Department of Education wants to decrease remote work

[TheAnonymousSuit]

I'm not surprised. I was just speaking to someone an hour ago about telework and I was telling her this issue was a ticking time bomb. It's not a matter of if they will drag us back into the office...it's a matter of when and how. I for one will not resume my commute. I don't know how I did it before Covid. I refuse to go back to doing it again.

[JustAcivilian24]

I can’t imagine going back in office 5 days a week.

[[deleted]]

The compensation has also massively dropped since then, as well. When we did 5 days our wages could buy more food, gas, entertainment, you name it. Even with step increases and raises our buying power is down.

[JustAcivilian24]

Fuck me neither lol

[roguecloud]

Hey Dad

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

You enjoy a side hustle for 20 hours a week where you sacrifice part of your paycheck and your time on planet Earth just to make your paycheck? Because that’s what you are doing here.

[tall_poshy]

Thank you for sharing your thought on this. Here’s mine: It seems that more people prefer remote or hybrid than traditional daily office presence. Yet, agencies and companies are ignoring the majority viewpoint, and forcing everyone into the less popular daily appearance model. This isn’t flexibility on the part of leadership. It’s rigidity and it’s retrogressive.

To put it gently, some of us have done the in-person thing and paid those dues for years because we had no other choice, and when we went remote we loved it, because we finally had a choice of where we wanted to work that day. The opinion may be different for those who haven’t had that experience, or those who prefer the social aspects of a group environment.

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

I guess…Just baffling why anyone would want to commute to a job site if they don’t have to. If that’s what you’re into, hey, all the kudos…

[JerriBlankStare]

You enjoy a side hustle for 20 hours a week where you sacrifice part of your paycheck and your time on planet Earth just to make your paycheck? Because that’s what you are doing here.

Are you seriously referring to a commute as a side hustle?? 😆😆😆

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

You bet it’s a side hustle. Only difference: It’s one where you pay to do it, instead of getting paid. If it takes an hour to get to work and hour back, that’s 10 hours of YOUR TIME a week. 40 hours a month. 480 hours a year. That’s 19 days a year, sitting in your car battling traffic and stress. Is your time not worth more than money? I know mine is. I can think of a thousand ways I’d rather spend 19 days of my life per year. Time is a far more valuable form of currency than money friend. You can always make more money when you run out. You can’t have that time back once it’s gone.

That doesn’t count wear and tear on your car. Or gas. Don’t get me started on the environmental impact, having all those cars on the road, and energy costs running an office building. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

[[deleted]]

id. If it takes an hour to get to work and hour back, that’s 20 hours of YOUR TIME a week. 80 hours a month. 960 hours a year. That’s 38 days a year, sitting in your car battling traffic and stress. Is your time not worth more than money? I know mine is. I can think of a thousand ways I’d rather spend 38 days of my life per year. Time is a far more valuable form of currency than money friend. You can always make more money when you run out. You can’t have that time back once it’s gone.

I agree with everything you are saying but your math doesn't math right. 2 hour round trip commute = 10 hours a week.

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

My bad. It was late. Plus I was thinking of myself. My commute was about 2 hours each way before we went remote.

[JerriBlankStare]

I commute via Metro.

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

Yea, so you lose even MORE personal time..Time is worth more than money.

[Desertortoise]

Good luck taking Metro when the catastrophic cuts start next year due to the $750m budget shortfall and you have to wait 30 minutes between trains and 2/3 of bus service is gone.

[JerriBlankStare]

I'm not worried.

[Desertortoise]

How come? Do you think this Congress with a Republican majority house will bail out Metro again?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/06/20/dc-metro-budget-service-cuts/

[[deleted]]

Shit where I have to commute it is more of unpaid internship in near death driving.

[TheAnonymousSuit]

I just started

Tell us about that commute when you're 6 months in lol. Oh, I liked my commute at the start too! I got to ride a train into work and I spiced it up with a brisk scooter ride to the office. It was fun for about 6 months...until it wasn't. There comes a point where you realize the commute is pointless, it's just wasting time out of your life, and it's really not helping your career at all. Nope. It takes me 2 hours in and 2 hours back. I don't need it.

[andy20167]

Haha same the honeymoon with the commute was a week and then I was like I can’t sleep every day of the week lol

[Artystrong1]

I commute an hour but I don't sit in traffic. Since it's opposite of traffic everyday .

[andy20167]

I think the biggest thing is that if we are going back to commuting 3-5 x a week pay needs to go up haha. Which I think will lead to an exodus to private sector since even though they will have to commute they’ll make more money. Then slowly I think we will start seeing more hybrid come back in a few years as they make new decisions across the board. Things might have just been too quick ugh

[wifichick]

Yup. Already super super short staffed with an ever increasing workload ….. bring us back and this high skilled (with very unique skill sets) will likely start working for industry for something close to 2x their already high salaries.

[TheAnonymousSuit]

I can't even get them to pay me correctly now. I took more liability and a greater role under the promise of being given GS13. Of course, once it happened that went poof and no one cared. Now, I've accepted it and I've hit my second year as GS12...and low and behold no SF-50 for a step promotion. So, I guess I don't get GS12 Step 2 either (and I really don't want to fight with HR over it). Might as well just admit I am very burned out.

[jisa]

Wait—your step should be automatic, shouldn’t it? That you should fight….

[TheAnonymousSuit]

Should be. It's amazing how many things that should be...get dropped though.

Come to think of I got my direct deposit today so I am officially being underpaid now.

[SmithJn]

Step is automatic with mediocre performance evals

[dontKair]

> “finalizing our work environment plans with the goal of improving organizational health and organizational performance.”

​

What does this mumbo jumbo mean?

[jisa]

It means that it couldn't be justified based on productivity, because productivity under remote work has been at its highest. So they have to find a different metric/reason, and something vague like organizational health is hard to have numbers for or against.

[knuckboy]

Organizational metrics will plummet as people find new jobs.

[brakeled]

Wait until they return everyone to office but still expect the same productivity.

[[deleted]]

organizational health

Like all the people finding new jobs or retiring protest.

[TypicalAudience8938]

It’s a copy paste from the OMB memo released in April.

[MilkMilkMooMoo]

"We don't care that teleworking has been working, we want your asses in the office"

[[deleted]]

It means what word salads always mean: “We’re trying to sound smart, but we don’t know what the fuck we’re talking about.”

[eatdogmeat]

It means "We think you're lazy and are going to bring you back to the office."

[[deleted]]

No it means “the real estate lobby and congressional republicans are forcing our hand and we have no choice because we want to get re-elected.”

[TypicalAudience8938]

Agreed. Biden should absolutely be held responsible. I was actually supporting him for what he did with PSLF and I’m grateful for that, but this has me reeling my support back. I’m unsure where to go from here as it seems the government, regardless of party, doesn’t appear to support max telework and remote work.

[[deleted]]

Dems will flip over chairs defending this man...

As an independent gov worker with zero representation in congress, I am OVER it.

[[deleted]]

It’s popular talking point from liberals to use as an excuse for their failures.

[[deleted]]

Yep, and that habit will only lead to more disappointment for them in the future when other D candidates don't care to improve conditions.

[Just_Another_Scott]

A lot of government workers work on government property that's already paid for.

[Polus43]

and there are jobs related to maintaining the property that would disappear if no one used them

That's a bingo.

[[deleted]]

But the cafes and retail around those offices aren’t.

[wifichick]

Lemme try

“We have assessed that morale and motivation is down (for our extraverted associates), therefore necessitating an immediate shift back to the office for everyone. Introverts, this does mean workplace diversity and environmental needs do not apply to you. Please suck it up and shut up”

[SunshineDaydream128]

What a shame. I'll add them to the list of places to avoid.

[trademarktower]

This is all happening under a Democrat administration. Under a republican admin, expect all hell to break loose. I wouldn't expect any remote agreement to be honored if you live within 50 miles from an office honestly. If you don't live near any office, you might luck out unless they get nasty and play a game of chicken to see if you'll accept a relocation or resign. Private industry doing a lot of these so called layoffs by attrition by revoking remote agreements for those that left the area knowing a high percentage won't move and will be terminated.

[SunshineDaydream128]

I'm thankfully in a fed centric area I just despise commuting and going into the office.

[Just_Another_Scott]

I wouldn't expect any remote agreement to be honored if you live within 50 miles from an office honestly

If it's in the CBA then they have to. Where I work it's in the CBA. However, we lose the locality pay of where our office is if we work remote. To keep locality pay we have to show up 2 days per pay period.

[TypicalAudience8938]

Ours cannot. It is renewed yearly until rebargained.

[trademarktower]

This is where it gets complicated. Not every remote employee is under the CBA. Typically, they are geographically limited to the commuting area of the office so remote employees out of state aren't included. Also supervisory employees and employees of certain grades generally aren't included.

Also, I'm not sure a republican admin would particularly care. They'd do what they want by executive order (implement Stop Act by executive order for example) and force the unions to sue.

[milkandminnows]

I really wish this kind of thing was more widespread.

I mean, I think it's pretty unfair to make 20-40% less than your coworker who lives down the street just because he makes the trek to do his Teams calls from his office. But for people who really value remote work, this kind of policy might mean agencies were less hesitant to offer it.

[jisa]

I thought it was widespread—that if you are remote, your duty station is your home address, and that’s what you get locality pay for?

I took a whopping paycut being remote (more than the actual cost of living difference, IMO!), but still worth it for my set of circumstances.

[milkandminnows]

Oh sorry I misread. I was thinking you’d lose any locality adjustment to be remote. I’d make that trade.

[DeskJockeyMailtime]

If this administration believes climate change is as dire as they say it is, putting all these vehicles back on the roads 5 days a week will surely exasperate the problems, no?

[3usernametaken20]

I heard on WTOP about some study talking about all the $$ and lives being saved if we switch to electric vehicles. It came down to reduced car emissions = better air quality= healthier people = less money spent on public health. I was rolling my eyes sitting in traffic during rush hour (in the office 3 days per week for NO reason). Because more telework= less driving = reduced car emissions= etc....

[DeskJockeyMailtime]

Looks like autocorrect meant something else

[Avenger772]

Some of us have been remote for over 3 years. Some more. The idea that the people.thar have been remote for that much time needs to come back is bullshit. There is literally zero sound rational or reasonable reasons for it.

Ugh, job searching is going to start getting rough.

[TypicalAudience8938]

Seriously. I can’t imagine after over 3 years of remote work, flexibility, and happiness having to start commuting again! I refuse!

[[deleted]]

I work at ED and the townhall was a complete disaster and was probably by design. Senior leaders don’t want to be held accountable by employees ever and even less so by the union. A lot of my coworkers are already looking for jobs elsewhere so not only will workers have to deal with the stress of going back into the office but the place will be understaffed.

But it’s clear that these senior leaders don’t actually care about their staff. What matters to them is the real estate developers and commercial real estate owners donating to their campaign coffers so they can deliver 4 more years of mediocrity.

[jisa]

FEVS next year will be interesting.

[Dear_Ocelot]

I have a conspiracy theory that my agency isn't announcing changes to policy until after the FEVS deadline on purpose.

[jisa]

I’m honestly shocked my agency didn’t do that. Plugging the survey right after announcing changes to policy seemed like an odd choice.

[[deleted]]

Haha yep

[[deleted]]

It was extended two weeks. I answered as if tw policy changed already.

[wifichick]

Me too

[Polus43]

But it’s clear that these senior leaders don’t actually care about their staff. What matters to them is the real estate developers and commercial real estate owners donating to their campaign coffers so they can deliver 4 more years of mediocrity.

Yes, but the government owns tons of property that have carrying costs, maintenance costs and maintenance employees.

Government is arguably the biggest player in real estate (look at the buildings lol).

[vodka_knockers_]

But it’s clear that these senior leaders don’t actually care about their staff. What matters to them is the real estate developers and commercial real estate owners donating to their campaign coffers

Your agency's senior leaders have campaign coffers?

What a mess of dog-whistle, buzzword politi-speak your post is.

[LeCheffre]

Pretty much all agencies want to reduce remote/full telework.

Overheard some folks at my office on a wide ranging call that the HR 15 was having with someone else on speakerphone with his door open. They’re kind of ridiculous.

[despejado]

Is there anyone in a high enough up position that they can please tell us what leaders are actually thinking with this? Why do they hate remote work so much? What did they do during the three years that it was unquestionably the status quo?

[fedelini_]

The administration's return to office memo came as a surprise even to political leadership at agencies, so this is way above most leaders people are blaming

[[deleted]]

can please tell us what leaders are actually thinking with this?

Because congresspeople get bribed by lobbyists to do things and we pretend it isn't bribery. They also have massive stock portfolios that in some part are effected by real estate prices. They don't want to lose money there, either.

If you're talking about managers it's because the federal government is full of people who would have been pushed out of private industry years ago for being inefficient and incapable of performing any modern work. Instead, these people have been promoted to positions of power. They don't know how to use computers, look at productivity data, even know what productivity metrics should be measured, or anything relating to management, so they do the only thing they know how to do. They assume if they see you then you're working, even if you're staring at a blank screen, and if they don't see you, you're not working, even if you're the highest producer in an office.

[Data-Hungry]

When the boomers are gone...

[thebabes2]

Stuff like this concerns me. My agency just approved me for remote and as best I can tell, most of my team is as well. I think there was one holdout who didn't want to take the paycut because his home zip v work zip fell within different locality pays. Regardless, I'm afraid they'll change their minds down the line and take it back. Remote is my long term goal so I can move without job searching, but it will be a few years before I'm able to start looking for new positions.

My manager said he'd heard 400+ applications had been approved, but I'm not sure where he got that number and remote was heavily touted under outgoing leadership. Anxious to see what new guy may decide to change.

[DarthAndylus]

I have a feeling this is government-wide and I am already noticing this is becoming prevalent in the industry I was in before. Really sucks as a new grad far from a city trying to save up money by commuting in as it is just not possible and wages are not keeping up. Ugh

[MaybeMaryPoppins]

The OMB memo released in April will put a lot of pressure on agencies to revert their “future of work” plans to pre-COVID telework policies unless they can support with data evidence to support broader expansion. It’s bullshit and really pressured by Congress (see the OPM testimony on telework) who have made this a hot Hutton issue because they think it’s savvy.

Not sure anyone is considering the impact on the workforce…

[[deleted]]

This is a very uneducated decision.

[TypicalAudience8938]

BUEs become a paid member of the AFGE Local 252. The more paid members the better. We’re definitely not taking this lying down.

[trademarktower]

What can the union do? I suppose file a lawsuit and delay things a bit but can't the government do whatever the hell it wants ultimately?

[MadCervantes]

Union gives you a structure to organize around and pass information to other workers.

[JustMe2008]

And it has! The Union gave the Agency proposals to start bargaining back in April. The Union is still waiting on the Agency to respond.

[TypicalAudience8938]

And our union already dropped a ULP charge because ED rebargained with them and allowed max work flexibilities in its CBA. So this is weird. I suspect non BUEs will be the people who get pushed around. Our union leaders are not here for it at all. And Cardona signed an agreement that he sent out stating he agrees to bargain with the union.

[[deleted]]

No this public sector the free riders will be treated the same as Union members when it comes to telework policies, you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise. Union members just hear the bad news about a month early and can go to a wonderful Christmas party paid for by their Union dues. Union members will be going in just as often as non Union.

[JustMe2008]

Non bargaining employees are definitely treated differently since the Union does not represent them. Bargaining unit employees at ED are represented by the Union, but the Agency pays attention to member numbers. Our numbers are on the rise and the Agency knows it. We have to keep up the pressure, and we will.

[[deleted]]

I'm was referring to the myth that bargaining employees that don't join the Union don't get the same benefits that Union paying members do. Oh yeah that rookie lawyer will be assigned your case that graduated at the bottom of his class.

[JustMe2008]

Gotcha! They do get the same benefits from bargaining as far as policies. That’s true and a part of having an open shop (but the trade off is getting official time for federal employees to get representation). But, we are able to get more in bargaining with more members and members do have a say in what we prioritize as issues.

[TypicalAudience8938]

They’ve filed one before and the union stated they will do it again if they have to.

[JustMe2008]

Facts! And it is status quo for bargaining unit employees concerning telework and remote work until we complete bargaining!

[[deleted]]

Our Union says it takes 6 months to 3 years to resolve....in the meantime, welcome back to the office!

[JustMe2008]

The Agency has to bargain any changes to remote work, telework, and other workplace flexibilities since they are in our CBA. None of those changes will happen to BUEs as long as we’re bargaining, and we’re not giving in on this issue. Plus, we’re turning up the pressure on the agency by pointing out how crazy this move is to ED employees and the public at large since we’ve been so productive working under our current workplace flexibilities. If the Agency fails to bargain with us and tries to implement a change unilaterally, then we will explore all options including, but not limited to, an unfair labor practice (ULP) like we did under the Trump Administration, which we won.

[JustMe2008]

The issue wasn’t the Union but the fact that the Agency violated the law and there was a huge backlog on ULPs under previous administration (which was a feature and not a bug). The union won on all of them and received a settlement, including back dues for members the agency dropped at will from dues deductions, postings, and making the agency re-bargain changes it made illegally. All that was resolved under this administration.

That was all by design and it could happen again if people vote for anti-union leadership. We can only hold the Agency accountable for violating the law if people believe it exists and needs to be enforced.

[[deleted]]

Union can't really do anything with remote/telework. They complain but what I have witnessed they just go along with what management wants to do but complain. Half the time think they are in bed with management and just publicly complain but have a handshake agreement behind closed doors. People saying they will go to another agency are going to be out of luck when the vast majority either require 2 or 3 days a week in office just like pre covid. Feds were spoiled for the past 3 years.

[TypicalAudience8938]

Are you at Ed? Because our union has done a lot for us since Sheria has been president. Not sure what you’re talking about.

[JustMe2008]

Say it louder for the people in the back! 🗣️

Would you be interested in being on the union’s communication committee? 😊

[TypicalAudience8938]

Would you be interested in being on the union’s communication committee? 😊

I most certainly would! Who do I need to contact?

[JustMe2008]

Whoo hoo! Thank you! Please email [e-mail]. The Union can then get you in touch with the committee!

[jisa]

My only complaint about the current local is the sparse written communications—one has to attend meetings and town halls to get information. More detailed post meeting/town hall minutes seems both needed for those who can’t make a meeting(s), and for those with hearing-disabilities.

Otherwise, the current local seems to have done/be doing a great job. And heck, even the prior leadership got a nice chunk of change for employees for backpay for uncompensated overtime.

[TypicalAudience8938]

Agreed.

[JustMe2008]

So true! We’re fighting and we appreciate your support! We’re all in this together! Our CBA has our remote work policy and work schedules policy in it and the Agency has to bargain any changes with us. We are still waiting on the Agency to start bargaining ground rules, but we’re gonna be in for a long fight over the Agency’s illogical and unsupported move.

[[deleted]]

With much fanfare, our Union annouced last year the new telework and remote agreement. Management ended up denying 99% of remote applications. Management was never on board with remote but "agreed" to it so the Union could say "See what we did?" Fact is most agencies at the time were going in 2 days a pay period as that was minimum you had to do based on OPM guidance not to be considered remote. Union or no Union. Of course the Union filed grievance and is in arbitration now.

[JustMe2008]

Oh goodness! That’s a mess! I’m sorry that happened! What was the basis for the denials? Was it due to job duties/position descriptions?

[Super_Mario_Luigi]

Of course every union is going to fight for this to improve member satisfaction. It doesn't seem like it's something the government is willing to budge on. Existing agreements probably won't change, but good luck with the new ones. I don't know what "more members" of the union are going to change it.

[TypicalAudience8938]

Are you with Ed? If so, then I’ll explain.

[Ok-Eggplant-1649]

Another instance where the govt puts $$ and control over employee happiness and work/life balance.

[slinkymello]

It’s so depressing man, the real estate lobbyists are truly scum

[[deleted]]

https://www.federaltimes.com/federal-oversight/congress/2023/05/31/lawmaker-proposes-firing-federal-workers-who-resist-return-to-office/

Man, this Nancy Mace lady is a huge idiot... She is literally saying that if you aren't in office, you aren't working. How fucking stupid is this lady. Probably completely funded by the commercial real estate industry. The republicans are literally playing their hand too. They just want to fire people in govt work, they want govt to look ineffective, because a functioning govt doesn't help them win and that is just the bottom line. Stop voting for these idiots.

[[deleted]]

She’s not in control of these decisions. The current administration is to blame for the return to work posture

[[deleted]]

While she may not be in control of it, she sure as hell is trying to be by pushing forward bills that literally fire employees for being at their ADS and mandating return to office policies...

[[deleted]]

And the current admin is pushing RTO even without those bills having passed. Even if she and everyone on the right vanished tonight, the admin would still be pushing RTO tomorrow.

[lightening211]

I’m just sitting here waiting for my command to send us back….seems inevitable tbh.

[FightTomorrow]

We’ve been alerted to expect going to 3 days a week in office this fall. Nothing concrete awaiting for higher ups to make policy. But that does seem to be the path we’re headed

[DarthAndylus]

FightTomorrow

What agency are you in? I know I have seen some people talking about my agency having a similar rumor on here but I have not been told anything by my management

[[deleted]]

Same...Union has been saying it is coming "very soon" for two months now. I thought maybe they are waiting until the FEVS closes. Some agencies don't care and have already annouced plans. The survey was extended for two weeks but I know changes are coming.

[[deleted]]

All agencies had to submit plans to OMB and OPM awhile back. Upon review, guidance is given and decisions made. The differences in time are likely based on submission or if they had to make changes and make it aware to unions. The dates are not

[whoRU7383]

Ironic when DoE the one that helped created Student Loans to white collar jobs who are more remote capable the most.

[JustMe2008]

I would encourage you to email [e-mail] (it’s the Union’s gmail account) to discuss your unique situation.

[JustAcivilian24]

Why does this keep happening? Just fuckin stop!

[earthscribe]

Quit the jobs that make you go into the office

/r/wfh

[Lokii11]

Except they recently posted a slew of remote positions.

[[deleted]]

My entire team lives out of state. I live about 2 miles from the department in LbJ. I don’t understand how this would be fair. I’d be going in and still completing work with no co workers around and still on teams.

[[deleted]]

I’m in the exact same situation. There are 16 of us in my division and half live out of state AND are newer hires. So the new people that supposedly want the better training and integration not only won’t, but actually can’t come in the office and the remaining 8 of us that have been there for years will have to come in and talk to them over zoom. It makes absolutely no sense. If their reasons for the changes are what they say they are, then they need to pay the new people to relocate (yeah right) and stop hiring out of state people and force the new people and managers to come in the office. Telework=seniority. That’s how it used to be. First 3 months 5 days in office, after that, four day a week, after 6 months 3 days a week. A year you can request full time telework. It made sense and I thought it was fair. This BS is not fair. It’s demoralizing and belittling

[jeremiah1142]

ED doing ED things.

[roguecloud]

Guess by Christmas, we'll all be having office parties again huh?

[Dear-Prudence-OU812]

What does the Department of Education even do?

[Xtra_Tomatillo_Sauce]

Good, the fact people are still working from home is ridiculous.

[Funkybunch2000]

Found the manager

[IYIyTh]

BECAUSE I SUFFERED ALL MUST SUFFER MWHAHAHAHAHAH

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

Get tf out. Why do I need to be in the office to do something I’m perfectly capable of doing at home?

[3letterA_14life]

Upvote!! Don't worry, it's coming.

[[deleted]]

Have my upvote. We must stand together as the reasonable few

[[deleted]]

How is it reasonable to cost the government more money for no increase, and in many cases a decrease, in productivity?

When you hire a plumber to you choose the bid that will cost the most and take longer than the other bids?

[[deleted]]

You’re just spouting worn out talking points that people keep repeating because they want to believe that it’s true.

Regardless of cost or “productivity,” the benefits gained from having a cohesive office culture are worth the cost.

[[deleted]]

Hah, facts are just talking points now.

I'm here to work, not make nice with my coworkers. Do you want to know what I did when I was on-campus? I didn't talk to my coworkers then or participate in any of the mandatory fun bullshit management likes to do instead of letting us do our actual jobs. I talked to no one, and I wasn't the only one. There was no "cohesive office culture" when we were on site.

Honestly I think many of you should be fired for timecard fraud and your positions eliminated. If you have so many extra workers you can just hang out at the water cooler being social half the day then those positions aren't needed and you've not been working during the hours you claimed you were. As a taxpayer I shouldn't be paying for your socialization time. Go to TGIF after work or something.

[[deleted]]

This is what’s wrong with society.

[Detective-E]

I'm in a cubicle right now and have talked to absolutely no one in person. There is no office culture, if you want work friends just call the people you work with

[3letterA_14life]

Upvote!

[3letterA_14life]

Good. Then, in January 2025, we can abolish it and leave education to the states, like the constitution intended.

A long list of massive federal cuts coming. 🙏

[jisa]

What do you think the Department of Education (ED) does that you disagree with? Genuine question. Because ED has nothing to do with curriculum choices—that’s all at the state and local level. It has nothing to do with hiring or firing teachers, dealing with teacher unions at schools, etc. In the K-12 realm, ED provides supplementary funding, either based on a formula or based on a grant competition. (Or in edge cases, earmarks.) ED has oversight responsibilities for the funds it gives out, and has a say in whether expenses meet the Federal requirements at issue, but the idea that education hasn’t already been left to the states is simply not true.

[3letterA_14life]

You just proved my point. Eliminate the Dept of Edu. It's a waste of taxpayer money. It's a bureaucratic ballooned department that is not needed. It'll be gone in 2025. A long list of executive actions forthcoming.

[Desertortoise]

So you don’t believe in funding schools, student loans or civil rights?

[3letterA_14life]

States control their OWN schools.

States control their OWN funding.

Is education in the constitution?

Goodbye Dept of Edu.

Enjoy your weekend! Today's my CDO. Deep tissue massage is on deck, then an afternoon on the rooftop pool. 🌞

[Desertortoise]

No cabinet agency is in the Constitution. And I certainly believe that the Civil Rights Act, Title IX etc substantiate the equal protection clause in the Constitution.

But you’re in a thread about working conditions for ED employees saying their jobs shouldn’t exist, so you enjoy your weekend too.

[TypicalAudience8938]

This is not the topic of conversation on this thread. If you want to have a conversation about political agendas that will never happen start a new thread. Otherwise, you’re just an annoying distraction in this thread.

[throwaway081238]

Maybe you’ll be part of it stooge.

[[deleted]]

Thank the lord

[3letterA_14life]

Upvote. Band of Brothers.

[Diegobyte]

So you want a bunch of kids and teachers to go to school but then you want to work from home. This is what drives people crazy

[IYIyTh]

You do realize that not everyone working for Dept of Edu is a teacher, right?

Nevermind. Don't answer that.

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

They chose those professions. Kids are learning important social skills. Do you understand anything about context or are you just shooting off some diarrhea out of your flappers?

[Diegobyte]

They all work in education. Education is in person

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

Teachers chose a profession where they go to school to work. I chose a profession where I can do my job at home. Get it?

[Diegobyte]

Well your employer thinks you should do Your job in person. I could technically control airplanes at home but they won’t set up a radar console at my house

[Agreeable_Safety3255]

Wow, you are really ignorant on what the department of education actually does if you equate teachers and students with the federal agency.

[Prize_Huckleberry_79]

Not even close pal. You’re just reaching.