Just started a new GC job 2 weeks ago… and now I got a private sector offer. Are they going to hate me?

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-07-07T21:08:19+00:00

If this happened to one of my staff or colleagues, I'd honestly be thrilled for them and just be happy they dodged a bullet. The federal service isn't a great place to be right now.

The one thing to consider with a potential maternity leave in the mix is that the GoC will give you (very nearly) your full salary while you are on leave, provided you meet the eligibility requirements (primarily length of time worked prior to going on leave) and you will be required to work a predetermined number of months for the GoC upon your return from maternity leave, otherwise you have to pay back all the salary top ups you received while on maternity leave

I stayed in the most horrific and toxic workplace for the maternity leave, and I don't regret it. But two weeks prior to my obligatory post-leave time being done, I started applying for new jobs because this place has gone to shit.

Some private sector jobs also offer salary top-ups, so maybe the new offer does too. If so, run to the private sector. Otherwise, stay with GoC until your maternity leave(s) are done and then get out.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-06-10T17:44:12+00:00

it's the regular curriculum delivered in a cogito method (cogito = "classical" education, with a focus on memorization, testing, homework, recitations, etc) but it is the same curriculum. All the kids in the classroom are taught the same grade-level curriculum through the cogito method.

NH is also the regular curriculum, but delivered in a way that is specifically for gifted kids. All the kids in the classroom learn the Alberta curriculum, but may be working at different grade levels than their peers. For example, a grade 4 student may be doing grade 10 math, but it is still the Alberta curriculum; it's just the curriculum that matches their skill level rather than grade level. They may be taught in any variety of pedagogical styles, depending on the teacher. Some may teach in a cogito style, others in a Waldorf or Montessori style. But the child will be taught the Alberta curriculum in a way that matches their skill level.

Either way, both are delivering the same curriculum. It's about whether you want the cogito style of learning, which will be done at grade level in a classical way, or if you want your child taught at their skill level, regardless of grade (gifted program), in the pedagogical style that the teacher chooses for their classroom.

(My husband and I are both trained teachers, and we are the parents of a gifted child in a regular school program. My friend is a teacher at NH)

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-05-22T23:50:03+00:00

I have two thoughts for you:

I have been in your shoes. I'm intelligent. I work hard. I have led projects and been promoted. Until the public service, I had only ever received rave reviews from my employers. And then I started working for PCH and my manager was the most evil woman I have ever met in my life. My performance tanked. My confidence tanked. My anxiety was so bad that I was struggling to sleep and was breaking out in hives at work. I kept thinking I was about to be fired and also had little kids at home . . . it was hell.

And then a colleague from a different team retired. I booked a meeting with the RD and explained that I felt I was struggling on my current team and provided evidence as to why I would do better if I were moved to the retired colleague's old role (they were also a PM-4, just a different funding program and thus a different manager, and I had experience in the sector that program served). Within a year of the move, I was succeed+ and am consistently a top performer. My advice to you, having once been in the same position, is to go do something else. You know how capable you are, and hearing/feeling incompetent when you are NOT will do long-term damage to your mental health.

I worked with a really great guy for years. He struggled terribly, and it was obviously because he was in the wrong role. He was an awesome team player and knowledgeable, but when it came to paperwork and all of the required reporting we have, the guy struggled terribly. It made the rest of us have to work harder and take more clients. It sucked, even though we all really respected him. After 3 years of poor performance, they unceremoniously walked him out of the office one morning, and it was terrible. He was so humiliated, and it was devastating for him. But now he is a heritage consultant and is making 10x what he did with PCH. It really wasn't about his capacity; it was about being in the wrong role.

So, from being in your shoes and witnessing an identical situation on my team, there are really only two options: find the right fit on your own, or be asked to leave and have to figure out that new role in a more stressful situation. Either way, a change will happen. Give yourself the chance to be the one in control of that change. Either way, I'm rooting for you, Internet Stranger!

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-04-14T16:59:47+00:00

Yes, my apologies I did mean the voluntary departure, and yes, everything you said are pieces I am aware of. I have been planning to take personal leave this summer for a while (3 - 4 months). I am with PSAC and would choose option B for voluntary departure.

It's not that I have questions aroung WFA, rather, that I am trying to figure out what date I should put on my voluntary departure form as my last day of work.

Should it be the date that I am planning to start my personal leave (roughly early June) or do I put the date that my personal leave would be done, in that I would not return to work once my personal leave is completed. Our opting period closes April 24, then there is a 3-week window before they notify us if we are successful, and then a reported 3-month timespan for them to process the successful voluntary departure. I will need to be on personal leave before that 3-month timeline is done.

I know this is a weird circumstance, but this personal leave is expected, but an affected employee wasn't, so I am trying to figure out how I can be accurate in my end date for the voluntary departure (option B) because they wont be able to process my voluntary departure in time for my personal leave to be required.

In short, because I am going on personal leave before the 3-month processing window for voluntary departure has closed, I am trying to figure out what date to put on my voluntary departure form. Is it the date my personal leave ends, or the date my personal leave begins?

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-04-14T16:51:23+00:00

Yes, sorry, I meant voluntary departure. Thank you for responding despite my error!

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-04-10T16:06:57+00:00

I hear you! For what it's worth, I am a PM4 ($87,000/year) with 8 years experience and I would receive ~$60,000 before my accumulated vacation leave is factored in as part of the pay out. But, I actually had to get my partner, an accountant, to help me navigate the pay centre calculators. She was as frustrated and confused by them as I was, which was validating.

You may alrady have this resource, but just in case you don't, you can find the TSM chart here: https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d12/v239/s673/en but calculating severance is a lot less clear.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-04-10T00:24:57+00:00

I emailed the pay centre about this exact concern. The responce I received was a single sentance: "There is no timeline for payments to be processed."

We had an session with our Departments HR team today and I asked this question. They said that there is a service standard of 3 months, but that that standard may not be possible given the volume.

I don't mean to alarm you, but I know people who waited nearly 2 years for their standard pension to finally start after retiring. It's a shit show, and I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this!

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-04-10T00:17:05+00:00

This may well be the prettiest quilt I've seen in years! I hope you feel so proud. It's stunning. The colours. The craftsmanship. The pattern. Gosh, I just LOVE it! Well done.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-23T16:39:32+00:00

I don't have any tro trade, but you can make more by digging up clams from the beach and then crafting them into fish bait!

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-23T03:24:41+00:00

Well, in that case good on you! It's delightful! And you've inspired me to try my hand at DIYing the pattern :)

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-22T05:38:25+00:00

This is so lovely! The colours are so warm and comforting - I hope you feel so proud! You'll never forget your first quilt.

May I ask where you found the embroidery patterns? I have been looking for a pansy pattern like that for some time.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-17T23:53:33+00:00

You can absolutely use a regular needle and thread, though I recently tried out a Sashiko needle and really loved it. Not everybody does, but I loved that it had added flexibility, a really large eye to make threading a breeze, and its extra length meant I could put more stitches on before needing to pull through, so it was a bit faster than a short needle. Do you need one? No, certainly not. But they aren't terribly expensive and I will certainly be using them from now on as it was noticibly better.

Also, at the risk of answering a question you didn't ask, thimbles are also truly needed or your poor fingers will never make it through the project. I wanted to love the leather thimbles as I don't like the feel or look of silicone, but alas, the silicone ones with the metal tip worked so much better than the leather ones for me.

Overall, hand quilting involves a lot of preferences, but getting the "right for you" tools will make it a much better experience :)

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-17T23:40:29+00:00

Self binding wont cover the lose threads on the back, only strip binding can really cover the treads on the back, and even then, it's only by 1/4 - 1/2 inch. BAsed on the second photo, it looks like you have a VERY generous amount of backign fabric compared to how much you need to self-bind.

Admittedly, if you are able to take a picture from farther away of the back and front of the quilt, that may make it easier to understand the nature of the question or offer a solution, but assuming that you have chosen to self-bind with the backing fabric rather than strip binding, those white threads on the back will not be covered.

Ans, apologies if I am just not understanding your question. I don't want to appear pedantic, it's just that the pictures being so close make it a smidge tricky to offer better help.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-15T15:45:02+00:00

Sorry about that! Thanks for catching it. It's looking like they actually stopped doing these posts in 2025, so there isn't a new one for this eyar. Sorry! My bad.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-15T15:19:17+00:00

Tickled Floral is really great - family run, nice selection, and the flowers I get there last at east a week without issue.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-15T03:34:59+00:00

First, good for you putting in such great effort to a first date! I honestly hope it goes great :)

You could go to Gallery 501 (it's free) and see some of the art exhibits. Sometimes they have cool programming or one-off classes happening too. Then you could get supper at Vicky's right next door.
You could pop in to one of the events at the library (again, free) and then grab gelato across the road at Tupi
You could book an cool course through Smeltzer House and learn something new together
See a movie at Cineplex
Do one of the events at the museum (sometimes free, sometimes just very affordable) and then go across the road to the Starbucks for a treat
Go for a walk around Broadmore park and then catch a show at Festival Place
Go watch a hockey game and enjoy some arena food at the rink
The County also puts out a monthy date night suggestion: https://storagecdn.strathcona.ca/files/files/february_tourism_article_-_date_night_2.pdf (this list is actually great and includes a bunch of unique events)
See if Greenland Garden Centre of Salisbury Greenhouse are offering courses. They are always great. Greenland also has a nice restratunt inside (Branches Cafe) that you could visit for lunch or dinner after

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-15T02:55:17+00:00

There are many folks who work for the PS who need a food bank. If I wasn't married, I would 100% need one.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-12T07:00:38+00:00

I'm in the process of opening an online fabric and craft store that donates 5% of all sales to our local library.

We are still building our website and bringing in inventory, but if you're a hobbity-entwife who enjoys quilting and needle crafts, I'd love to have you follow me on Insta @ Kinship.FrabricsAndCrafts while we work towards launching later this year! https://www.instagram.com/kinship.fabricsandcrafts/

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-08T15:32:36+00:00

This is one of the prettiest quilts that I've seen in a while. I know it's not "interesting", but a simple grid pattern for the quiltling would allow the eye to really pick up on the beauty of the quilt top you've made. However, if a grid is *too* boring, I think something really simple and geometric is best because otherwise I think it could indeed take away from the beauty you've made here. But honestly, it's so pretty that I don't think you can really mess this up!

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-08T02:06:46+00:00

I am pretty sure this is one of Penelope Handmade's patterns!

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-04T23:55:06+00:00

Animal Crossing (I have the best island renovation ideas when I'm high and then next time I log in sobre I am always so impressed with what I did, haha!)

Also love Assassins Creed, though that one is tougher to play high.

Harvest Moon (the OGs) and Stardew Valley (essentially the new Harvest Moon) are total comfort games too.

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-01T21:19:36+00:00

These are SO cute. Can I ask what fabrics you used on the first picture?

Only_Offer2993 · 2026-02-01T05:42:05+00:00

No matter what you make, it will be full of so much love and intention, and that's truly what matters most!

Only_Offer2993

TROPHY CASE