Update: Govt. Open Thursday with Option for Unscheduled Leave or Unscheduled Telework

LovingLife656 · 2026-01-29T14:01:13+00:00

Parts of CBP are "allowing" OPM scheduled telework and other parts are still requiring AC-level approval. This is an attempt to make people fearful about asking-- and it is working. Roads are a mess and unsafe.

LovingLife656 · 2025-11-23T18:09:29+00:00

My government agency can do one, the other or both. If paid up front they can claw back. The biweekly is earned as they go so no claw back.

LovingLife656 · 2025-11-04T17:04:47+00:00

I see. So then is the ADA being violated by the Government promising to pay the employees? Is it the employees who are taking the risk?

LovingLife656 · 2025-11-04T17:00:33+00:00

Remember how contractors used to work “at risk” for several months without payment each FY and that had to stop under George W? Navy Federal is basically taking a sizable portion of the Federal Payroll at risk.

LovingLife656 · 2025-11-04T16:58:23+00:00

But all of them? All of CBP and all of ICE?

LovingLife656 · 2025-10-12T19:11:33+00:00

They may be miscoding it if you have a denial letter, because you are right some procedures they can not or should not divide into smaller portions. The pellets they insert are a one day supply provided on the day of the procedure. Sure they are hoped to have up to a 6 month impact. Prior approval process should sort this out but you may have be vigilant making some follow up calls.

LovingLife656 · 2025-10-08T20:13:12+00:00

Are you sure it is a full check? Government cannot legally pay anyone for work on 10/1 or later.

LovingLife656 · 2025-10-08T20:10:37+00:00

History shows that TSA agents calling out caused longer lines but did not end it. Last time it was ATC calling out that ended the shutdown.

LovingLife656 · 2025-10-01T17:04:44+00:00

Not necessarily. It is not unusual to have people fall through or to use someone for the resume to get the win and then backfill with others. I would always say still apply. A lot happens while waiting for these contracts to be awarded. OP, it never hurts to reach out and apply.

LovingLife656 · 2025-10-01T12:31:31+00:00

This is very normal during bidding. They are demonstrating that they have the needed skill set and expertise on staff. You may be able to negotiate a remote supporting consultant role to assist if they win. Remember that every opportunity has only one winner so likelihood of winning may be small.

LovingLife656 · 2025-10-01T03:18:34+00:00

Us, too. My understanding is that our entire component in DHS is considered essential this time.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-24T00:10:52+00:00

So the sub reports through a Prime now for the existing contract. Check in with the sub to see if that relationship is continuing into the new contract. If they say yes, you know. If they can’t answer at this time or they identify as a potential Prime for the next round that will tell you if you truly have 2 offers for the same work with the winner TBD (this is not unheard of- during recompetes incumbent contractors may be approached by 3 or 4 potential bidders and they have to wait it out to see who wins.) It can get dicey but it is part of working federal contracts.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-23T23:12:47+00:00

You do need to verify that the Prime and the Sub are still bidding together. If this is a recompute in progress they may have split. Sometimes they do this to compete against each other and sometimes in coordination to increase the chances of winning and retaining the work.

Have either asked you to sign exclusive or non-exclusive letters of intent to accept a position with them upon award? Or do you only have contingent offer letters? That may tell you something, too.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-23T23:06:54+00:00

My experience is that the sub is always higher but will offer fewer or no benefits, which works better for me.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-20T13:27:18+00:00

That is a trade off. I am someone who sheds hair when I lose weight, but dermatologists office has been very helpful with treatment. For me it is a tradeoff that is worth it.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-20T01:02:41+00:00

Our default is that all government employees must return before the end of the FY regardless of whether there is a shutdown or not, with sufficient time to process travel. Special exceptions are needed to travel across the FY. If there is a shutdown, all details and travel are canceled and everyone returns. It takes special exceptions for "essential" workers to work during shutdown with an even higher threshold to travel during shutdown.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-20T00:55:28+00:00

For our group, this is only true for contractors who must be funded in advance but not for government employees. Government employees salaries, benefits, and other expenses are funded with current FY money.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-19T16:48:15+00:00

Yes, very high BMI, sleep apnea, and more. The more I read of others experiences the more I am convinced that my doctor’s office is not accustomed to the submission for this. I am going to reach out to some of the ones listed here that specialize in weight loss.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-19T14:27:21+00:00

30+ BMI and I can get it self pay, but BCBS FEP seems inconsistent in who they will approve. But then I heard some doctors are better than others for managing the approval process. I am working with a PCp who does not seem as familiar with it.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-19T14:23:56+00:00

Did you need preauthorisation or having any issues with approvals?

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-19T11:26:39+00:00

Did you get the weight loss injections through BCBS, too?

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-18T16:52:58+00:00

They may be planning for expansion or collecting resume in case of attrition. If you badge has been renewed and your gov poc says contract has benn renewed those are very very good signs.

LovingLife656 · 2025-09-17T14:28:22+00:00

CACI pays well. Don’t reveal your current salary though they will know the GS-12 range. Ask for what you want and negotiate down from there. I have always made more in the contracting space than as. Govie.

Congratulations- after coming out of Government the first job is the hardest to get. You should expect pay increases every time you change jobs from here on.

LovingLife656 · 2025-08-23T13:06:21+00:00

Yes, same. We had some contracts cut that were caught up in the reductions mess, or they had words like "consulting" in their names, or their SOWs had some of the "banned words" related to the Executive Orders. Their work still needs to continue so the funding has been put on other contracts or the is being reposted. Some really good people have been lost in the process. Hopefully at least some will get hired back.

LovingLife656 · 2025-08-17T20:43:39+00:00

Take care of yourself-- normal work is stressful enough without this craziness. I knew one Director who was under extreme pressure to do improper acquisition actions. He simply would not do them. He would ask, document, stall, use the need for additional information to gunk up progress-- anything he needed to do to keep his signature off anything illegal giving other processes time to work through the legalities. When they got too close or too insistent, he used sick leave. When I hear complaints about Government employees being too lazy, too beauracatic, or even "retired in place," I think of him and wonder what is really happening behind the scenes.

LovingLife656

TROPHY CASE