I just moved across the atlantic for a civilian Federal government job that is honestly pretty fucking awesome and fulfilling job and 4 days in I’m worried about whether this dickhead is going to fire every new employee in the entire government. Spent all I had to come to rural Northeast lol
We’ll have each other if no one else will.
I’m polishing my resume, even though I know that’s what they want, because I don’t have the heart to stay in it anymore. I don’t think I’m on the chopping block myself (hell, I might be, who knows), but they’re going to enshittify government work so thoroughly that I’m just bowing out. And the funny thing is I took this job because I saw a recession coming and I wanted to be stable. Funny how that worked out.
I did the same: moved public after burning out private sector. Was relieved to be free of the whims of market forces. But realized belatedly that federal jobs may be mission focused and not profit based, but they are exposed to political forces and not market forces. So disappointing, because I really think federal jobs are the closest thing to what jobs “used to be” / decent employment with good protections.
I’m experiencing the same anxiety—I’m out of probationary by a while, but not sure I can handle arbitrary bullshit that makes me worse at what I do while also inconveniencing me and making my life worse. Problem is, I’m not eager to go back to private sector dictatorship either. Guess I’ll need to make a memecoin and hope it works out?
I don’t know your role or circumstances, but If you’re out of probationary period, I’m almost positive you have nothing to worry about and you’re pretty much untouchable.
I’m concerned because I’m a new employee on probationary period and was literally targetted by the admin today because ‘I’m the easiest to fire’. You are like most others in my office who are worrying, I really don’t think they can do much to you. Trump can try to go after the people beyond the first few lines of defense but he’d have to meet enormous amounts of legal pressure. They are trying to terrorize you but you should be stress free.
No I think you’re correct. But it makes me sick to my stomach re: the probationary thing, and I suspect that even if I’m safe, there’s going to be a lot of fuckery to make the job unpleasant. The scum heritage dude that got OBM is on record as wanting federal workers to “live in a state of trauma”.
Anyhow, I’m mostly commenting in solidarity and because it makes me happier(?) to know that I’m not alone in the specific anxieties we’re discussing. I hate the position that you’re finding yourself in, and I’m hoping that what we’re discussing does not come to pass. Hang tough, as much as you can.
I just got in so I’m on the probationary period.This is the first full time job I’ve had in 16 months and I’m so burnt out from job hunting and I really really doubt I can get something as good in the private sector given the previous 16 fucking months. It’s supposed to be a good job with literally all of the elements that would make a job good.
It’s the best job I’ve ever had, literally can’t think of anything more fulfilling unless there was something out there with 10x the pay. It truly feels like a cosmic travesty that this is happening to me.
What we’re hearing is probationary period doesn’t matter; we’re all at-will employees now and they’re going to be culling the numbers across the board.
Honestly, I don’t think it will happen. I’ve otherwise been pretty nonplussed given my situation, I just try not to read about this stuff.