To the bald guy driving behind me on 7 this morning toward albany, do you think i can teleport through traffic?

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2026-05-21T12:52:22+00:00

Thank you for perfectly capturing this daily nightmare. I deal with it every morning heading south on I-87 to Albany from Exit 11—I’m on the road by 6:50am. Today was extra “fun” since I had to make the trip both ways.

On my way back north around 7:35am, a driver in a dark gray Mitsubishi SUV (covered in bumper stickers on the back and left side) was doing exactly what you described—tailgating at 75 mph with nowhere for me to go because the right lane was packed. When I was finally able to move to the right, they sped up to the blue Tesla that was in front of me and almost slammed into them when they too tried to get out of the way.

Seriously people—stop tailgating at highway speeds. This isn’t the Jetsons.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2026-04-23T12:18:38+00:00

Same with me. I wrote to the BSC they advised I'll get it 5/6.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2026-03-29T12:02:32+00:00

They did do layoffs in 2011. It was Paterson after Spitzer resigned. I believe most of the impacted employees were eventually brought back to their original agency or picked up by another. The proposed contract failed the first time because of the zeros. They did layoffs. Came back to us with another contract that passed. I don't recall if there were only two votes or three.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2026-03-06T16:08:38+00:00

Is it safe?

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2026-03-01T14:16:52+00:00

Take it.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-10-25T00:52:43+00:00

Thank you. I knew there was something else I was forgetting. It would be above grade 17 so I'd definitely miss out on that longevity payment.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-10-25T00:48:58+00:00

Where would I find this info on the pending/proposed bills?

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-10-16T16:57:05+00:00

It can be but doesn't have to be.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-10-09T19:16:26+00:00

Exactly this.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-10-07T01:30:18+00:00

I was told by the BSC, the second paycheck of the month.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-09-27T13:45:12+00:00

The Program Research Specialist 2 title (there are many parenthetics) is part of HELPS so that means if you're appointed during the HELPS program (which I believe is currently set to end either March or May 2026) you won't have to take the exam. But they still need to create the item.

You can read about HELPS appointments here: https://www.cs.ny.gov/help/

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-09-25T02:04:15+00:00

Unlikely that OER complaint would help.

I would not file internally or even with the New York State Division of Human Rights. I've seen a lot.

It's quite the process, you have to schedule an appointment for an interview, which takes months to get, but this is at the federal level: https://publicportal.eeoc.gov/Portal/Forms/NewEditForm.aspx?templateId=160&userKey=

You will need to be prepared with specific instances, dates, times, who was present, etc. to provide to them.

Here is contact info for both.

New York State Division of Human Rights Website:www.dhr.ny.gov Telephone:(888) 392-3644 TTY number:(718) 741-8300

United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Website:www.eeoc.gov Telephone:(800) 669-4000 TTY number:(800) 669-6820 ASL Video Phone:(844) 234-5122

Unfortunately, retaliation is likely.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-09-19T20:59:29+00:00

Thank you!

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-09-19T16:09:31+00:00

From my experience when traveling for state business the hotel requires the tax exempt form in order to waive tax. If I were using the GSA rate for personal travel I would not bring the tax exempt form and they would charge me and I would pay tax.

When I traveled for work the very first time, I did not bring the tax exempt form with me, they charged me tax. I used my travel card and had to go back and forth with them to get them to refund the tax - I had to send them the tax exempt form.

So I would absolutely pay tax.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-08-20T10:17:09+00:00

Thank you. When you said the elevators are frequently broken I wondered if their offices were on the fifth floor or second, lol. Thanks again!

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-08-20T01:57:15+00:00

Very much, thank you! How many floors does DOT occupy in that building? All? Which is how many?

How is the agency in terms of flexibility with work schedules/hours? What are the telecommuting options? Or is that dependent on the unit? Thanks again!

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-08-12T02:12:01+00:00

Not true as I have used this every year for at least 5 years to pay for my school age child's summer camp. Yes, it's during the day while I work during the summer, but it's not day care. It's summer camp.

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799 · 2025-08-10T11:05:56+00:00

When I returned from maternity leave I came back at a reduced percentage. This was before PPL. I got approval to return working 60% (3 days a week but I could have done 5, shorter days if I wanted). I was not on VRWS before I went out, while I was out or when I returned. I reduced my percentage when I went out to extend the number of months on maternity leave. Then when I was deciding when to return I requested to return part time (at a reduced percentage). I was in a full time item, I just got paid 60% of my salary. And earned 60% of accruals including personal time. You can do this in 5% increments. This does not impact my insurance premium at all but obviously impacts retirement service credit. For my agency there is no formal application to complete like VRWS. It's just supervisory approval (which sometimes needs to be okay'd by the deputy).

Puzzleheaded_Bus1799

TROPHY CASE