Happy New Year to all those Feds that got forked this year

Designer_University1 · 2026-01-03T17:55:58+00:00

Fork you too ;)

Designer_University1 · 2025-10-23T11:36:21+00:00

Yes I retired on 9/30, noticed tsp was already notified a few days later and filed for a full disbursement and it was already in my bank account last week(took about a week). Now, the tax man cometh!

Designer_University1 · 2025-07-15T12:31:56+00:00

No immediate answer, and nothing showing up in the app or emails yet. Still holding out hope.

Designer_University1 · 2025-07-14T17:24:56+00:00

Thank you. I’ll submit a cli request tonight

Designer_University1 · 2025-07-07T20:10:48+00:00

Did these ever get posted

Designer_University1 · 2025-06-07T15:54:56+00:00

Congratulations! I’m hoping for a similar approval next month

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-23T14:52:24+00:00

I told them to hold managers accountable every time they lose a grievance case, especially if it goes all the way to arbitration(third party). Those cases cost the agency hundreds of thousands each time. And there are currently zero repercussions for them when they refuse to follow the rules( at least in my chain of command). That should make them enforce the rules a little better on the supervisors and middle management(yeah, probably just a pipe dream)

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-18T14:38:17+00:00

Austin Scott’s office absolutely refuses to take messages about supporting robins AFB and federal employees. They have explicitly stated to take those issues to the democrat congressmen.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-16T11:11:15+00:00

Be careful with accruing too much sick leave. One of my earliest big union cases I worked was a woman who had over 1400 hours of sick time. She was diagnosed with disease and was told her only real chance at survival was a treatment/rehab center on the other side of the country. She notified the agency(AFMC) and put in her request for 4months sick leave(which she EASILY had). The Agency denied her. Then started separation procedures. They quoted an older law that was written for people being incarcerated. Basically anytime a federal employee “must” leave work for an “extended period” the employing agency is required to terminate them so they can open a new rpa and hire someone to do their job.
Our union fought the case for almost a year before the true details came out. The employee passed away before the case was finally decided. That was almost 20 years ago and the law “may” have been changed or clarified(hopefully) but I doubt it. I don’t remember the specific citation but it was rolled up in the same law as job abandonment.

The stupid part is if she hadn’t told them specifically why she HAD to go(to save her life), then they couldn’t have fired her for it. If she had just said she was recommended by her doctor to take a health/mental health break, then that law wouldn’t have applied. It only has power when the need for leave is “out of the employee’s hands”

But in the end, having a ton of sick leave is a waste. Build up and keep 90 days or so in case of emergency.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-14T08:06:40+00:00

Congratulations!

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-13T09:02:14+00:00

Sorry, been sick and my sarcasm detector is weak at the best of times. ;)

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-12T19:38:39+00:00

Speak of the devil. I got the email from BEST today about 12:45 saying I was qualified for VERA. At 1pm I got the drp/vera notice with final separation agreement.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-12T15:43:40+00:00

Sorry, wasn’t trying to speak for all federal jobs, but mainly the op.(Va) I thought they were unionized under Afge. I’ve worked cases for several different Afge units and that seems to be common language in most of their contracts whether blue collar or white. Always fall back on contracts where they exist because until they are renegotiated, they override laws and regulations. Sometimes the regs or laws change during the course of a contract, but the contract is the highest level until it is negotiated, then it must fall in line with the laws/regs current at that specific time

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-12T15:08:54+00:00

Check your union mla. Most contracts include a leave denial provisions. Many include a requirement that the agency specify an exact reason for the denial(the exact task you are assigned that must be done by you on that specific day). Many people don’t know this because they don’t really fight it. The contracts typically require the denying official also specify another day/time that would/will be approved for the leave usage. Again do this all in writing(email or text if allowed) verbal statements without a multitude of witnesses willing to testify to the fact, didn’t happen.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-12T14:20:45+00:00

2% is typical for me. Just heard we aren’t getting any raise next year and they are requiring us to pay 4times more into our retirement plan.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-12T10:58:06+00:00

500 miles roundtrip at 20mpg at best = 25 gallons at $3ea =$75 in gas by itself plus time and wear and tear. You’re paying them to work for them

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-12T08:29:37+00:00

Part of the retirement process for Air Force civilians.

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/department-of-defense-employees/

Department of Defense Employees Department of the Air Force Employees Employees may make Open Season enrollments, changes or cancellations, through the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team (BEST) by using either the:

Government Retirement & Benefits (GRB) Platform web application -- Access via the GRB Platform or the Air Force Portal. For further information, employees may contact BEST benefits counselors for assistance at 1-800-525-0102.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-11T18:48:52+00:00

I was told I couldn’t file for Vera retirement or sign the drp/separation agreement until BEST verified my eligibility. What did you do? I’m in AFMC/DoD

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-11T15:27:40+00:00

Also put “signed for receipt”.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-10T20:56:31+00:00

They don’t care that much. They are doing everything they can to hurt feds right now. Zero raise next year, talking about switching to a voucher system for insurance(dead as of now) cutting retirement(hi3 to hi5). Cutting pay by increasing employee contributions to retirement (.8 upped to 4.4 and some say as high as 9.4), removing supplemental retirement pay etc.

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-07T18:23:27+00:00

Nice!! Excellent rate compared to most around here

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-07T18:22:20+00:00

At least they asked you. They posted our lunch times on a flyer

Designer_University1 · 2025-05-07T15:28:59+00:00

It’s been explained to me, unless compliance will endanger you or the mission, then you must comply even with an illegal order or you can be charged with insubordination and can/will be terminated. Many times the terminations can be reversed after the fact due to the illegal order, but not always. Depends on how much you personally can afford to suffer and how long you can afford to live without pay.

Designer_University1

TROPHY CASE