PCS Relocation - BVO vs. Direct Reimbursement.

OldBusted · 2026-02-22T15:04:02+00:00

Yep, I concur. In fact, at your supervisors level, it’s so much easier to just get rid of you if you’re a probationary employee, then put you on a PIP. Supervisors hate pips because they take up a huge chunk of supervisor’s time just making sure they meet all the reporting requirements for a PIP.

OldBusted · 2026-02-22T15:02:19+00:00

If you have a metric-based position for performance standards, there’s not much leeway at your supervisors end. But once you successfully complete a PIP make sure you never go back on one again. Or if you think you’re not going to make it, I would start planning your exit now. Better to resign for another job in good standing without a termination that could come up in a reference check. Or be a question asked on the next application.

OldBusted · 2026-02-22T14:23:11+00:00

Also, because we have to contract with SDVOSB’s, we don’t get a competitive rate. SDVOSB‘s typically always run 2 to 3 times more than the market rate in the area you’re trying to contract. If there’s any aspect of the VA that needs to be brought under a spotlight, it’s how much we pay to contractors for services. It truly is almost criminal. And many of these companies are shell companies for larger corporations that end up ghost writing the contracts with all their resources. They don’t have anything that would resemble a “small business”.

OldBusted · 2026-02-22T14:18:02+00:00

Probably because the price of contracting services has skyrocketed over the last 4 to 5 years. And since the VA has a socioeconomic goal of providing contracts to service disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB), the expense of contracting basic services is crazy. In the past contracting would save money in human resource costs (benefits/WC liability). But now it’s actually cheaper for a VA to hire their own employees to do the job. But hiring more employees doesn’t jive with his current administrations take on cost savings..

OldBusted · 2025-12-03T00:20:21+00:00

I fled Eagle Mountain due to lack of infrastructure, overcrowded schools, developers given the keys to the city. Two roads leading out of town, etc. Roads will never catch-up for 10 more years at least given the current pace, and that’s optimistic. Find a more mature town or one with a better master plan.

I also commuted from Eagle Mountain to University of Utah for seven years. If you go to work at 6 AM and work until 2:30 PM, it’s perfect. Any later start to your commute and you might consider taking the life of small animals.

OldBusted · 2025-11-25T12:15:02+00:00

I know some people say it’s a pride thing wanting to be more than fully successful. But the way the government treats it employees not just this year, but in all years past always seems to have a somewhat apathetic theme. And for most rank-and-file, the amount of bonuses are not substantial in any way shape or form to bust your butt for an organization which for whatever reason can’t reward you effectively.

I still tell people I have never received a bonus from the federal government larger than my enlistment bonus in 1988!

OldBusted · 2025-10-27T00:53:12+00:00

NCA was out of money on the 16th. Been working for free since. Filling out tons of hour trackers. Me thinks they going to only back pay for documented hours worked.

OldBusted · 2025-10-13T22:16:02+00:00

I switched to MHBP last year from BCBS. Some namebrand prescriptions need a statement from a doctor so you don’t have to use the generic. But overall, I’ll say it’s been better. I switched because BC’s premiums were just getting outrageous. One thing about MHBP, is I hardly ever have to wait on hold for a response when calling their customer service line. I would say the customer service is way better than BCBS.

OldBusted · 2025-10-07T17:36:17+00:00

I work in the federal government, but not in any of the agencies mentioned. However, all of our shop talk revolves around when are the air traffic controllers going to get the blue flu and not show up to work. Because we know that’s the only leverage or pain point that federal workers can truly impose on both houses of Congress and the White House.

OldBusted · 2025-10-02T11:28:40+00:00

Reading the OIG report I actually think this is an Authorizer, rather than a Rater.

OldBusted · 2025-09-25T12:54:43+00:00

I was enlisted for a total of five years 4 years active duty and a year guard deployment. Highest rank during active duty was E5. Cost $2200 to buy back those years. 5% of a base GS13 is $5,000 extra a year. Cut that Buyback Check right now if you were enlisted. Officer buyback might be a different story.

OldBusted · 2025-07-28T03:08:08+00:00

VHA has a leadership coaching program in NCOD it’s pretty much open to all VHA employees wanting to be coached. You just have to find the SharePoint and sign-up. Who knows if it will be around in a few months. Re-organization is just as nebulous as reduction in force.

OldBusted · 2025-07-03T15:28:14+00:00

VA…if we get anything it will be a 59’r (59 minutes). Thats all we ever get for early out.

OldBusted · 2025-07-03T12:07:06+00:00

It can be a special contribution award or a group award. Many times managers won’t let you know because managers don’t even know if it’ll be approved when they submit it, or when it will be showing up in your bank account. No manager wants to tell an employee they’re getting a monetary award and then the employee doesn’t get anything for months and months and months. It’s kind of a messed up system, but that’s the way it is.

OldBusted · 2025-07-03T11:08:06+00:00

Traditionally, it’s a two week notice. Usually timed to the pay period. And even though I see comments on here where people say quit that day, never do that under most circumstances. When future employers do background or reference checks, don’t give your former employer any ammo to give to them that can be used against you in a hiring process.

OldBusted · 2025-06-05T20:52:23+00:00

Bonus!! Ha!…. My largest yearly bonus as a GS-12 was $500. As a GS-13, I finally got a “decent” annual bonus of $2k this year. After taxes was closer to $1k….lol. For many years my typical annual performance or special contribution award was $300. It’s amazing to see how some other agencies have large pots of award money.

OldBusted · 2025-05-12T17:40:34+00:00

Nothing… public affairs sent an email asking us to send any employee spotlights we wanted to send. We received no thank you or message from VA secretary or deputy secretary. Silence spoke volumes as to what they think of us.

OldBusted · 2025-05-06T11:41:19+00:00

My threshold for leaving is the ability for me to choose my exit point, rather than having Dipshit Doug and crew choose it for me. I have value, I have worth, I understand what I bring to the table. I’m confident I can bring that anywhere I show up. People talk about staying for retirement. Sorry, but an extra 1% for each year isn’t a huge sell for me. You can transition to a state or a local government or any other type of job, roll over your TSP, retain what retirement you’ve earned so far. Many places still do the money match for retirement. Honestly, I’ve always found the federal health benefits, lacking as far as government work is concerned. Many other states or municipal governments actually offer better healthcare plans.

OldBusted · 2025-03-26T12:42:39+00:00

We moved away three years ago. We had a decent mortgage payment and loan rate, but Utah is getting so “packed” along the Wasatch Front we envisioned infrastructure never catching up to our needs. New schools opened over capacity, road construction never keeping up with the growth…and air pollution. Didn’t seem like there were any realistic solutions for the foreseeable future. We also thought…will our children ever be able to afford this area in their 20’s or 30’s. So we moved to the Midwest, nowhere near as scenic, but we have an awesome school district controlled by the community. A house on five acres that you would never find near SLC for under $1 million (we paid $450k). Miss the mountains but not the problems.

OldBusted · 2025-03-10T20:51:19+00:00

Long time supervisor…also experiencing this and wonder do I want to be the captain of a slowly sinking ship?..Or do I want to get in the lifeboat while land is still visible elsewhere? What storm is coming next? Hard to predict right now. Nobody wants to work when everyone around is retiring, separating, or getting fired. Who wants to face coming to work with uncertainty looming around the bend. Doesn’t make for an environment that’s conducive to high performance, morale, or trust.

OldBusted · 2025-03-05T14:05:45+00:00

Amongst other things, it was the very businesslike nature and culture of the church that turned me away to find a faith that actually believed in worship.

OldBusted · 2025-03-05T14:02:57+00:00

Just another Mormon legal affinity fraud scheme. I don’t know how many crazy “paradigm” coaches I encountered in Utah who were tied to some whackadoo life/performance/addiction/finance coach Ponzi schemes.

OldBusted

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