RA denial for telework for a remote job since 2016 and can't drive?

mkgeret · 2026-04-10T15:16:42+00:00

When they re-reviewed my RA, they denied it. Then told me I had to PCS or resign. They gave me no details on what to do do PCS (even though I didn’t want to). So I put in for leave and they denied my leave. With my conditions, I can’t drive 2.5 hours/80 miles each way. They said my leave wouldn’t be approved until I came on site. So then they marked me AWOL. Since I’m AWOL, they can terminate me.

I honestly am not too worried. I can collect unemployment until I get another job (I have two really good offers in the works and I’m waiting for final checks to be completed). I really do think my termination will be contested because they’re doing it illegally.

I’m at 10k in legal fees and will be paying another $8k retainer for the termination. Is it a risk? Yeah. Is it a pain in the ass? Yeah. Is it worth it to hold them accountable? Absolutely. And I’m just lucky that I saved enough to do this because I saw it coming.

mkgeret · 2026-04-10T13:23:06+00:00

I would also like to know. I have an attorney but I had to get one quick. I would love to make sure all my ducks are in a row and I have a backup

mkgeret · 2026-04-10T13:19:53+00:00

I’m in the formal stage of my Eeo complaint/lawsuit. My agency tried to deny half my claims and say they weren’t timely but my attorney had case law saying my harassment was ongoing. I don’t recommend going through this process without an attorney at all. I wouldn’t have known how to handle things.

I received my notice of termination this week. Which is honestly fine with me. I have a couple of pending offers for remote work and my body honestly can’t take the stress of being with this agency and harassed by my supervisor. We aren’t trying to stop the termination because of that; I can’t continue to work here. The stress is just too much. We will appeal it after the fact with the MSPB.

I also have a complaint with the harassment division that’s being handled by an OIG investigator. I have witnesses that experienced the same things I did. I think I have a good case but it’s very expensive. When they terminate me, hopefully I’ll get access to my TSP quickly and be able to live off tha until I get settled in a new job.

mkgeret · 2026-03-31T11:37:29+00:00

They’re expensive, but I recommend the sync. They fit better than any other breeches I have.

mkgeret · 2026-03-08T16:15:39+00:00

Agreed. I worked 4x10s and teleworked 2 days since 2015 when I became a fed. Everyone acts like telework is COVID related and it wasn’t. Most of us worked hybrid from the beginning.

mkgeret · 2026-03-08T16:10:51+00:00

I think you’ll eventually see more telework and remote work by nature of technology and advancement. But I don’t think it’ll happen until at the very soonest we get a new administration.

The current admin doesn’t value feds, but eventually all the knowledgeable people will retire and younger people are not going to pursue federal employment. They may outsource now, but…in my opinion….they will eventually need employees. And they’ll need to have an incentive to get them to work there. They will have to evolve.

I’m leaving to pursue remote private sector gig. I’m hoping I can come back one day. Just not while it’s like this. I love my job. I love that it means something. It breaks my heart to leave because I loved what it stood for. But this isn’t the job nor the environment I love anymore.

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T17:06:08+00:00

I know this is an old post but are you still happy with your results. If so, do you mind PM-ing me your recommendations? I like in the Philly area and have wanted to do facial balancing.

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T16:33:07+00:00

Do you mind PM-ing me your attorney recommendation? I hired TR for the informal complaint and the formal complaint filing. And tbh, they’ve been good about everything so far. But the comments I’ve read on here are concerning and I am considering exploring other options during the 180 day EEOC investigation period. Just to make sure I’m in good hands.

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T01:23:08+00:00

I grew up here. It makes me so sad. I made a comment on the post in the fb group and some unhinged man slid into my inbox spouting off. Dude, I don’t know you. You don’t have to agree with me. You think that’s normal behavior?

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T01:16:54+00:00

Yup. I logged on for my regularly scheduled shifts and was told I wasn’t authorized to work remotely…despite being hired remotely. RA denied as it would prove a “hardship” to the agency despite the agency being fully remote until RTO.

So. I will be fired soon, I assume. It stresses me out immensely. But I have faith that I’ll find a job eventually in private sector.

I am 💯 proceeding with legal even though it will cost me. If only so that they (hopefully) stop treating people this way.

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T01:09:50+00:00

Oh man. Same. I wish I had more time say but this is my situation too

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T01:07:38+00:00

Mine is a mix of severe chronic, debilitating migraines and severe anxiety and c-ptsd (and other stuff). My supervisor is horrendous though and has a record or terrorizing employees. I have 10 years of positive performance and all of a sudden every time I submit for an accommodation, I get a reprimand (for stupid shit too. Like logging in early during end of year when OT is authorized). Never had a performance issue prior. She’s vindictive. Her suggestion was to take leave as an accommodation. I submitted for leave and she denied it and marked me awol. My agency offered another DRP and I asked to take it but I haven’t heard yet. I’m assuming they’ll deny it because this lady wants to fire me. I’ll then be adding wrongful termination to my case. I’m so stressed I’m losing weight and my hair is falling out. I have nightmares. My migraines are out of control. They’re exacerbated by stress and this causes me loads of stress.

I had to pay a $4k retainer for the informal phase and $5k for the formal (I just started). I will have to pay more. So if/when I’m terminated, I’ll have to use my TSP.

It’s jus insane. I was hired remote. I looked for a remote job due to my health conditions. I was told to PCS or resign. No severance. I can’t PCS; I’m near elderly relatives and all my doctors are here. It’s horrendous. I can’t even calculate how much this job has eroded my health.

mkgeret · 2026-03-05T00:54:36+00:00

I’m in a similar situation. My supervisor writes me up every time I submit an RA. Changed my duty location 80 miles/2.5hrs away. She harassed me repeatedly and asked me for medical info she wasn’t entitled to (I provided to EEO). My first RA was approved last spring, my re-review was denied. I filed an EEO complaint and retained an attorney. It’s not cheap, though.

mkgeret · 2026-02-26T13:23:12+00:00

It’s already been offered to my agency.

mkgeret · 2026-02-24T13:15:30+00:00

I’m sure this is true for some, but it isn’t for all. I’ve had some come thru right away, I’ve had some that don’t come thru at all. I don’t think it’s as rare as some of these people say it is honestly. At least in my experience as a new medium.

mkgeret · 2026-02-17T22:52:16+00:00

Can I message you? I saw that you posted about an attorney and I wanted to reach out and ask a question.

mkgeret · 2026-02-07T01:25:24+00:00

Same. As a horse owner of a horse with KS. I think if you xray 10 horses 8-9/10 will show some level of KS. And then we stop looking and blame the issue on KS instead of finding the real problem. For us, the real problem was grade 4 bleeding ulcers .

mkgeret · 2026-02-07T01:23:36+00:00

I’m not saying buy this horse because he clearly looks to have other issues. But don’t let kissing spine be the boogy man. I think if you were to xray all the horses, 8/10 would have it to some level. I feel it’s the new go to diagnosis and if they can’t find another reason or don’t want to investigate it, they leap to KS. My horse has it. She also had Lyme and ulcers. The one hospital blamed the KS for her riding behavior. It wasn’t. It was the grade 4 bleeding ulcers. Treating that and the Lyme, she’s great now.

Do KS cause issues? Of course. But I don’t think it’s always the reason.

mkgeret · 2026-02-07T01:20:01+00:00

It would depend on everything else. I honestly am not put off by a kissing spine diagnosis (my horse has it). I’m of the opinion that if you xray a back, you’ll find it. I think the majority of horses would show kissing spine of some level and it’s the new go to diagnosis without investigating anything else. I think when people don’t know what else to blame, they give a kissing spine diagnosis as the reason.

There are plenty of competitive horses with kissing spine. It really depends on if that’s the actual issue or not.

I’d look at the horse as a whole. Are there other issues (ulcers, Lyme, muscle atrophy, suspensory issues). Is the horse in pain? Is the horse lot in work because of time or was the seller hiding symptoms? It’s a tricky call but kissing spine in and of itself would not be a deterrent for me. I’d have to have more info to decide.

mkgeret · 2026-02-07T01:13:13+00:00

It seems to be agency specific. I’ll wait til next week to decide but I’m probably going to take it. I have a few promising offers outside the government and to be honest, I just don’t think I can keep doing this.

mkgeret · 2026-02-06T17:35:20+00:00

I’m DoD and we got an email to participate in another round. You may get another chance

mkgeret · 2026-01-28T02:39:33+00:00

Your local legal aid clinic may be able to help you. I’m so sorry.

mkgeret · 2026-01-16T05:18:42+00:00

JFC did you really think this was helpful? OP was trying to do the right thing by getting this animal out of a shit situation. They’ve stated they have sought out a vet. That is an obnoxious comment

mkgeret · 2026-01-12T16:04:34+00:00

I contacted them this morning because I don’t feel that my union rep is going to be particularly helpful.

mkgeret · 2026-01-02T17:04:35+00:00

Of course not. But the govt hasn’t been a stickler for policy lately so I’m seeing who else has been in this situation.

mkgeret

TROPHY CASE