I took the buyout and have 7 months off until September. I've already taken a private position starting in May though. Will double dip until federal severance ends. Ironically my private gig will be more laid back with hybrid work from home so less demanding than USACE.

I was laid off when the company I worked for sold out to a large global company. I ended up better off than I ever would have if the company had not sold and I had stayed working there. Getting laid off was the kick in the pants that I needed. I had gotten too comfortable.

If you get laid off, take it as an opportunity. In fact, if you are that concerned about it, start looking for a new job now, while you can afford to be a bit picky. You may find your situation improved.

And some people are *****ing while getting an 8-week PTO cushion to find a job, where the truly ambitious will figure out how to double-dip. Cush job, cush benefits, and now... a cush layoff. Absurd.

Rebel Yell said:

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He is trying to highlight the human element in these layoffs.

OP - I am sorry you are going through this and that it is affecting your family planning. This happens in the private sector all the time. I empathize with your story because early in my career I adopted children from foster care and got laid off that same year. You will get through this.

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No one feels one ounce of grief for the pipeline worker etc...that gets laid off, but oh my the feds that smugly told people to learn to code, let's cry a river.

I'm not jumping for joy at anyone of them losing their job, but they aren't any more special than others in the private sector.

Who?mikejones! said:

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Best i can tell is that he's worked for the feds most his life, is trying to adopt some kids but won't be able to for 1 of 2 reasons, or both- the dems shut down the govt or doge fires him and/or shuts down his dept

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Yes, if I lost my job I'd lose custody of my foster children that I hope to adopt

Perhaps be pro active and find a new job

Ag_SGT said:

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I've been at USGS since 2019, prior to that I was with the VA for a decade. Between my jobs with the VA, USGS Department of the Army, and my time in the Army, I've done a lot of work for a lot of agencies. My worry wasn't for my job, it was for my kids. As you all root against federal workers, I was just a service connected Veteran who became a foster family. Politics aside, come this summer, I had hoped to adopt my foster children, that wouldn't have been possible if I was let go

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Welcome the world the all of us private sector folks have faced our entire career, and for some, like me, it's even more volatile.

I'm sorry for your loss, but your are not special just because you work for the Federal gov't.

Who?mikejones! said:

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Perhaps be pro active and find a new job

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I can't leave my area of Missouri until I can adopt, most all the jobs in my area of Missouri are either on Fort Leonard Wood or USGS. And sorry about word salad in my OP, I had a few last night after a rough couple of weeks

Never said I was special, just pointing out that we are people as well and you don't need to root for us to lose our jobs. I worked in the private sector for years prior to becoming a federal employee

Thats unfortunate and poor timing for you (not because of you).

I'm sure there's something out there that would suffice until you're granted custody, but, admittedly, I don't know hoe the adoption process works.

Good luck.

I can never understand this line of thinking where we can never lessen the government because

"that means someone is going to be unemployed"!!

"you can't cut that program it will kill kids!!"

same logic would be "we can never go to war because a soldier will die!!"

or building a highway system "but now there will still be crashes!!""

in what REAL WORLD does no one lose their job-

especially in the non productive sector of the economy!

Phatbob said:

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Imagine what you could do if you produced something!

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I produce geospatial data that the private sector consumes on a daily basis. What I do for the government isn't done by the private sector, that's one of the reason I like my job, we provide a service that isn't replicated in the private sector

Hell I stopped bringing personal items to my office due to risk of layoffs. Been through a lot of them and have had to tell a lot of people their jobs are going away. i just want to say Ok, and walk out the door. No packing boxes or asking to get anything from my office.

AnScAggie said:

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Fireman said:

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Give me a couple of examples of waste or fraud you saw in your department, including employees or co-workers who collected a paycheck and did nothing, and what steps you took to eliminate the waste and I will root for you. If you saw nothing or did nothing, then unfortunately you are part of the problem and why most are celebrating someone finally standing up for us, the American taxpayers. Hopefully you can respect that many of us wrote checks to the IRS last year for 6 or 7 figures and we are literally sick to our stomachs seeing how much waste and fraud exists and how this money was completely wasted.

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Bingo...

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While en employee at the VA I was able to automate a lot of our work thru scripting and web based mapping applications. Because of the work I did there they were able to eliminate one of the GS13 positions.

I dated a girl who's dad did that. He owned his own company which did that work.

Frankly, I thought he was in the cia.

HDeathstar said:

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Hell I stopped bringing personal items to my office due to risk of layoffs. Been through a lot of them and have had to tell a lot of people their jobs are going away. i just want to say Ok, and walk out the door. No packing boxes or asking to get anything from my office.

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The reason I'm a federal employee is because I was laid off from my private sector job, I'm very familiar with the process

Who?mikejones! said:

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I dated a girl who's dad did that. He owned his own company which did that work.

Frankly, I thought he was in the cia.

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I can guarantee you that they don't do it at our scale

Thats fine. I don't think this thread is about whether or not it's a proper role of the federal govt or if it's something the states or private industry should handle.

So, the federal business is just going to grow forever, unfettered?

Corporate America goes through cycles of growth and detraction as the economy flows.

The federal government should have similar constraints to make trade offs versus just grow and grow.

Also, the federal budget should be constrained by revenue and GDP. No more than 18-20% of GDP.

I think most of you are making assumptions about me that just aren't true. I voted for Trump in part because I agree whole heartedly with his goal of reducing waste, including shrinking the number of federal employees. I was only pointing out that while a lot of you all are calling for our heads some of us work our asses off. Were it not for the kids, I would have taken voluntary resignation offer but as mentioned, I can't leave the area and it's a very remote area where the vast majority of the jobs are either on post or USGS. I was simply pointing out we are people too and have complicated family problems just like folks in the private sector.

WaldoWings said:

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DrEvazanPhD said:

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Long time oil and gas guy here.

The last president told us he wanted to put my industry out of business. I have kids, family, all of whom depend on my income.

Where were you then?

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He very well could have been deeply concerned for you in your hard times. You are assuming he was not. When my good buddy that works for FMC Energy has gone through this, I have been very concerned and spent alot of time on the phone with him and put up alot of prayers for him and his family. I don't work in oil in gas. The bottom line is no one should gloat about misery loving company when it comes to people you don't even know. Some people in the gvt have some reaping coming from their prior sowing. Some people are just getting a raw deal just like what happens in the private sector. For the raw deal people, this really sucks like it does in the private sector. Fair enough for the dead weight, though. But assuming people deserve their bad fortune or were rooting against you in the past is not right and gloating in people's misfortune goes against part b of the Big Guy's command to love your neighbor as yourself.

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Exactly

Ag_SGT said:

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I think most of you are making assumptions about me that just aren't true. I voted for Trump in part because I agree whole heartedly with his goal of reducing waste, including shrinking the number of federal employees. I was only pointing out that while a lot of you all are calling for our heads some of us work our asses off. Were it not for the kids, I would have taken voluntary resignation offer but as mentioned, I can't leave the area and it's a very remote area where the vast majority of the jobs are either on post or USGS. I was simply pointing out we are people too and have complicated family problems just like folks in the private sector.

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At least you're not a probationary employee. Maybe they'll see you're actually useful and you'll be spared the ax.

spider96 said:

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Were you eligible for the 8 month buyout offer?

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I was, as mentioned I can't leave my area of Missouri until I can adopt my foster children. We are in a small rural community and most all the jobs are either on post at Leonard Wood or with USGS. If I'm not employed we lose custody of our foster children.

DrEvazanPhD said:

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Long time oil and gas guy here.

The last president told us he wanted to put my industry out of business. I have kids, family, all of whom depend on my income.

Where were you then?

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Tap the breaks on your fear mongering and perpetual victimhood; American Oil and Gas boomed the last 4 years.

Ag_SGT said:

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I think most of you are making assumptions about me that just aren't true. I voted for Trump in part because I agree whole heartedly with his goal of reducing waste, including shrinking the number of federal employees. I was only pointing out that while a lot of you all are calling for our heads some of us work our asses off.

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I've seen your posts. You are a good poster. I am rooting for you and recognize that all federal jobs are not wastes of resources.

But a lot are. More especially in D.C.

redcrayon said:

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So you have military retirement, benefits including health insurance and VA disability? Now imagine getting laid off with none of that.

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I don't have a military retirement, I was only in the Army for 5 years. I don't have to imagine what that would be like, in 2010 I was in a private sector job, did not have any VA health benefits and was laid off when Northrop Grumman bought out our small GIS surveying company.

Praying for the OP and those foster kids. It is a good reminder that there are families impacted. Sounds like OP isn't as concerned with the job cut but more so the impact it has to the foster kids and their adoption plans. End of the day, this is more of a problem with the social services requirements versus anything DOGE is doing. I am sure those kids are in a great situation and it would be a shame to remove them. I am glad my kids don't get taken away if I lose my job.

Sorry to read that. I hope you bounce back quickly. Sounds like you were collateral damage.

Ag_SGT said:

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redcrayon said:

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So you have military retirement, benefits including health insurance and VA disability? Now imagine getting laid off with none of that.

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I don't have a military retirement, I was only in the Army for 5 years. I don't have to imagine what that would be like, in 2010 I was in a private sector job, did not have any VA health benefits and was laid off when Northrop Grumman bought out our small GIS surveying company.

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Well at least your 5 years military service will add to your federal retirement.

10andBOUNCE said:

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Praying for the OP and those foster kids. It is a good reminder that there are families impacted. Sounds like OP isn't as concerned with the job cut but more so the impact it has to the foster kids and their adoption plans. End of the day, this is more of a problem with the social services requirements versus anything DOGE is doing. I am sure those kids are in a great situation and it would be a shame to remove them. I am glad my kids don't get taken away if I lose my job.

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Thanks, were it not for the kids I wouldn't be so worried. If this happened a year from now I could easily move for a job, but right now I'm stuck

Quote:

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Well at least your 5 years military service will add to your federal retirement.

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Yes, I had to buy that time back though, you don't get it for free

Ag_SGT said:

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10andBOUNCE said:

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Praying for the OP and those foster kids. It is a good reminder that there are families impacted. Sounds like OP isn't as concerned with the job cut but more so the impact it has to the foster kids and their adoption plans. End of the day, this is more of a problem with the social services requirements versus anything DOGE is doing. I am sure those kids are in a great situation and it would be a shame to remove them. I am glad my kids don't get taken away if I lose my job.

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Thanks, were it not for the kids I wouldn't be so worried. If this happened a year from now I could easily move for a job, but right now I'm stuck

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This really sucks OP, best of luck. Job related **** hit my family hard during covid, it's not a good place to be.

Sorry a lot on this board don't understand nuance and process. Or go by the mantra that because something bad happens to them, someone else, or in some other industry, it's justifiable and the right way to do things. It's lazy thinking, I would try to ignore them, they don't discuss in good faith. And bleating about the waste and savings as this reckless slash and burn saves... essentially a rounding error on the budget. A budget that isn't balanced and increases the deficit. This is all 100% political, team sports.