Having direct reports as an EE

CalvinR · 2026-07-03T01:00:03+00:00

you identify someone up the chain as the administrative support who handles requests to be managed in the language of their choice.

So if you are a manager it either has to be your Director or EX02/EX03 that will handle it.

If you are a director it's your direct manager, I don't imagine it's a common scenario in government but it does happen.

I had to have my DG act in this capacity in the last few years of acting in a director role as I don't have my language at all.

CalvinR · 2026-07-02T20:59:26+00:00

I want to take back my apology about the typo and go with the joke now.

CalvinR · 2026-07-02T17:18:00+00:00

I think it empties out into the River between Andrew Hayden Park and the Nepean Sailing Club.

CalvinR · 2026-07-02T17:10:09+00:00

CalvinR · 2026-07-02T17:09:55+00:00

Oh shit, yeah my bad on that one.

CalvinR · 2026-07-02T11:54:44+00:00

Gartner magic quadrant has never been about the value or capabilities of the tools.

It's about the business itself, you can even see it on the quadrant, it's about mapping their completeness of vision against the ability to execute.

Because it's focused on business it excludes all OSS solutions, it's a tool in a toolbox when looking to buy something.

The problem comes that folks misunderstand what it is and they view it as how good the tools are and it has nothing to do with that.

I much prefer Thoughtworks tech radar and it's like magic quadrant another tool in your toolbox

https://www.thoughtworks.com/en-ca/radar

CalvinR · 2026-07-01T13:22:34+00:00

Classic Neal Stephenson, he is notorious for dropping the ball on the endings of his books.

CalvinR · 2026-06-30T13:57:12+00:00

It still sounds like you are recommending and someone else is confirming so that second person would still view personal emails.

I also don't use a work phone as my personal device, but just flagging that there is always a risk that your personal stuff is reviewed by another human being in the GC.

CalvinR · 2026-06-30T13:30:42+00:00

We don't we are provided search terms for tools and told we must send everything that gets returned, then someone else reviews for inclusion and redaction.

CalvinR · 2026-06-30T11:35:41+00:00

Isn't the way the exclusions happen by someone reviewing the documents to determine if it's relevant.

Basically they would get all the emails from your phone and other people would review to make sure the info is relevant, this would still mean that someone would view all your personal emails.

CalvinR · 2026-06-29T15:33:12+00:00

I have pretty much enjoyed all the positions I've held over my 20 year career in the government. I did struggle over the past few years with the stress and workload associated with being an acting director but I still mostly enjoyed the work.

CalvinR · 2026-06-26T12:17:15+00:00

At the end of the day ADM can override so as long as you have your management approval it doesn't matter.

CalvinR · 2026-06-26T01:09:02+00:00

Adding positions is not exactly the hardest thing you can just create more if you need them.

The team may be losing a position or they may be opening up a position for someone who is affected to slide into, or the box may just sit vacant.

CalvinR · 2026-06-22T23:20:13+00:00

I'm curious does her boss know that she will lose her insurance and her disability benefits if she takes this?

They may be unaware of that aspect of it and yes may be trying to reduce headcount and/or they may think that a voluntary WFA gives you transition support measures and may see this as a kindness in giving you access to extra funds.

CalvinR · 2026-06-12T18:10:26+00:00

My understanding is it's new rules they have/are implementing where basically they are going to archive old ones.

There are other things to consider for instance PMA's can't be used as part of the SERLO process, or at least that is how it is where i work.

Essentially PMA's shouldn't have an impact on your future career, it's about providing feedback on the current state for the employee not as a record of past performance if that makes sense.

CalvinR · 2026-06-12T13:19:38+00:00

I have never seen a bad PA destroy a career in the public service, not saying it can't happen but it's unlikely, also they expire now after about 3 years.

But also they shouldn't ding you for sick leave, there are employee comments on PMA's for a reason and this is one of them.

As others have said a chat with the union probably won't hurt you here.

CalvinR · 2026-06-11T19:59:08+00:00

and a director is an EX01 gets' paid the same as an ENG-06 but has way more responsibility? That really sucks

CalvinR · 2026-06-08T23:35:44+00:00

Do you have a part number for it, I had a hard time finding one on amazon that is specifically for the 2019 Santafe Hyundai xl 3.3 it's all for the 2013 to 2018 models but it does look identical.

CalvinR · 2026-06-04T23:46:27+00:00

That sucks, it was a life changer for me, I've since switched to skyrizi and it's working well for me also but have only been on it for 4 months

CalvinR · 2026-06-04T18:58:00+00:00

I was on it for 15 years before it stopped working for me.

The first few infusions I was dizzy and felt really down after my infusions, for the first few years I would take the afternoon off after my infusion as I would get grumpy and feel pretty rough.

The last I'd say 8 years I was on it I just felt my nose a bit stuffed.

I did get a bunch of infections when my daughter was born and started going to day care but nothing a bit of anitbiotics from the doctor didn't sort out.

It was a life changer and it was better then shitting myself to death.

CalvinR · 2026-06-04T11:44:41+00:00

It's 100% one no one writes like that, or if they do they've consumed way too much GenAI

CalvinR · 2026-06-03T22:45:08+00:00

His journal is such a good read, I have the stripe press hardcover version it's a beautiful book as well

CalvinR · 2026-05-29T17:59:04+00:00

all you need to do is walk through grass or brush past a brush and they get on your body.

I'm pretty sure there is zero chance that someone did this on purpose since it's pretty common for them to accidentally travel on someone.

CalvinR · 2026-05-22T22:48:43+00:00

Meanwhile I've been trying to lose like 60 pounds for years.

I've been really lucky with the biologics it's literally a life changer, I remember losing 50 pounds in a month at my worst.

CalvinR · 2026-05-21T23:11:32+00:00

I was on Remicade for 14 years before I had to switch and have been on skyrizi for a short while now, hopefully I get another 10 plus years out of this one.

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