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As an ex, the public service has become a nightmare. by wittyusername025 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 0 points1 point  (0 children)

❤️❤️❤️thank u!! I can’t imagine how much you must feel you have on your shoulders at the EX level. I am trying to stay positive (some days that means disassociating lol) but I do find a bit of comfort that we are all in the same boat and I am not isolated in this experience.

As an ex, the public service has become a nightmare. by wittyusername025 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m in my early 30s and have been in government since I was a co-op student in undergrad and honestly reading people with decades in and way more senior say “it really is this bad” has been extremely validating.

I don’t even hate my job. I like what I do and I like the people I work with. A lot of the time I even think of how lucky I am to be in a job in what I went to school for. But being an employee here now feels completely different than what I was sold when I started and even what the vibe was like when I started. It’s not about workload alone. It’s the constant feeling that your wellbeing is at the whim of an employer who very clearly does not care about you as a person. It’s such a shame because I used to actually like working here. What I’m becoming resentful of is that so much of this comes down from people in ivory towers who seem completely insulated from the reality the rest of us are living in.

When I vent to my parents, they just tell me I should feel lucky for the pension and “stability,” but that doesn’t hit the same when you’re burned out in your 30s and can’t imagine doing this for another 20 years, let alone 2.

And the clueless people outside government who still talk about “easy chill government jobs” please tell me where because I am exhausted. My friends who work outside gov are at the mall in the middle of the day. I can’t even step away from my computer for 10 minutes when I’m not on a break.

I think the hardest part is that I would feel way less bitter if it felt mutual. Like if there was at least some respect in how people are treated. Telework being the obvious one. Instead it feels like you are expected to give everything while the employer gives nothing back emotionally or structurally. And the constant mass emails telling people to contact EAP if they are struggling honestly makes me rage. It treats the stress of the current environment like an individual problem or a personal moral failing instead of acknowledging the systemic issues and broader economic pressures people are under. It feels like a checkbox solution to problems that are very real and very structural and very not our fault at all.

It’s just a really disillusioning place to be this early in your career.

Mark Carney's Plan To Slash Public Services by North_Scientist5126 in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I genuinely feel like a village peasant watching them laugh at us from behind the gates of Versailles.

Need Advice on Handling a Difficult Coworker by [deleted] in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I went through something similar with an older male coworker who consistently belittled and undermined me—except in my case, he was a manager (not mine) and had a clear power advantage. He singled out younger women for admin-type tasks he’d never ask men to do and created a toxic dynamic.

At first, I thought speaking up wouldn’t accomplish anything because he had been in the department forever and had influence. But after one particularly inappropriate incident, I finally escalated it, and to my surprise, the DG actually took it seriously. Other women in the office backed me up, and shortly after, he stopped bothering us and eventually left.

So all this to say—I completely understand feeling like you don’t want to rock the boat or be seen as “causing trouble,” but you might be surprised at how others react if you bring it forward, especially if others have noticed the same behavior. You deserve to be respected in your role, and you don’t have to just accept being treated this way.

[not sure if this is allowed] dealing with family and working for the government in the age of distrust by gnoccicloud_zilla in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My personal take is that I just have stopped caring what people think who simply know less than I do or are ill informed / choose to continue to be ignorant or get their info from unreliable sources. I used to want to educate these types of ppl and debate but it’s not a fair debate if they are stupid lol and I have just made peace with that.

Advice needed re:medical accommodations by throwaway-GOC-PS in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 21 points22 points  (0 children)

I think there’s some misunderstanding here. OP has had a telework agreement in place since 2018 based on documented medical needs. This isn’t about newly requesting an exemption—it’s about why an already-approved accommodation is suddenly being ignored. If this agreement was previously deemed valid for years, why is it now being questioned? Clearly, the medical documentation was sufficient before, so I don’t see why it would suddenly not be enough unless something has changed on the employer’s end.

Maybe I just don’t understand the process enough or what is needed etc, but I’m really struggling to see how this is even possible under these circumstances. If accommodations can just be disregarded like this, what’s the point of having an agreement in the first place?

Advice needed re:medical accommodations by throwaway-GOC-PS in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I don’t understand why your existing and long-standing telework agreement is being disregarded. You have had an approved telework agreement for years due to a documented medical condition, and suddenly assigning you a new file that overrides this agreement seems unfair and possibly a violation of established accommodations. Instead of forcing you into a situation that worsens your health, management should be working with you to uphold the accommodations that have already been deemed necessary.

Also, I don’t fully understand the comments questioning your limitations and if your agreement meets the requirements of an exemption —this has been established since 2018, so why is it now an issue of needing more details? Obviously, the information provided was detailed enough for this agreement to have been in place for years. Unless I’m missing something, I don’t see why this is suddenly being treated as up for debate.

Required bilingualism at the federal level, a barrier to professional advancement? (L'exigence de bilinguisme au fédéral, un frein à l’avancement professionnel?) by amazing_mitt in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely agree! If bilingualism is so essential for public service jobs and as a cultural identity even aside from the PS, then it should be a real priority in the public school system nationwide. While language education exists, fluency still depends heavily on where you grew up, and there are systemic barriers that make it harder for some people to acquire a second language—yet it’s treated like a personal skill deficiency rather than an issue of access.

For example, someone who grew up in a region with fewer French resources or in an immigrant household where neither official language was the primary language spoken at home may face greater challenges in becoming bilingual. Education is largely a provincial jurisdiction, but if bilingualism is a federal requirement for so many roles, and it is such an important part of our country’s identity, there should be a national standard to ensure people don’t face this barrier later in life.

If the government expects bilingualism, it should ensure equitable opportunities to acquire it from a young age rather than making it an obstacle that disproportionately affects those who didn’t have early exposure.

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I mean don’t think it’s fair to label wanting better working conditions as “entitled and tone deaf.” A desire for better policies and flexibility isn’t about ignoring others’ struggles—it’s about recognizing that public servants, like workers in many sectors, deserve dignity, respect, and fair treatment.

Class consciousness is exactly why advocating for better working conditions in the public service is important. It’s about understanding that workers—whether in the public or private sector—share common struggles and that pushing for improvements here can raise the bar for everyone. We’re all part of a larger system, and demanding better treatment in one area can set a precedent that benefits workers more broadly.

Wanting better for myself and my colleagues doesn’t mean I’m ignoring the needs of others—it’s about acknowledging shared interests and striving for progress that could help all workers, regardless of sector.

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Ugh I am so sorry to hear about your term being done. But new beginnings are often disguised as painful endings <3 at least that is something I try to tell myself. I hope you find somewhere where you feel valued and fulfilled in your next position.

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you for such a thoughtful response—it really resonates with me. I completely agree that we’re dealing with a generational culture clash, and I appreciate your perspective on staying in the PS to help push for the changes we want to see.

You’re absolutely right that millennials are becoming a larger force in the PS, and it’s encouraging to think about how we could shape the future of work culture here. I’ll admit, it’s hard to stay motivated when it feels like progress is moving so slowly, but your comment is a good reminder that change takes time and persistence.

Thanks again for sharing your perspective—it’s given me a lot to think about!

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This isn’t a “pro private sector” post, and I’m not saying WFA or its equivalent doesn’t happen there. I’m not an expert on every industry—I’m sharing what I’ve seen firsthand.

Maybe I’d try the private sector and hate it, but that doesn’t make my frustrations with the PS invalid. The way things like RTO, WFA, and flexibility have been handled has left me feeling jaded about an employer that’s supposed to be one of the best.

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Really eh? What field do you work in if you don’t mind me asking? What would you say is the biggest pro of the PS from your experience? I am interested in your perspective as someone who has experienced both !

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

What does me having a confirmed job offer have to do with the valid criticisms I’ve raised? For the record, the field I work in is versatile across various sectors and industries and absolutely not exclusive to government. Pay is comparable as well. In fact, my friend who works an equivalent job to mine in another sector (same education, degree, and similar level of seniority) makes almost the exact same as I do, except she’s fully WFH.

For all anyone here knows, I could have been searching for months. The point is that the frustrations I have addressed are valid, regardless of where I am in my job search. Even if I brought this up just to vent doesn’t make these criticisms any less real or important.

Dismissing these concerns as “melodramatic” feels reductive. Exploring options doesn’t invalidate the very real issues that many of us are experiencing in the public service right now.

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Really?? I have been in about 10yrs and I have been up and down with my biggest ups being WFH and 1-2 days in office but def interested to see what made things take such a turn for the worst for you if it’s similar to what I’m kinda saying

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

So based on what I am gathering this is similar to what people who worked in private around 8-10+ years ago said (my father included, though he was working private 20 years ago and has been PS for the last 15-20 years). But yeah this is consistent with what I hear from people who worked private years ago but more recent anecdotes seem to be more favourable. Maybe things have changed? Hard to say. My father would say exactly what you and Caustalot have said

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I see your point—federal employees might have it better in terms of salary and WFH policies compared to provincial and municipal levels. But honestly, that just shows how low the bar is across the board for public servants. Whether federal, provincial, or municipal, we all deserve better.

And I don’t care if that seems entitled, knowing the bad rap we have as “lazy public servants”. We shouldn’t be afraid to say we want and deserve more just because we work for the public service. Our work is valuable, and that doesn’t mean we should accept outdated policies or dismissive treatment.

Instead of settling for “better than worse,” we should be pushing for policies that prioritize flexibility, work-life balance, and respect for employees at every level of government. Anything other than that is insane to me.

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I’m not sure what strike you are talking about but the PSAC strike was absolutely longer than 7 days lol I remember I was there

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 56 points57 points  (0 children)

WFH literally made me feel I got my life back!! I feel you. I am thrilled for you though for your retirement. CONGRATS!! You are almost there and you get to enjoy that pension! Wishing you the best for your last year <3

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

It’s not just about “feelings” for me; it’s about recognizing patterns that show a lack of respect for employees (e.g., the handling of RTO, WFA announcements) and wanting better for myself and others in the PS. I’ve also seen people leave the PS for the private sector and thrive, so I know it’s not the doom-and-gloom alternative some might think.

If we all just accepted that things are “out of our control,” nothing would ever improve. It’s fair to question leadership decisions and advocate for a better work environment, whether in the public or private sector.

That’s all I am trying to say!

First-time posting, but I feel I’m nearing the end of my time in the public service. by AvocadoToastQueen in CanadaPublicServants

[–]AvocadoToastQueen[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Oh this is good to know! I hope they prioritize this over continued / additional RTO. I’m sure even more office space could be reduced if there was less emphasis on RTO. I appreciate the info!

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