubicle, plug in my laptop, fill out my time sheet and peridium request. I would then call my supervisor who had a cubicle 200 miles away to tell him I was still alive, then go home.

I don't know what it cost to maintain that cubicle that I used 1/2 hour a week, but I think it would have been cheaper and more efficient for me to work from home for that half hour.

 

[Bonasababy]

One big hurdle, is it legal?

I wouldn't take the bait.

Federal employees fall under the control of the executive branch. It's voluntary...nothing forced. Even if there's a contract can't imagine this type of benefit wouldn't be legal. And....it has happened before.

 

[Bonasababy]

I may be old, but I still have a couple of functioning memory brain cells. Yup, I'm sure.

As far as people not going back to the office. My last 12 years working for the fed, I had my own personal cubicle in a big office. On Monday morning I would go in and check my e-mails and phone messages then take my laptop out of the docking station and leave. I would spend the next three nights in a motel somewhere then Thursday night I would come back to my cubicle, plug in my laptop, fill out my time sheet and peridium request. I would then call my supervisor who had a cubicle 200 miles away to tell him I was still alive, then go home.

I don't know what it cost to maintain that cubicle that I used 1/2 hour a week, but I think it would have been cheaper and more efficient for me to work from home for that half hour.

Yep. Huge savings in telecommuting overall. Just another move that is costing US taxpayers MORE money.

 

[ismith]

Federal employees fall under the control of the executive branch. It's voluntary...nothing forced. Even if there's a contract can't imagine this type of benefit wouldn't be legal. And....it has happened before.

Voluntary like Covid shots, eh?

 

[BuzzH]

Federal employees fall under the control of the executive branch. It's voluntary...nothing forced. Even if there's a contract can't imagine this type of benefit wouldn't be legal. And....it has happened before.

That's why the Union pays for top shelf attorneys...we'll see what they say.

"It is unclear what authority the Trump administration has to offer a payout to effectively the entire federal civilian work force. Under the Homeland Security Act, agencies that are downsizing or reorganizing can offer federal workers $25,000 in exchange for their resignation, known as a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment. In many cases, though, the payments proposed in the email would far exceed that sum.

Other actions mentioned in the email could run afoul of civil service laws, which are intended to safeguard most federal employees from political pressure and interference, as well as union contracts. Anticipating those limits, the email said that the effort to cull the federal work force would be pursued “to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.”

 

[Sytes]

Doesn’t this need to come via legislation?

Edit I was thinking in terms of funding. Probably the bigger issue are the CBA agreements. I know in ours they cannot be a substantial change in working conditions without bargaining.

USC 71, the basis for union representation doesn't dig into the specifics of the various CBA's, be it AFGE, NTEU, etc (The two largest Fed unions).
I would imagine this will play into FSIP, FLRA, and the courts.
The question is however, CBA's do not define an employer/union agreed longevity of "Remote work".
Within the RIF, Employer has the right so long as 180 days notice is provided...
Interesting timing for September.

I just received word it's an obvious FLRA and likely District Court... whether filed w/ FSIP, is still on the table.

 

[ismith]

That's why the Union pays for top shelf attorneys...we'll see what they say.

"It is unclear what authority the Trump administration has to offer a payout to effectively the entire federal civilian work force. Under the Homeland Security Act, agencies that are downsizing or reorganizing can offer federal workers $25,000 in exchange for their resignation, known as a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment. In many cases, though, the payments proposed in the email would far exceed that sum.

Other actions mentioned in the email could run afoul of civil service laws, which are intended to safeguard most federal employees from political pressure and interference, as well as union contracts. Anticipating those limits, the email said that the effort to cull the federal work force would be pursued “to the extent permitted under relevant collective-bargaining agreements.”

 

[BuzzH]

USC 71, the basis for union representation doesn't dig into the specifics of the various CBA's, be it AFGE, NTEU, etc (The two largest Fed unions).
I would imagine this will play into FSIP, FLRA, and the courts.
The question is however, CBA's do not define an employer/union agreed longevity of "Remote work".
Within the RIF, Employer has the right so long as 180 days notice is provided...
Interesting timing for September.

I just received word it's an obvious FLRA and likely District Court... whether filed w/ FSIP, is still on the table.

Our CBA is different in regard to remote work, new article in the MA we just signed last June.

The Union attorneys are going to be busy.

 

[ismith]

Our CBA is different in regard to remote work, new article in the MA we just signed last June.

The Union attorneys are going to be busy.

Best to keep the attorneys busy, otherwise they get themselves into trouble.

 

[BuzzH]

Best to keep the attorneys busy, otherwise they get themselves into trouble.

You have a valid point, although ours are very good.

 

[ismith]

You have a valid point, although ours are very good.

We pay them well, they ought to be.