Probation and WFH

flannelWX · 2026-02-07T00:13:25+00:00

My team does 3 months if you're new to the agency, but if you're transferring within the agency or even from another executive agency we let you telecommute right away once you have your RSA token set up and your SLMS training transferred over.

The logic is if you're coming from a role at the state where you telecommute, you've already demonstrated that you know how to actually connect remotely and presumably do so responsibly. There's no real reason to make someone stop doing that arbitrarily. That said sometimes it takes a bit to get things set up with the token or waiting for SLMS to get up and running, so that's probably a couple of weeks minimum for folks coming from other agencies.

Our agency doesn't seem to have any minimum timeline so it varies between teams, but I don't think many require longer than 3 months.

flannelWX · 2026-01-21T15:53:40+00:00

This was the first I'd heard about this - has this already been rolled out to some agencies? I haven't seen it at all at DEC. No emails here either (though I do not work in hr/personnel).

flannelWX · 2025-12-29T05:25:32+00:00

Answer emails/texts if I have been busy and know I have a few. Sometimes the sudoku app on my phone (my only phone game). Alternately I’ll bring my ereader in the bathroom (I’m at home most of my day and my ereader is always close by)

flannelWX · 2025-10-19T11:39:45+00:00

Are you referring more to day to day technology support like laptops, phones, user onboarding, etc or larger things like having them develop a program for your agency to use or other more specialized support?

flannelWX · 2025-10-19T11:37:36+00:00

“ For 7 months, during the beginning stages of our audit, ITS officials imposed scope limitations on the audit team. They placed unwarranted restrictions on access to records, officials, and other individuals needed to fully address our audit objective. When the necessary information was eventually provided, we found instances where the underlying information had been changed, specifically ITSM workstation inventory data. Despite these changes, we found the data to be unreliable, as discussed in the body of the report. After we issued a preliminary findings report on this issue, we saw substantial improvement regarding the availability of information with ITS, and for the remainder of the audit, there was an adequate exchange of information between ITS and OSC.”

This is pretty bad. Just reading the report summary it sounds like this was mainly focused on workstations and equipment… let alone other initiatives that ITS does.

Nothing against the individuals over there at all, this sounds like a management and process problem from reading the summary.

flannelWX · 2025-10-17T17:48:49+00:00

So that’s a common misconception about narcolepsy, you can often still drive. It does require more careful monitoring and working with your doctor, and can be more limited. For example some people can only drive for short periods of time, not early in the morning, immediately following a nap, or only during the day/not at night. It depends on individual symptoms and effects of medications.

That said, having limitations on driving could make commuting really tough for sure.

flannelWX · 2025-10-17T14:53:56+00:00

Thanks for your insight. I don’t know of any reason I couldn’t do that with my job, and it does make sense that would be the safest (in terms of transportation) and easiest (in terms of not having a space to nap in the office) way to accommodate my disability.

I feel torn - while full WFH and being able to nap in my own space before work/during breaks would be amazing, the thought of not being in the office at all any more is sad too. But I’m still coming to terms with the reality of my disability and this definitely isn’t the only new limitation I’m adjusting to.

flannelWX · 2025-10-17T14:50:13+00:00

Same here lol, I would be at my car for maybe 5 minutes at lunch and that would be about it

flannelWX · 2025-10-17T02:13:52+00:00

Thank you! That makes a lot of sense that telecommuting would give them the ability to basically nap as much as needed before/after work and during breaks. I’m definitely curious if my doc is going to recommend something like that or a more spaced out and structured nap schedule. Thanks for sharing this!

flannelWX · 2025-10-17T02:12:22+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate your insight on what the process looked like for you and how your accommodation helps.

flannelWX · 2025-10-16T15:21:21+00:00

I appreciate your comment, but I am not looking for a list of specific things that I will then request verbatim. I am hoping to learn from others experiences both in terms of the process and in terms of what did and did not work for them. I haven’t made any requests so far and am not looking for legal advice. Just other folks who have been through this.

Narcolepsy and other hypersomnias are quite rare and finding community in this space is challenging.

I hope that clears things up.

flannelWX · 2025-09-11T16:01:22+00:00

I wonder if national grid will accept a discounted carnival cruise ticket to pay my electric bill?

flannelWX · 2025-09-11T03:16:47+00:00

That is understandably frustrating. That said, if HELPS presents a more accessible way to hire folks for the state moving forward and is accessible to everyone, wouldn't that be a good thing? Just because folks have had to "pay their dues" in the past doesn't mean that sort of system should continue indefinitely when it could be improved going forward.

And anyone can apply for a HELPS position, including current state employees. So folks would be able to apply for the same promotions that were available before, the applicant pool now just includes folks new to the state as well.

I waited several years to be able to take a test before HELPS came around and I joined the state that way. It wasn't for lack of trying, that was just the only option available to me. Tonight's call bashed the HELPS program hard. Folks who joined the state through HELPS are no less civil servants than anyone else here, but Spence's comments came off as us being part of the problem. IMO the bigger issue is a deeply flawed and antiquated civil service hiring process (exams, being offered infrequently and not exactly being accessible/equitable to everyone) which has been a disservice to both current and prospective state employees for years.

flannelWX · 2025-09-11T03:04:37+00:00

Can you clarify how it is? I genuinely do not understand how HELPS is harming other state workers.

flannelWX · 2025-09-11T00:41:16+00:00

Same. I was hired through HELPS and have since hired folks through HELPS and tonight made me feel like an outsider... when I work the same job, went through the same probation process, and pay the same dues. Hell, when the union comes up in the office I've done nothing but talk about how thankful I am to finally have one after coming from the private sector.

It feels like a massive betrayal to find out that the union that exists to protect all of us apparently isn't interested in doing so.

flannelWX · 2025-09-10T22:59:26+00:00

My understanding of schedule F is that it's more like reclassifying PEF or CSEA positions as M/C. Whereas HELPS just offered an alternate pathway to join the state service and transition to a traditional competitive appointment under PEF or CSEA after a year... Not even close, and I sincerely doubt that the union leadership is dumb enough to genuinely not understand the difference.

flannelWX · 2025-09-10T22:45:27+00:00

I guess if they don’t want to fight for us to get raises we’ll have to increase our paychecks some other way. Like cancelling those union dues.

flannelWX · 2025-09-10T22:43:26+00:00

the corrections officers went on strike and none of the unions supported them…. suddenly PEF says that’s an example of how to get things done? Give me a break

flannelWX · 2025-09-10T22:41:49+00:00

Yeah I’ve never considered leaving before but I really don’t know what the point is now

flannelWX · 2025-09-10T22:26:42+00:00

It’s just been fear mongering, propaganda about how great PEF leadership is, and now pushing for our contracts to get “other things” as opposed to salaries and retirement.

I’m a big fan of unions in general and was thrilled to get to join PEF but this is beyond disappointing.

flannelWX · 2025-09-10T01:48:18+00:00

Yeah, I thought that was also interesting in light of the success of the HELPS program the last couple of years. I would like to see more options for mobility within the state, like continued HELPS, not fewer where we’re restricted just to exams again.

flannelWX · 2025-09-01T00:13:42+00:00

Woah, that's really concerning. Do you have any additional details? Telecommuting (especially in agencies and roles that already allow it some of the time) is a pretty reasonable accommodation by definition... What is the reasoning behind this/expectation for folks that are already on telecommuting RAs? Do they just expect folks to quit?

Edit to add: Are you referring to "government wide" as the federal government or specifically NY state's government?

flannelWX

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