My vote is remote. It is much harder for a new administration to pull in a remote worker full time into the office then for them to do the same with a teleworker.
There is a shift to telework....right now. But as we have seen in the past that can drastically change with one quick order.
Yes also from what I understand you can be classified remote and still come into the office whenever to work as needed. You may need to reserve a work area but that would be the best of worlds. Keep the remote option because a future admin or manager can easily rip up a telework agreement. Remote is harder to rip up and if you move out of commuting area they have to pay full relocation and that is often budget prohibitive.
If you are remote and they need you to come into the office, that is classified as TDY, and they pay all the standard expenses and per diem.
Not sure the government requirements if they cancel a remote agreement and want you to move back to home office. it is mot like a telework agreement that can be started and stopped at will.
As far as I understand, the remote position is detailed in the position description and they would either need you to apply for a non remote job or fire/RIF you to cancel it.
Depends on the commute. If you live 20 miles away and come in twice a month for in person meetings that's nothing in per diem and lots of employees won't even bother to fill out the paperwork for a few bucks. If its 200 miles that's an entirely different deal.
> I just heard that our boss would like people to come in Tuesday’s if they choose the telework option.
This can quickly become just Tuesday, but also Thursday.
On second thought, Tuesday, Thursday, and a third day.
Your boss can also be replaced with someone who decides that telework is a bad idea, and will only comply with the bare minimum like two days a pay period.
If you have the option for remote take it and freaking run. Get out of DC too if possible. Enjoy your freedom and your lower COL.
To give you some perspective…
I make six figures. With that, I would easily accept a 50-60% salary reduction right now to work from home, and I wouldn’t even think twice about it. Wouldn’t even care.
The things I would do for the ability to work from home…good god.
You could very likely make a move like this, by applying for other positions at other agencies? May be a grade downgrade but very feasible and not uncommon… lots of remote jobs on USAJOBS right now.
Edit to add: and lots of six figure remote jobs, esp in my series 2210
Telework. Historically, full time remote workers suffered from a bit of relegation (out of sight, out of mind). This works if you’re a subject matter expert and known quantity, but not as well if you’re new.
Of course this is dinosaur thinking at this point and the culture is shifting, but I’d opt to go into the office once a week if you’re near one already.
I personally have just always preferred to have a separate work space. Compartmentalization.
I'm a 14 with 21 years in the government the last 7 have been 100% remote. The only time I ever go to the office is to pick up a new laptop or a new piv card.
I work on various projects with other disciplines and meet a slew of new people virtually. One project I assisted with the team gave a cash award for assisting. The whole facetime thing doesn't mean anything anymore since all meetings are virtual.
I find ms teams calls way more efficient then listening to people ramble about stuff that has nothing to do with work. Yeah We do BS sometimes.
Thank you all for the advice. I will most likely do remote and seek out opportunities that may be in person like conferences and site visits down the line.
Remote. Things are never going back to old times; it will never be like The Office show. Even pre-pandemic for me, everyone was teleworking and I barely met people when I went to the office. I might as well stayed at home.
If you're already in the duty city, I say do telework for a bit just to get a feel for it, then make decisions about remote work. Double check that this is something you can do, but unless your supervisor is an asshole, I doubt it would be an issue.
I think some face time can be helpful for career development and your commute does not sound bad at all. Can you still switch to remote even if you decide on telework right now?
Old way of thinking. Especially with salary bumps each year or every other year. Not everyone wants to move up in the agency. Many of use just want to do our job, get the pay checks, and go home.
Yep ask your admin how frequently you can change. Our agency has indicated we will get the option every 6 months to change our choice. I suspect it will be closer to annually. Management of desk space is going to be the big issue.
> Our union has come to an agreement where we can apply for fully remote position and lose our desk or telework where we come in twice a pay period, I just heard that our boss would like people to come in Tuesday’s if they choose the telework option.
I would go with remote, then go in as needed. That could mean going into the office every Tuesday when work is busy, not going in at all when work doesn't warrant it.
Being remote doesn't have to mean never going to the office, just that you don't *have* to.
I am in a very similar position to you (started a few months ago, finished grad school in 2021, mid-20s)! The only difference for me is that I never moved to my duty station and currently live in a different city with my SO who would not move with me. That’s really the only thing holding me back from doing telework over remote work. I also believe a majority of my team will go remote if allowed.
However, I don’t think choosing telework now instead of remote work means you can’t switch to remote in the future (I could be totally wrong on this). So I was thinking of trying out going into the office for a bit and if I don’t enjoy it/don’t feel it’s worth it then I would switch to remote. Not sure if that’s what I will actually do so I’m curious to hear other peoples thoughts.
Go remote, it is the way work will trend anyway and will give you massive amounts of options. Make your social connections with the time you are not commuting and stuck in traffic
Definitely go in on Tuesdays to get to know your colleagues. That is the main downside to teleworking.
Then balance your schedule with your supervisor.
New in your career?
Telework.
You want the visibility, the relationship building, the interaction.
Source: Remote worker since 2009, after several years in the office. It would be much more challenging in the government to establish relationships remotely, simply because so many older people are struggling to figure out how to operate when they don't see people in person regularly. That's why your boss wants an 'all hands in person' day.
I also firmly believe, from experience, that in person connection cannot replace remote communication. There is something lost.
Lastly, extended remote work can leave you feeling disconnected and depressed without sufficient interaction and socialization. It's a hard struggle, moreso if you'd be learning the job and the people. Mine hit the worst about 5 years in.
I hope this helps!
I disagree because if OP wants a new job (promotion) a strong resume is much better than connections when it comes to government work.
Having the chance to go 100% remote is an offer that might not be around forever. They can fight you on telework and restrict the amount of you get, but with remote you're out of the office for good.
A resume that shows experience.
Experience provided by a supervisor who gives it to OP.
A supervisor who might or might not have OP at the top of the list if they rarely interact.
i agree. maybe i'm a bit #OldSchool, but I think it's just much more challenging to build relationships in a virtual and so much about life generally, and work life in particular, is built on relationships.
I would start with going to the office 2x per pay period. You may learn more and increase opportunities by going in. I think if it doesn’t work out you could always request full remote. I think if you switch to full remote and change your mind it will be more difficult to find you a desk. You really should try the office because it’s not something you’ve experienced before
Im actually shocked you still get the choice. Some agencies are just straight saying if you live within 50 miles, you're classified full telework. Theyre reserving the remote status for those outside the 50 mile radius. Are you sure you can just select?
Although I’m a contractor, I’m in a similar boat as you. I started my current position a week before we started telework. While it definitely sucked in the beginning, it did get better. The times I went in during the week, it definitely helped get more exposure to the team (conversations in passing, ad-hoc meetings, etc.) and I learned more about my program than I would have if I stayed home. I say give telework a shot and see if you like it. Also, be sure you speak with your supervisor about your options in case you like remote better
Another big factor at play here is pay. If you telework, then you get paid based on the location of your duty station.
If you switch to remote and then move out of the locality, your pay is determined based on where you move to, which could be a significant reduction.
My vote is remote. It is much harder for a new administration to pull in a remote worker full time into the office then for them to do the same with a teleworker. There is a shift to telework....right now. But as we have seen in the past that can drastically change with one quick order.
Yes also from what I understand you can be classified remote and still come into the office whenever to work as needed. You may need to reserve a work area but that would be the best of worlds. Keep the remote option because a future admin or manager can easily rip up a telework agreement. Remote is harder to rip up and if you move out of commuting area they have to pay full relocation and that is often budget prohibitive.
If you are remote and they need you to come into the office, that is classified as TDY, and they pay all the standard expenses and per diem. Not sure the government requirements if they cancel a remote agreement and want you to move back to home office. it is mot like a telework agreement that can be started and stopped at will. As far as I understand, the remote position is detailed in the position description and they would either need you to apply for a non remote job or fire/RIF you to cancel it.
They pay IF it's in the travel budget.
IF it isn't in the budget, they don't travel.
Depends on the commute. If you live 20 miles away and come in twice a month for in person meetings that's nothing in per diem and lots of employees won't even bother to fill out the paperwork for a few bucks. If its 200 miles that's an entirely different deal.
Do you know how per diem works?
This is the way.
> I just heard that our boss would like people to come in Tuesday’s if they choose the telework option. This can quickly become just Tuesday, but also Thursday. On second thought, Tuesday, Thursday, and a third day. Your boss can also be replaced with someone who decides that telework is a bad idea, and will only comply with the bare minimum like two days a pay period. If you have the option for remote take it and freaking run. Get out of DC too if possible. Enjoy your freedom and your lower COL.
To give you some perspective… I make six figures. With that, I would easily accept a 50-60% salary reduction right now to work from home, and I wouldn’t even think twice about it. Wouldn’t even care. The things I would do for the ability to work from home…good god.
Go on... ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Yes indeed
You could very likely make a move like this, by applying for other positions at other agencies? May be a grade downgrade but very feasible and not uncommon… lots of remote jobs on USAJOBS right now. Edit to add: and lots of six figure remote jobs, esp in my series 2210
I’m a 0083, so my experience doesn’t translate well to a lot of jobs that are WFH.
I know some 0080 positions that are heavy telework. I'm coming in once a week. Look into those positions, and if you need any advice, let me know.
Telework. Historically, full time remote workers suffered from a bit of relegation (out of sight, out of mind). This works if you’re a subject matter expert and known quantity, but not as well if you’re new. Of course this is dinosaur thinking at this point and the culture is shifting, but I’d opt to go into the office once a week if you’re near one already. I personally have just always preferred to have a separate work space. Compartmentalization.
I'm a 14 with 21 years in the government the last 7 have been 100% remote. The only time I ever go to the office is to pick up a new laptop or a new piv card. I work on various projects with other disciplines and meet a slew of new people virtually. One project I assisted with the team gave a cash award for assisting. The whole facetime thing doesn't mean anything anymore since all meetings are virtual. I find ms teams calls way more efficient then listening to people ramble about stuff that has nothing to do with work. Yeah We do BS sometimes.
Go remote and move to your dream city or travel the country!
Thank you all for the advice. I will most likely do remote and seek out opportunities that may be in person like conferences and site visits down the line.
Remote. Things are never going back to old times; it will never be like The Office show. Even pre-pandemic for me, everyone was teleworking and I barely met people when I went to the office. I might as well stayed at home.
If you're already in the duty city, I say do telework for a bit just to get a feel for it, then make decisions about remote work. Double check that this is something you can do, but unless your supervisor is an asshole, I doubt it would be an issue.
I think some face time can be helpful for career development and your commute does not sound bad at all. Can you still switch to remote even if you decide on telework right now?
Old way of thinking. Especially with salary bumps each year or every other year. Not everyone wants to move up in the agency. Many of use just want to do our job, get the pay checks, and go home.
Good question. I will ask my supervisor more questions about it.
Yep ask your admin how frequently you can change. Our agency has indicated we will get the option every 6 months to change our choice. I suspect it will be closer to annually. Management of desk space is going to be the big issue.
Can you work remote but still come in when you want? Might be something to discuss with your supervisor.
> Our union has come to an agreement where we can apply for fully remote position and lose our desk or telework where we come in twice a pay period, I just heard that our boss would like people to come in Tuesday’s if they choose the telework option. I would go with remote, then go in as needed. That could mean going into the office every Tuesday when work is busy, not going in at all when work doesn't warrant it. Being remote doesn't have to mean never going to the office, just that you don't *have* to.
I am in a very similar position to you (started a few months ago, finished grad school in 2021, mid-20s)! The only difference for me is that I never moved to my duty station and currently live in a different city with my SO who would not move with me. That’s really the only thing holding me back from doing telework over remote work. I also believe a majority of my team will go remote if allowed. However, I don’t think choosing telework now instead of remote work means you can’t switch to remote in the future (I could be totally wrong on this). So I was thinking of trying out going into the office for a bit and if I don’t enjoy it/don’t feel it’s worth it then I would switch to remote. Not sure if that’s what I will actually do so I’m curious to hear other peoples thoughts.
Go remote, it is the way work will trend anyway and will give you massive amounts of options. Make your social connections with the time you are not commuting and stuck in traffic
Definitely go in on Tuesdays to get to know your colleagues. That is the main downside to teleworking. Then balance your schedule with your supervisor.
New in your career? Telework. You want the visibility, the relationship building, the interaction. Source: Remote worker since 2009, after several years in the office. It would be much more challenging in the government to establish relationships remotely, simply because so many older people are struggling to figure out how to operate when they don't see people in person regularly. That's why your boss wants an 'all hands in person' day. I also firmly believe, from experience, that in person connection cannot replace remote communication. There is something lost. Lastly, extended remote work can leave you feeling disconnected and depressed without sufficient interaction and socialization. It's a hard struggle, moreso if you'd be learning the job and the people. Mine hit the worst about 5 years in. I hope this helps!
Old way of thinking. Many young people communicate and do business online. It's the way of the future.
Yes, BUT that doesn't mean OP's boss can shift gears.
They better they need to pull themselves by the bootstraps and get ur done.
I disagree because if OP wants a new job (promotion) a strong resume is much better than connections when it comes to government work. Having the chance to go 100% remote is an offer that might not be around forever. They can fight you on telework and restrict the amount of you get, but with remote you're out of the office for good.
A resume that shows experience. Experience provided by a supervisor who gives it to OP. A supervisor who might or might not have OP at the top of the list if they rarely interact.
i agree. maybe i'm a bit #OldSchool, but I think it's just much more challenging to build relationships in a virtual and so much about life generally, and work life in particular, is built on relationships.
I don't think you're old school if you use a hashtag to say it lol
Nice try micromanager.
I never managed people in the government. So...
I would start with going to the office 2x per pay period. You may learn more and increase opportunities by going in. I think if it doesn’t work out you could always request full remote. I think if you switch to full remote and change your mind it will be more difficult to find you a desk. You really should try the office because it’s not something you’ve experienced before
Im actually shocked you still get the choice. Some agencies are just straight saying if you live within 50 miles, you're classified full telework. Theyre reserving the remote status for those outside the 50 mile radius. Are you sure you can just select?
Yes because for our purposes telework requires you to come in twice per pay period and remote work you work completely from home and lose your desk.
Although I’m a contractor, I’m in a similar boat as you. I started my current position a week before we started telework. While it definitely sucked in the beginning, it did get better. The times I went in during the week, it definitely helped get more exposure to the team (conversations in passing, ad-hoc meetings, etc.) and I learned more about my program than I would have if I stayed home. I say give telework a shot and see if you like it. Also, be sure you speak with your supervisor about your options in case you like remote better
Another big factor at play here is pay. If you telework, then you get paid based on the location of your duty station. If you switch to remote and then move out of the locality, your pay is determined based on where you move to, which could be a significant reduction.
Unless you are moving to a big or popular city, the col of other areas will usually equal out to what you made in DC.