Forest Service Reorg - Progress or Politics

[Justabirdwatcher]

I feel like this is my life every day. Not sure if I’ll have a job for 8 more years until my first day of retirement eligibility if not. Half expect to show up one day and my login won’t work.

DOI largely isn’t eligible for union representation, so I know nothing about that stuff. What I do know is that I’ve volunteered thousands of hours during my career, received numerous awards recognizing efforts above and beyond my regular job title, because that’s what it took to get the job done. But now that folks completely outside my chain of command and with zero understanding of my job or what I do day to day are mandating downgrades to my performance rating based on arbitrary quotas, while asking me to absorb the work of 3 now-departed colleagues, those days are done. Not going above and beyond anymore. It’s not sustainable and there’s no point. They can replace me with some of these kids that need instructions on how to pee outside and can’t drive off pavement. That should go well.

If you still have 8 years to go until you're eligible, then you're way too young to be ragging on "kids who need instructions." Leave that to the boomers. They perfected that art.

I'm so glad I don't have 8 years. Not even 8 months. Still going above and beyond though because the resource deserves it even if the admin doesn't. Killing our motivation is exactly what they want.

 

[noharleyyet]

Buzz is my business agent..

 

[El Jason]

Buzz is my business agent..
View attachment 412282

This is funny, but sadly true. A coworker was (rightfully) disciplined for doing this exact thing.

 

[Bonasababy]

If you still have 8 years to go until you're eligible, then you're way too young to be ragging on "kids who need instructions." Leave that to the boomers. They perfected that art.

I'm so glad I don't have 8 years. Not even 8 months. Still going above and beyond though because the resource deserves it even if the admin doesn't. Killing our motivation is exactly what they want.

Something to look forward to...from my perspective, the dedicated NR professional working for people who work against the interests of the resource can be just as if not more effective after they retire--by getting active in advocacy and politics...not partisan per se, pro NR politics.

 

[TOGIE]

This is funny, but sadly true. A coworker was (rightfully) disciplined for doing this exact thing.

"rightful" is in the eye of the employer.

better ones shouldn't give a shit IMO

i have lots of co workers that peace out around 2:30 or 3 because they have no late meetings and slam lunch in 8 minutes at their desk.

i prefer to do the opposite, 1.5 hour lunch at the gym and leave later.

 

[El Jason]

"rightful" is in the eye of the employer.

better ones shouldn't give a shit IMO

i have lots of co workers that peace out around 2:30 or 3 because they have no late meetings and slam lunch in 8 minutes at their desk.

i prefer to do the opposite, 1.5 hour lunch at the gym and leave later.

Rightful is actually in the eye of the contract. It specifies when breaks may taken and you have to be available by cell phone.

 

[TOGIE]

Rightful is actually in the eye of the contract. It specifies when breaks may taken and you have to be available by cell phone.

exactly. tomayto tomahto.

can't get bent out of shape if an employee is within their contract. and yet so many do.

most often it's employers getting bent out of shape because "that's not how we've always done it"

most of the orgs that think that way are still in the stone age and descending into irrelevancy

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

As a 30+ year supervisor, I can tell you that most agencies have it in their policy when an employee's lunch can be taken and that doesn't include the hours of 3-4 pm. Nor are they technically allowed to combine the two 15-minute breaks they get, or add them to their lunch time. Again, technically. That said, I have an employee on 4-10's (not typically allowed) and an admin who takes an hour sanity break mid-day instead of taking her breaks or her lunch. They are happy and productive. Why the hell would I want to screw with that?

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Something to look forward to...from my perspective, the dedicated NR professional working for people who work against the interests of the resource can be just as if not more effective after they retire--by getting active in advocacy and politics...not partisan per se, pro NR politics.

I know many who are. I'll have 36 years in soon and IMO that's long enough. Time to go fishing and hunting and if the opportunity to contribute in other ways presents itself, I will consider it. But I'm proud of my body of work over those years and will leave with zero regrets. Someone once asked me what I thought the coolest part of my job is, and after giving it some thought, I replied "that you can see my work from space." I like that.

 

[Nick87]

This is funny, but sadly true. A coworker was (rightfully) disciplined for doing this exact thing.

I tried the exact same thing myself, didn't fly.

 

[BuzzH]

Agency got a beat down by the arbitrator regarding telework.

Arbitrator orders Forest Service to roll back return-to-office requirements | Federal News Network

An arbitrator has ordered telework and remote work restoration for nearly 20,000 Forest Service employees, but the agency still has time to file an appeal.

federalnewsnetwork.com

 

[Salmonchaser]

Starting to loose sight of the fact this administration was unquestionably moving to sell all our public ground to the highest bidder and lock us out.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

Starting to loose sight of the fact this administration was unquestionably moving to sell all our public ground to the highest bidder and lock us out.

Well they better get cracking on it. They are starting to run out of time.

This Admin couldn't even manage to get FS employees to return to office. But yeah, they are going to be selling the Bridger Teton NF any day now.

 

[SAJ-99]

Lee will become the senior member of the Judiciary Committee if Rs retain the Senate. So if he takes the job as Chair he will have to step away from chair on Natural resource committee. That news isn’t as good as it sounds as he can do a lot of damage to public lands on Judiciary. And then there is also this idea…

Mike Lee floated as possible contender for Supreme Court if there's vacancy this summer

Utah Sen. Mike Lee is being floated as a possible contender to be appointed to the Supreme Court should a vacancy arise this summer.

www.ksl.com

 

[Treeshark]

They are starting to run out of time.

I hope the many business-conservation groups that have capitalized on this admin’s fundraising tailwinds have saved some of their money.

If (when) Congress and/or the Presidency moves left, it’s going to be much harder to manufacture the crisis needed to sustain current income levels.

 

[Drake4]

Agency got a beat down by the arbitrator regarding telework.

Arbitrator orders Forest Service to roll back return-to-office requirements | Federal News Network

An arbitrator has ordered telework and remote work restoration for nearly 20,000 Forest Service employees, but the agency still has time to file an appeal.

federalnewsnetwork.com

That's about as one-sided ruling as I've ever seen from an arbitrator. Most of the time both sides at least have a resemblance of a somewhat arguable case.

 

[WyoCoalMiner]

I hope the many business-conservation groups that have capitalized on this admin’s fundraising tailwinds have saved some of their money.

If (when) Congress and/or the Presidency moves left, it’s going to be much harder to manufacture the crisis needed to sustain current income levels.

NRA wrote the playbook. Many seem to be following it to a T. Hope they don't end up in the same position as the NRA because some of them also do some really good things. Kind of like the NRA did early on.

 

[Treeshark]

NRA wrote the playbook. Many seem to be following it to a T.

Yep, exactly what I am seeing as well. It’s effective until it’s not.

 

[BuzzH]

Yep, exactly what I am seeing as well. It’s effective until it’s not.

The assault on public lands doesn't stop when the R's lose the house and senate...they have no shortage of dumb ideas.

 

[Treeshark]

The assault on public lands doesn't stop when the R's lose the house and senate...they have no shortage of dumb ideas.

I agree, but duping people into thinking that Yellowstone is about to be sold to the Chinese government unless they donate money gets significantly more difficult.