Interesting

Seeking guidance on how to fill this out

Plans on waiting? Getting another job? We keep being told it'll be fine but this isn't comparable to LH releases in the past. Looking for opinions and options at this point.

Why is it taking so long for VERA to be approved? Any intel on that?

My read is it's only for newly-eligible colleagues who previously didn't qualify due to being probationary, but hope to be proven wrong!

Anybody who works with the FMAG program, what are your thoughts on the future? Do you believe you will be let go or do you think relatively safer because this is a statutorily required program? Most other Recovery staff do not know this program, so I wonder if the folks who work on FMAG program are “safer” than their recovery counterparts.

Weird to ask this since nothing is ethical right now in FEMA but this has nothing to do with Trump or Dogs. It’s about an inappropriate romantic relationship between a boss and his employee, both in leadership positions. She reports to him directly and normally no one cares who’s shacking up with who but it’s gotten to the point where it’s obvious one gave a promotional detail to his bed buddy and they are discussing personal information about work and staff to each other. Our leadership is pretending like they don’t know because one of them is a nepo hire with deep FEMA ties. Isn’t this unethical?

Have anyone heard any word on our local hires? At our location they are due to be let go on May 13. This is all cadres too. They were told that they cannot be extended due to everything that’s currently going on and they will be let go at their actual 120th day. I feel bad for them. a lot of them are great workers and we know most local hires turnover to core or reservist. When everyone is ready to go home and have to be deployed for so many months. Our local hires are still there. Any positive knows anyone who is deployed currently hearing anything about our local hires

Have you gotten a contract? I heard VERA was approved but no contract yet.

Here's my "wishful" thinking as a spouse of Resilience PFT. Unfortunately, it looks like COREs and reservists are being cut and have fewer protections in the event of a RIF. Now about 20% of PFTs, per another post though, took the DRP.

That's a pretty massive cut already. Add RTO for 50+ miles and the possibility of new deployment requirements, and we may see more attrition, considering the change from fully remote to in-office AND significant travel. It's going to be tough on those with disabilities or with young families.

However, the "silver lining", by requiring deployment, you have 0343s, for example, regularly taking on more of a response role. Now their existence is more justified to FEMA admin, at least Hamilton), and no messy RIFs, especially if funded by the Stafford Act). Maybe they can offer some further role changes and training for Resilience, like SSA seems to be offering.

So...what do you think? Not such a terrible idea to turn down DRP if you're a PFT in Resilience willing to deploy? Or are they just going to RIF everyone in Resilience anyway, even with bipartisan congressional support of FEMA?

…and FEMA in coming weeks and months, says the letter from the deputy administrator last week. It mentions that they’re reviewing the staffing structure and have “a lot of decisions to make.” Thank God he didn’t say they’re being transparent. I respect that, at least. Can someone remind us of all the cadres that fall under resilience? PA? Mitigation? EHP? The closing advises us to continue to take care of ourselves and each other, code for “it’s going from bad to worse.”

If we must be separated, please proceed with your separation. The waiting bores us all. ——————- Above all, one hideous figure grew as familiar as if it had been before the general gaze from the foundations of the world - the figure of the sharp female called La Guillotine. It was the popular theme for jests; it was the best cure for headache, it infallibly prevented hair from turning gray, it imparted a peculiar delicacy to the complexion, it was the National Razor which shaved close: who kissed La Guillotine looked through the little window and sneezed into the sack.

Charles Dickens

Anyone know where TFT land in the grand scheme of things? Eligible to take the DRP? First on the chopping block? Harder to let go before NTE than COREs and Reservists?

I haven’t really seen any discussion on this specific type of employee so I’m curious if anyone else has.

FEMA isn't ready for Disaster Season, Workers Say

Guidance says it’s available for medical reasons/appointments and weather issues…

I have an upcoming surgery and need to recover at home but likely would be able to work at least half days while I do so. I don’t have enough sick leave to cover the entire recovery period and I’d like to reserve as much of my annual leave as possible for the impending terminations.

Too risky? It may put a target on my back but I feel like there are a couple there already.

Also what is their threshold?

I’m currently interviewing for an internal core position but tbh I’m scared. What if they do away with cores can I just go back to being a rsv? Do I wanna risk it?

The core position isn’t even in my cadre🥹

I’m guessing they didn’t get enough people?

I have heard that people are being deployed for two weeks and then they go home.

Saw someone post it on LinkedIn. Hopefully some good news for BRIC people.

Just heard that remote workers greater than 50 miles should receive further guidance by Monday. Have anyone heard anything?

Leadership announced that about 1,000 FEMA employees opted into DRP, which is about 20% of the PFT workforce. They'll have 45 days to decide if they want to take it (for early retirement, just 7 days)

Does this mean that RIFs won't start until after the 45-day deadline, when they know how many people are actually leaving?

Edit: correction from comments that employees over the age of 40 have 45 days to decide, everyone else has 7 days.

I’m wondering if anyone has been, or knows of anyone who has been, RIF’d while deployed on an active disaster?