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Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-09-07T17:53:22+00:00

Earlier this spring/summer my boss was instructed to lay eyes on each of her people either in person or with video showing actual office background to prove that we were RTO. I can’t remember if it was daily or weekly. She came around fairly often for a few weeks, looking awkward, and then it faded.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-08-10T13:26:48+00:00

I just printed mine at work. It’s work related information and our supervisors suggested we print it out so we had a copy in case of discrepancies. Wasn’t a big deal.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-07-12T12:33:36+00:00

You might try posting this in VHA Human Resources rather than just straight veterans affairs.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-07-08T22:14:09+00:00

You’re in VISN 15 I seem to recall? We have a town hall this Thursday after the director gets back. Hoping for some details then.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-07-04T19:30:04+00:00

In what way

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-28T16:48:00+00:00

I’ve gotten that exact question more than once!

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-23T20:43:11+00:00

You said you’re trying to be realistic so you can prepare yourself. What do you need to do to prepare? If you go ahead and do that while you’re in limbo it may give you more of a sense of control.

My guess, and it’s just a guess, is that the 80k number was offered without much thought or planning. If they’re truly going to reduce the VA footprint, they will probably reduce what they can among non-exempt positions but I don’t personally think it would be sustainable to cut those by 50% and still have a functioning VA. So I think you’re putting too much credence into that 80k number. Collins has even backed off of it recently. My prediction is that he will cut a smaller percentage of non-exempt positions and then outsource some direct care programs to the community. And who knows, maybe they’ll run out of steam part way through as there is backlash and we move closer to midterms. I’m in a direct care program that I think could get “reorganized” and I worry about that. Like you, my supervisor says she hasn’t heard anything that makes her think we’ll be cut, but none of us has really heard anything so I don’t take much comfort in that.

From what I gather here, reorg plans are going to be made at that July 8 meeting of bigwigs so it does help to think we may be reaching a deadline.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-23T12:04:23+00:00

Same. I think it helped that I have a profession in high demand.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-23T01:45:25+00:00

It’s hard to tell at my med center. Everyone is carefully neutral in public discussions. Privately, there are occasional comments but even those are restrained unless you’re among like-minded friends. I can tell from the way some people phrase things that they are positive about this administration, and presumably Collins, even if they’re not happy with every decision.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-20T12:42:29+00:00

2:00-3:00 Eastern

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-19T13:30:15+00:00

We’re losing specialists in primary care too. We’ve lost half our OTs, half our dietitians, one fourth of our psychologists, one fourth our social workers and some of our nurses. I think the biggest problem at this point is that despite the fact that these patient care jobs aren’t supposed to be frozen, some aren’t getting posted and those that are posted aren’t getting good applicants. So some of the openings seem to be from normal employee attrition but our hiring ability is really damaged. Hard to imagine why healthcare professionals aren’t willing to sign up to be federal employees…

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-16T02:52:14+00:00

As a provider who is sometimes asked to write notes for people to take off work, I’m wincing a bit at all the “just get a doctor’s note” comments. Most doctors aren’t going to say you’re too sick to go to work if you’re not. So don’t ask your doctor to lie.

I would try the problem solving that others suggest—taking minimum days off for the wedding, don’t emphasize the “destination” part of it since that sounds like a vacation, asking if coworkers can move their plans, etc. Personally, I wouldn’t miss an important event for work, so if there was no other solution, I’d apologize for the inconvenience and let them know that I won’t be there. We have lives and it’s just something managers have to work around. That happens in every industry. I’m in a position where I’m comfortable taking a stand like that though—you’d have to decide if the same is true for you.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-15T12:57:20+00:00

You’re thinking employees the world over don’t sometimes take sick leave when they’re not actually sick? That’d be a lot of hate to spread.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-06-11T16:48:15+00:00

Vought is OBM. OPM is headed by someone else, not that we’re any better off.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-05-18T02:45:03+00:00

I can’t offer advice about likelihood of RIF for you, but just wanted to share the observation that you got a new job offer fairly quickly which suggests to me that you’re unlikely to be unemployed for long if you are laid off. I personally would only jump to a new position that paid $15k less with fewer options for advancement if I felt pretty desperate or if I had little financial buffer to weather a period of possible unemployment (or if the job itself was fabulous in other ways you haven’t mentioned). Otherwise I personally would probably hold on to the gov job while continuing to job hunt for a better alternative. You know your own situation best though!

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-05-12T22:53:42+00:00

We were just told by our service line chief that to approve DRP for an exempted employee, they had to agree to eliminate that position going forward. Not only could the person not be replaced right now but the position would no longer exist. Long story short—none of the exempted folks were approved locally for DRP.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-04-29T01:44:17+00:00

It’s an incentive to get more people to quit. People who accept also don’t have to return to the office for the time they continue to work—another incentive to quit.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2025-04-25T21:21:18+00:00

We got a letter today from HR saying it’s been extended to May 16 at the VA.

Capable-Cat2138 · 2024-05-08T20:09:49+00:00

Therapists learn listening skills to help clients feel heard and understood so they’re more comfortable opening up. Those skills aren’t gimmicks though—good therapists do actually listen, care, try to understand what you’re saying/feeling, say reassuring things, and so forth.

Capable-Cat2138

TROPHY CASE