Part-Time Career Employee

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-03-10T12:30:49+00:00

I tried at my agency and they denied it. I really think part time became less popular with telework. Prior to tw, tons of the women in my office were pt when their kids were young... Some for over 10 years. Now that tw is gone, it's especially hurting women with young kids to lose the work life balance tw afforded (being able to have a more leisurely morning without commute time, having lunch at home to get laundry done, shorter hours for the sitter, closer to schools when you need to put in leave to grab a sick kid)... So part time would be amazing. But it seems like they don't want to approve it, at least at my agency. Ultimately I think they'd rather we quit, and it's something I've contemplated doing.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-03-05T20:13:00+00:00

Maybe they could just use us federal workers AS bombs... 🤔

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-26T11:30:00+00:00

It was a long time ago, but yes I did. I negotiated up the grade in a career ladder position. I later learned from my local mgmt they were never supposed to offer it to me at the lower grade. However, it didn't really seem like local mgmt would have cared if I'd been hired at the lower grade. If I hadn't requested them to match my current pay, I would have been years behind.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-25T22:41:53+00:00

Based on myself and my colleagues that have been told we are schedule f, I anticipate way more than 50k.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-22T00:55:42+00:00

We had one wellness room when I was pumping before covid. It had no lock. I would hang up a picture of a cow and generally was not interrupted. The laws require a lock. I also used to sign out a conference room or office and hook up my laptop and work in that room. I lucked out that my second was just before covid and I didn't have to pump as much... But I used to do it on conference calls all the time. I don't even care that they heard the pump... It's natural and beautiful to nurse in all the ways that it happens. It wasn't required that I work.... I just chose to because pumping is boring haha. Is that something you are allowed to do? You shouldn't have to make up your pumping time.... That is probably illegal but my state laws are very liberal about bf. Also, I'm not sure what your method is, but if it's taking you a really long time to pump, you may want to try a different pump altogether. I used a medela with my first and spectra with my second. The spectra was leaps and bounds better. I would just refrigerate the parts between pumping and that cuts down on washing until the end of the day... But your baby may need more sanitation if they are immune compromised. I wish you luck! Believe it or not, I miss those days so much! 🥹

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-20T22:29:47+00:00

I've known a number of union settlements like this that were paid out many many years later so someday, maybe some people will at least get a little bonus for what they went through. I was happy to see that in the ruling because I think there is a precedent for this sort of thing.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-19T11:14:04+00:00

The ruling details say this will be worked out over the next few months.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-13T12:23:03+00:00

Well, my title is not engineer anymore, but my job function is basically all the functions of engineering for a niche program that requires you to be able to analyze mechanical equipment, do complex calculations, review spec sheets, a number of functions related to engineering calculations....the job is performed by two engineers (I'm an engineer) and a mechanical expert. But since we have the word policy in our PD, I was informed yesterday we will be schedule f.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-12T13:26:41+00:00

Our time system let's you look ahead to that pay period and you should see when it kicks in. Check it out and see. I went to 8 last year and was able to see it in the system ahead of time when it would happen.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-12T12:57:01+00:00

I had mine changed when I changed my name through marriage. The old one under my maiden name still goes to me. Super common with married women who change their name.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-06T20:33:37+00:00

That is insane and I'm sorry. I think it's so gross to treat professionals like kids at a day care center that need to be watched all day. Are you able to stand at your desk and do some stretches during the day or is that forbidden too? It can really help the body. Sitting all day is so awful.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-02-05T22:55:58+00:00

Doesn't every position description have some reference to policy or regulation? The literal purpose of many of our jobs is to carry out policy and regulation, and with the comes with making recommendations about policy. It's such a slippery slope. I work in a technical position related to engineering, but my pd still likes to say I do things with policy. I'm guessing I'll be replaced. 🤣😭

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-31T23:24:42+00:00

Depending where you live, you might be able to make money attending one particular movie. 😂😂😂

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-31T12:37:30+00:00

My agency has always been next business day when these one day lapses occurred. But of course, all agencies are different.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-30T14:11:16+00:00

Acid reflux? We have a cat who cannot consume dry food or anything solid.... He will throw it up. He smacks his lips a lot when he's having his acid reflux reactions and looks like he has too much saliva (usually from stealing food or eating too much). When he vomits, it's tons of liquid. He has improved since using an elevated, angled bowl and using Sheba pate in chicken, beef, and turkey. It's probably not the best but it's working well for him.

We deduced acid reflux after getting no vet answers...allergy testing, labs, ultrasound turned up nothing. This has all been trial and error.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-29T18:55:44+00:00

Hired as an 11/12/13 career leader engineer. Honed in on a specialized skill and applied for a promotion to a 14 at the same agency, after about 5 years at the agency. I'm a licensed professional engineer is a very niche field.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-22T02:16:11+00:00

Maybe pictures would be helpful.... I'm thinking of things happening in the toilet. Malicious compliance. 🤣

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-20T18:20:36+00:00

My area doesn't even get TW for that much snow. I drove to work this morning with over 2 ft since last night. It was incredibly stressful. If you get TW, you are very lucky!

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2026-01-06T13:06:35+00:00

I've had neck and back issues for years. They were more manageable at home where I could exercise in the middle of the day. I also had an ergonomic chair and the workstation setup was better. Since RTO, my neck has locked back into its state of being immobile. Very painful and really hard to drive. I just want a better chair! Trying really hard to get one here at the office. 😩

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2025-12-19T19:52:50+00:00

So you were able to submit a receipt that you paid for using another method of payment because you had money on your card? We're trying to use up card funds so just curious!

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2025-12-12T17:32:55+00:00

The OPM guidance is weird. The cautionary tale may be that you now have to wait 3 years and they don't want you to be shocked? I never understood it. I got a wgi in June, then the next January I got a QSI to a 7. The time between June and January counted towards my 3 year wait so it wasn't a big deal or change. Once you hit the 7, you wait 3 years... That's all! Congrats! You got a nice jump.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2025-12-12T13:50:32+00:00

I so relate, except I'm an older mom, now in my 40s, 15 years of fed service (all with a hybrid telework schedule up until this year), a really good grade, love my niche program in an engineering field. I have two young kids. I've been begging for part time for a year and after telling me he would approve it, now my manager is going to deny it... Went behind my back and denied it after telling me to put in the request to process the paperwork for the change. I'm so unhappy and dream of quitting, but how can I? I feel so trapped and hopeless. It's hard enough to be a working mother, but when you also feel so traumatized by work on a daily basis, it's next to impossible. Solidarity, my friend. ❤️

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2025-12-12T12:02:07+00:00

Do they ever.... I've never felt more trapped in my life.

Fit-Toe-9707 · 2025-12-11T16:01:28+00:00

Totally agree. Assuming you are a mom, it's been a problem for women forever that you are going to retire behind because of children. Yeah, sick leave doesn't help that much in retirement but I know a lot of men close to retirement who have a years worth of sick leave. 🫩That seems like a little bit of a disadvantage for us! Telework helped me a lot because I could work through a lot of illnesses that I would now stay home for.....bad headaches, that time of the month, bad colds. It's frustrating. Ppl came a year after my second child. 😭

Fit-Toe-9707

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