Government agencies have siloed communication. In some cases, agencies follow legal and/or OPM guidance strictly. In other cases, agencies use creative license to wiggle around legal/regulatory guidance. It is only a matter of time, before agencies start to compare what each other are doing. It would seem, agencies are accelerating their conversations around telework, and some agencies disingenuous use of telework locality determinations is only “just” being noticed.

Agencies have gotten themselves into a bind. Large recruitment efforts have been centered on offering workplace flexibilities. Locality pay determinations have been favorably offered for telework/remote staff to get locality pay for the official duty station of their employer, but they work in an alternative work site. It is only a matter of time, before the goose is cooked and things start to be audited. People who moved to Wyoming and fly into the city a few times each month, will get their Wyoming locality pay (+16.2% adjustment), and that is a big negative delta from the District of Columbia's locality pay (+32.49 adjustment). It is going to be sad, comical, and scary for some.

We are only in the beginning stages of this work place flexibility audit and/or fall-out.

Agencies are reviewing, updating, and informing staff of their Telework Policy changes in a piecemeal manner. I strongly suspect, as special interest groups (The DC Mayor, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) keep applying pressure we will all get more clear guidance. People vote with their feet, I have heard people say they were taking a job two GS levels lower, due to the fact they would get to work remotely. Telework or remote work is only tier one of the battle. Tier two is good faith conversations about locality pay determinations.

>up with it. I imagine that making people go back into the office with the commutes that they have will massively impact on employee retention and overall quality of life, especially considering federal employees’ relatively low pay. I’m glad the unions are fighting this, and hopefully most of us can stay remote/hybrid forever.

A full year of a long commute sounds horrible. Please, please, please think liberally about reasonable accommodations ("RA"). Let's just say, a little birdie told me: some folks have argued successfully they need a RA for telework because they can not wear a mask due to their asthma. Telework can be granted for medical reasons (i.e., asthma...etc.), since most agencies have a policy in place that folks need to wear a mask if they think they have been exposed to COVID-19. Heck, you might even have Anthropophobia. Just saying.

I went to school in Virginia. My math education was heavily dependent on my teachers commitment to teaching math. In some cases, I had teachers that didn’t enjoy math and gave little effort in their presentation of math concepts, formulas, etc.

Nooooooo

Do you see the federal government getting more competitive in their pay scales soon?

Teehehe.

Omg. Duh! That was my mistake. Thanks for cleaning up my mess smallteam.

That is CRAZY. Please document this with your ANC. I would also highly suggest, you speak to a WMATA representative, and let them know this has had a negative impact on your desire to ride metro. Metro ridership is down, I suspect WMATA will take this situation seriously because negative experiences have an impact on dwindling ridership. In response, WMATA might increase police patrol.

Sorry you had to go through this.

The Mayor has talked about how the school Resource officers (SrO) were principals eyes and ears for troubled kids. Principals now feel they are @blind” without them. Worst part is, the SRO’s have greatly diminished but there are still some. Imagine when we have none!

I am guessing you hangs not heard of “age in place?”. Stairs are cute until you start getting older. My dad swears the number one killer for old people is a slip downstairs. The impact might not kill them but eventually the broken hip, complications from an acute concussion, etc. will slowly take their life.

What. Tell us more, what was it like? Do you like the renovation?

Thank you so much for sharing! I read your post in its entirety and get what you are saying. I know communication is not just what is said but also how it is received. Often, I do not know or think about how what I say is received. With that in mind, I appreciate you sharing how my comment could/is [be] triggering.

As I am going to volunteer with communities experiencing homelessness this year, I will ensure to remember your comments to be supportive - and not trigger anyone. Do no harm and support is my intent.

Thank you for supporting me in learning!

While I respect your opinion, I do not agree with your claim that I am “gaslighting” anyone.

I can respect that based off your experience you are of the opinion that I was dismissing some of the issues the OP was/is having. What you might not have learned yet, assumptions often lead us to miscommunication. Asking intent is a tool to learn, specifically learn people’s intention. With that said: Gaslighting involves intent, if you ask me. My intent was to reassure the OP, not dismiss or belittle what he has/will experience, so accusing me of gaslighting seems hostile - at best.

I am sorry you suffer from PTSD. I hope you have found the tools or resources to manage your PTSD. And, I sincerely hope you and your children are doing well.

I will continue to learn, reflect, and offer advice.

You will be fine. Just find a schedule and take things one step at a time. I hope you have or find a network to support you. If you ever need faith in “good people”, re-read some of these comments. There are a lot of good natured people out there.

I hope you take advance of the shelters in our area. And, I can not say it enough, you are more likely to thrive not just survive when you deal with your trauma. Choose you and find a mental health therapist ASAP. Things will start to become a lot less foggy, hard to plan, and stable if you utilize mental health resources.

Best of luck!

The first thing you need to do is seek stability either physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Physical Safety

In terms of your physical stability, you need to hold yourself accountable and stay at one shelter. Allow the shelter staff to get to know you, point you in the direction of resources, and get used to creating a schedule for yourself. Most people need schedules to stay mentally stable. There is a reason for most of our lives we either are in school, commuting to either work or school, or working. You need to seek stable shelter and hold yourself accountable to staying in one safe place.

Mentally

I strongly suspect you have some trauma. You mentioned being abused in a variety of ways. I implore you, beg of you, please seek mental health help from a certified health care specialist (e.g., therapist). As people, we do not understand our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. Due to trauma your thoughts could be altered and you need a professional to help you navigate your thoughts. You mentioned suicidal ideation, at this point, you have to choose yourself; if you do not seek help, you may take your own life (just trying to be very clear, it is imperative you seek out a mental health professional).

Spiritually

When you do find stable shelter and take care of your mental health, you also need to recharge your spirit. Anxiety, stress, fear all impact chemicals in the brain. Those chemicals make our bodies tense up, some people can grind their teeth or others heart start to race when their really anxious. The impacts of that stress can negatively impact our spirits. You need a societally acceptable outlet.

Americans do not understand holistic healthcare. Your mental health is connect to your spiritual health. If you jog to release stress, learn how to express gratitude for being able to walk while you jog. Your spirit will feel better for being appreciative of “the little things.” You do not need religion, as most religions will teach you how to keep your spirit positive, you can keep your spirit up yourself. If you do not have religious beliefs, understand you must understand you will have to hold yourself accountable (there is no church, mosque, etc. to do it for you!).

P.S. - one person in the thread starting asking you critical questions. If I recall, he asked about your insurance issue that you have been putting off. It is likely, most people would have done something like change their insurance quickly after moving. I suspect part of the reason you haven’t is because either you are depressed due to your current situation. So again, I implore you seek stable shelter, mend your mind, and build your spirit. You got this!

It doesn’t have to cost much. Check your insurance, if you are “suffering” from depression (which makes you frown a lot) you can get Botox covered by most insurance plans. Medical billing is a joke. It’s like taxes, only the people “not” in the know pay. Sadly.

Nothing like seeing the “inside” of an organization to really understand its issues. At least, your friend left and is trying to make it better from the outside. Care sharing what you mean by “fall into bad habits.” Institutionally, I am trying to understand phenomena in police forces (e.g., burnout, taking bribes, unethical behavior).

Uh - isn’t there great morality issues with this organization right now?

I’m so sorry to hear of your experience. What are some of the issue at play, you have mentioned politics but is there more in your experience. I’ll be the first to admit police often deal with people who do not want them there but they are pivotal to our safety or common law system - bringing people closer to lady justice.

Contradictions should be valued for their insightful nature. Reddit is a forum and challenges peoples assumptions, opinions, or thoughts. How dare you….…total kidding. Totally agree with you! Lol.

I wish police had more mental health resources. I care deeply about how seeing the worst of society, at times, can negatively impact someone’s mental health.

Thank you for your service.

I hate to “pile-on” but I am curious as well. Like, what else does the OP want to know?