For DoD, what do you think that the return to work outcome will be? I have an employee who is phenomenal and full remote out of Colorado. The initial job offer for this person was full remote role as is case for many in our org. Thoughts on impact?

I think we are going to see a case-by-case basis with these types of scenarios. While I do believe this is a way to provide some attrition to the very large government workforce, they will want to still maintain the massive amount of knowledge that some of these employees bring to table.

I think it's best to keep calm until things are clarified. Elon has talked a lot about obliterating big parts of the federal government, so that's the stated goal. But it's unclear how much of this is the shock and awe razzmatazz they promised and how much will be actual policy.

my office has old fluorescent lighting that gives me a headache within the first hour. bad ergonomic desks, old chairs, old hardware and software. my computer takes 5-10 minutes just to “warm up”
I work in a large room with cubicles, I can hear keyboard clicking, all day carrot chewers, farters and burpers, all phone calls, personal or not.. the shared washroom has a constant poo explosion from someone with a terrible diet. No white noise, we are open to the front so we can hear everyone who comes in. I can’t stand it. at home I work in natural light, with a comfy chair, soft music playing, in a warm room and I can get more done in one day in comfort than I can get done in an office of chatty chattersons. The tension I feel in the office is insurmountable. I am an introvert by nature so it’s a horrible place for me.

Folks will need to relocate or quit. Their roles will not be backfilled. This is part of the plan to reduce the fed workforce. I’ve also heard rumors new civ hires who started after Feb 2024 are the chopping block as well.

I agree with Audit Associate 1. It is a game of wait and see. I would take into account the employee was hired as a remote worker not a regular employee with the teleworking perk. So I would argue the contract involved. This also might be a scare tactic in order to accomidate a "forced attrition" goal. Just remember you hired a great employee as a remote worker. I would stay with that and see what happens.

I work in VA and we have entire stations that are 100% remote and spread all over the country. This is going to be a major and very expensive mess. Many don't have an office to go to and to do that will require spending out on an office and outfitting it, etc. We've been notified to expect to be assigned to the nearest one and that full remote that can't will likely be dismissed.

I am a Union Steward for my agency. No changes can be forced anytime soon. OPM has to give guidance to the DOD which hasn't happened yet. The DOD needs to write an instruction to the lower commands. The AFGE is prepared to file an injunction as soon as that instruction is signed. The next steps depend on what your local bargain agreement currently is. My local already has a telework agreement with management in place. So it would have to be renegotiated. Long story short is that if you are a active in your local more that likely it would take 2 to 3 years in the courts before anything can be agreed on. By that time this administration will be on it's way out the door and give up.

I agree that many who are currently working remotely will need to treated as a case by case basis. I sadly am caught up as a former worker who for two (working on 3 now) years looked to come back to Federal service. I was given an offer and now am back to looking again. The first year of changes is unpredictable and we all are stuck with wait and see.

Looks like us union workers are not safe for much longer either!

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/latest-memos/agency-return-to-office-implementation-plans.pdf

If there were the littlest bit of brilliance to apply to this rollout (and let me just get in front of all the Office Space quips to come) if, in fact there is any rollout (vs. a half blind strafing run) they could remote into the network servers and create a telemetry program, showing who is steadfast and who MIGHT be slacking (Remember. "Innocent until proven guilty"). I told my director in October 24' how I planned on contacting the headshed of Defense Personnel & Readiness to petition for my job to be eliminated (Had to wait because they're political appointees, and the election might have made it die in their inbox). Of course the director asked "Why would you do that?!?" and the shorthand was "Integrity", but I followed with "I have emailed you SEVERAL times about the idleness among staff, how you're biased & complicit with abuses of official time. Plenty of hands that can do my job, so this give them plenty to do since I come to work and hit the ground running all day (because, again, the network server will show where the diligence is/isn't happening), while they screw off AND screw up...almost daily. 20 years in Fed service, disabled vet and am so disgusted hearing how Wal-Mart management gets lampooned when they are actually getting it more right and tight then any Federal agency I've been part of.

So if the teleworker/remote employee has the stats to prove their stalwart work ethic (eg, Call logs, lo-jack pings and gas receipts that match the routes they claim to be taking, and not just repeatedly upchucking "I was in a meeting" but not able to produce minutes from it) the privilege should remain/be reinstated, but only on a case-by-case basis.

And no, screaming "I have people skills! WTH is wrong with you people!!!" is not a hail Mary

I have worked as "telework" and "remote" as state government employee. Both were worded as "at will" and could be terminated. The difference was that as a teleworker, I kept my office space and I logged in to my desk phone and computer from home. As a remote worker there was no office computer or office phone. It was a completely independent setting.

I think they will work it out for the people who were hired as remote workers. Unfortunately, the telework benefit has been abused a lot by a few and for now we all lose out. I definitely miss my one day a week where I don't have to commute 60 miles but I understand why there's an issue with teleworking being overused.

What is Job

TRUMP hired the Inspector General of the Interior, Mark Greenblatt, during his first Presidency. Trump praised and thanked this gentleman for exonerating him in the clearing of Lafayette Park on December 9th, 2021. TRUMP fired him! Make it make sense!