created by worklife321 on 03/02/2025 at 13:39 UTC
29 upvotes, 13 top-level comments (showing 13)
When I first received the email from OPM offering a buyout to federal workers who do not want to return to the office full-time, I thought it was a fair and compassionate offer. That would be a great option for some people. But the lack of communication, clarity, ability for signed documentation, questions about the legality of this… it’s difficult to remain optimistic. I’m reading that EM has a small team of young engineers executing the investigation/audit/plan, if you will. I absolutely know there is always more to the story, you have to take media reporting with a grain of salt, to say the very least. But when there is an Information vacuum, you read what you can get your hands on. Conservative friends, make it make sense. I agree the federal government is bloated, we have too many layers of bureaucracy, and there is room for cuts. But DOGE is creating a lot of unnecessary fear and uncertainty because of the way this is being executed and the lack of communication. Federal workers in support of this administration and these impending cuts, I would love to hear your thoughts, as I sincerely want to have a more optimistic outlook.
Comment by gringao_phl at 03/02/2025 at 13:55 UTC*
50 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I just want to make this point that there's a lot of anti-fed stuff in here, and understandably so. From agency waste to dei nonsense. HOWEVER, let's remember, there are hundreds of thousands of Republican, conservative federal workers who bust their tails to provide services and safety to every single American, every single day. From engineers to healthcare professionals to public safety.
Comment by yeahbutforrealtho at 03/02/2025 at 14:01 UTC
17 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Not a Fed but an exercise in "trimming the fat" needs to be surgical. Otherwise we may end up cutting away some good meat, or cutting a finger off in the process.
I wish that would go about this deliberately and *legally*. Otherwise the inevitable barrage of lawsuits will be too costly and bog down the system again.
Comment by tanknav at 03/02/2025 at 14:05 UTC*
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Career uniformed military and civil service...recently retired. I've seen so much inefficiency and so many dead end or otherwise useless workers (mostly civil service), I applaud any and all attempts to downsize. Off the top of my head I would guess military could downsize manpower by 20% and the civilian workforce by 30%. Cuts this deep would have to be focused heavily on mid/upper management and bureaucratic overhead at the Pentagon and Commands. Base level activities need a lighter hand in such cuts.
I cannot speak to other federal departments/agencies similarly other than to question (in certain cases) their existence in the first place.
Comment by martlet1 at 03/02/2025 at 14:45 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It took my dad 3 hours to get through social security lines. Six months ago. And when he did get though the woman in the phone just hung up and he had to reenter the wait again.
Also my daughter got a letter telling her to come to the irs in STL. They fixed their error and said she would get a pin to make everting right. She come home a week later with a letter telling her she needs to come to the irs to meet with them again. It was the same thing again. This happened four times. Finally we just hired an attorney and it stopped. (Victim of fraud).
Comment by alrightbudgoodluck at 03/02/2025 at 18:07 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The issue is not complicated. The workers that don’t want to return to the office were simply offered a buy out. That’s it. If they don’t want to return to the office and they want to end their careers, federal workers and pursue occur elsewhere, then it gives that person some severance pay. I’m really not understanding the tone here. There’s no ““ making sense of this”. It’s not difficult. Doesn’t sound like this post is written from a republican.
Comment by linuscatt at 03/02/2025 at 18:58 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
The roll out has been so chaotic and degrading that it makes people not want to take it. If it has been rolled out thoughtfully and seemed “official” more people would take it seriously. There is no “keeping good workers” or trimming the fat. It is entire departments and agencies being gutted and mass RIFS expected.
Comment by AITAH_Tired_OF_IT at 03/02/2025 at 20:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Im a federal employee in a hybrid federal civilian/military position. I think what is happening is good and was needed. It is messy, but sometimes that’s what needs to happen before we can clean and organize.
Comment by Altruistic-Earth-666 at 03/02/2025 at 20:37 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Leopard are my face
Comment by Expensive-Recipe-345 at 03/02/2025 at 13:47 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This belongs over at r/federalemployees[1] it’s asked and answered daily there from people with all types of political affiliations
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/FederalEmployees/s/aVkIkyUGM9
Comment by MathiasThomasII at 03/02/2025 at 18:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Federal employees work at the service of the public. A buyout is too generous of an offer imo. Could be doing what’s being done with the FBI and USAID.
Comment by FatnessEverdeen34 at 03/02/2025 at 14:16 UTC
-1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
My dad is a federal worker and he would love to see this
Comment by pm_me_ur_anything_k at 03/02/2025 at 15:38 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Current government employee and this trimming is badly needed. The unnecessary people not only do nothing but also impede my ability to get my job done. I’m all in on it.
Comment by No-Feedback7437 at 03/02/2025 at 14:49 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
We need major changes in the federal government. There's too much corruption