The Office of Personnel Management has updated the following:
"Guidance for Shutdown Furloughs".
The 10/11/13 version can be found at the link below:
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/guidance-for-shutdown-furloughs.pdf
Showing posts with label federal unemployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label federal unemployment. Show all posts
October 13, 2013
Accrual of Leave While Furloughed and the Government is Shut Down
Found a good article on Government Executive's website:
"Shutdown Could Halt Feds Leave Accrual"
Here is the link to this article:
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/10/shutdown-could-halt-feds-leave-accrual/71819
"Shutdown Could Halt Feds Leave Accrual"
Here is the link to this article:
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2013/10/shutdown-could-halt-feds-leave-accrual/71819
October 11, 2013
Fed-up feds: Many decry 'morale-sucking environment
Federal Times has an article "Fed-up feds:
Many decry 'morale-sucking environment" published 10-8-13.
Here is a link to that article:
October 9, 2013
Backlogs and Worries Grow Among Furloughed Workers
The National Journal has an article "Backlogs and Worries Grow Among Furloughed Workers".
A link to this insightful article is below.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/backlogs-and-worries-grow-among-furloughed-workers-20131007
A link to this insightful article is below.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/backlogs-and-worries-grow-among-furloughed-workers-20131007
Furloughed federal workers could get jobless benefits and back pay, then pay back benefits
AL.com has an article "Furloughed federal workers could get jobless benefits and back pay, then pay back benefits".
A link to this article is below.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/10/furloughed_federal_workers_cou.html
A link to this article is below.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/10/furloughed_federal_workers_cou.html
Furloughed Government Employees Are Selling Their Possessions On Craigslist For Cash
BuzzFeed Politics has an article with humor and pictures: "
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/furloghed-government-employees-are-selling-their-possessions
Furloughed Government Employees Are Selling Their Possessions On Craigslist For Cash"
Below is the link to this article, which offers some humor in this furlough situation.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/furloghed-government-employees-are-selling-their-possessions
Tips for Furloughed Federal Workers - Filing a Claim
The Federal Department of Labor has a document with information for furloughed federal employees as to how they should prepare and file an umployment claim:
"Tips for Furloughed Federal Workers - Filing a Claim"
The pdf document is found at the link below:
http://www.dol.gov/sequestration/ucfe.pdf
Spouses of Federal Workers Find Furlough -- Well, Weird!
The Mankato Free Press has a good article with some humor in it "Spouses of Federal Workers Find Furlough -- Well, Weird!"
The link to this article is below.
http://mankatofreepress.com/community-news-network/x862178275/Spouses-of-federal-workers-nd-furlough-well-weird
The link to this article is below.
http://mankatofreepress.com/community-news-network/x862178275/Spouses-of-federal-workers-nd-furlough-well-weird
Federal Workers Get 60 Percent Check on Friday
The Statesman Journal has an article "Federal Workers Get 60 Percent Check on Friday".
Below is a link to this article:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131008/UPDATE/131008019/Federal-workers-get-60-percent-check-Friday
Below is a link to this article:
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20131008/UPDATE/131008019/Federal-workers-get-60-percent-check-Friday
October 8, 2013
Obama to Boehner: No talks until government opens
Obama to Boehner:
No talks until government opens
Click below for the 10-8-13 article:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BUDGET_BATTLE?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-08-13-13-34
Click below for the 10-8-13 article:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BUDGET_BATTLE?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-10-08-13-13-34
October 2, 2013
Some Thoughts on the Shutdown
Today was the first day of the federal government shutdown, and was the first day I was furloughed.
Since I've had a day to let it all sink in, here are a few of my thoughts about it.
Our office is a team.
We live in a small town, and people are a pretty close-knit team at our office.
When they let everyone go today, they all trickled out of the building and that was that.
I wish there would have been some indication of solidarity amongst us.
Some sort of encouraging words spoken by the managers, to the effect of "you are valuable to us, and I'm sorry this has to happen, and there is nothing we can do about it, but we want you to know that we care about you personally and for your families and all those affected by this".
It was more like, they told us the regs, the procedures and what to expect procedurally, but nothing else really.
And to check the news, we should keep tabs on it if the shutdown ends and report to work.
And hopefully our managers will call us to let us know we can return to work.
But it was somewhat vague, and a little disconcerting.
My manager I could tell was very tired; stressed and just wanted to get out of there.
He even told me to hurry up and leave.
I had to take a few moments to collect my personal items, to water my plants, and mentally prepare myself to exit those doors.
Several co-workers I have emails for and phone numbers, so we'll be in touch.
But in meantime, its more or less each man is on his own, you gotta fend for yourself, and there is really no support system amongst us after the shutdown.
Perhaps a suggested meeting every few days - a casual non-work meeting could have been suggested, if people just wanted to talk and get together, outside of work.
But nothing like that was suggested.
So those are my thoughts.
Since I've had a day to let it all sink in, here are a few of my thoughts about it.
Our office is a team.
We live in a small town, and people are a pretty close-knit team at our office.
When they let everyone go today, they all trickled out of the building and that was that.
I wish there would have been some indication of solidarity amongst us.
Some sort of encouraging words spoken by the managers, to the effect of "you are valuable to us, and I'm sorry this has to happen, and there is nothing we can do about it, but we want you to know that we care about you personally and for your families and all those affected by this".
It was more like, they told us the regs, the procedures and what to expect procedurally, but nothing else really.
And to check the news, we should keep tabs on it if the shutdown ends and report to work.
And hopefully our managers will call us to let us know we can return to work.
But it was somewhat vague, and a little disconcerting.
My manager I could tell was very tired; stressed and just wanted to get out of there.
He even told me to hurry up and leave.
I had to take a few moments to collect my personal items, to water my plants, and mentally prepare myself to exit those doors.
Several co-workers I have emails for and phone numbers, so we'll be in touch.
But in meantime, its more or less each man is on his own, you gotta fend for yourself, and there is really no support system amongst us after the shutdown.
Perhaps a suggested meeting every few days - a casual non-work meeting could have been suggested, if people just wanted to talk and get together, outside of work.
But nothing like that was suggested.
So those are my thoughts.
October 1, 2013
Federal Employees: Update Your Resume - Shutdown
I suggest filing for unemployment, then updating your resume, and also:
update your list of references.
Another thing - try to get letters of recommendation to add to your personal files.
Oftentimes in our federal careers, we work with people and they move on, and we should have gotten letters of recommendation from them.
If that isn't possible, see if they would allow you to use them as a reference.
Ask for their new address and contact information at their new position/agency/office.
Whenever using others as references, its advisable to give them notice that you're seeking work and that they may be called asking for them as references to you.
FedSmith.com has lots of articles about searching for federal jobs, and here is one link to a post there about itfalls you should avoid when creating a federal resume:
http://www.fedsmith.com/2012/01/18/avoid-these-top-common-pitfalls-your
FederalDaiy.com has articles too.
It offers FederalSoup.com, a discussion forum for active and retired federal employees to discuss current news, etc.
https://federalsoup.federaldaily.com
We are Shut Down! List of Things Federal Employees Might Want to Do
Reported to work this morning at the federal agency I work for.
We had a brief meeting about the Shutdown, did a few things to close out and now we are officially shut down.
Returned home & am now making list of things I need to accomplish.
Considering the facts that we have no idea when we will be recalled back to work,
that we have no guarantee that we will be paid for the time we are furloughed,
and that the bills still come in and must be paid, here are things federal employees who are furloughed from the Shutdown can consider doing now:
1) Make list of things you'd like to accomplish during the Shutdown
2) Revise/Update/Make a Budget considering your non-pay current status
3) If you need to take a loan, you can get a 2% interest loan against your federal TSP (Thrift Savings Plan).
Go to the TSP website and print the forms, fill out loan application forms and sign them in presence of notary and have notary sign them.
Here is link to the TSP website where the loan forms and loan publications are found:
https://www.tsp.gov/forms/loans.shtml
4) If conserving money is an important issue for you, consider cutting back expenses.
I called Optimum (now Charter) today and was able to lower my cable tv/internet/land phone triple package cost from $135.96 a month to $94.85 a month.
Expenses you could cut & Ways to Make Some Extra Cash:
1) Food - cut back or eliminate eating out
2) Food - Eat more meatless meals & eliminate luxury foods i.e. expensive foods.
3) Use coupons and rebates for purchases.
4) Buy items in bulk which in long run is cheaper than running to store every week.
I go to Big Lots in a city south of here, and stock up on food (they carry lots of bulk, cheap food), toiletries, etc.
I buy toilet paper, paper towells, cleaning supplies, etc. in bulk.
I stock up there on packaged milk which is sterilized in waxed paper rectangle-shaped box containers. The milk doesn't need to be refrigerated until opened.
5) Shop for cheapest gas before refueling your vehicle.
Gas Buddy is a website where you can enter your zipcode and find the cheapest places to get gas:
http://gasbuddy.com
6) Cut back on home utility expenses. Keep thermostat less hot/cool, use a/c less, close off rooms and heat/cool fewer rooms. Use those twisty shaped lightbulbs that save energy to lower your electric bill. Insulate your home, windows, etc. better to conserve energy. Conserve use of water to lower water bill.
7) Have a yard sale or put items for sale in a consignment shop to get some extra cash.
8) If you have marketable skills you can make money at immediately, consider using those skills to earn money and work for yourself. Such skills that could be used temporarily would be selling arts & crafts items you make, providing childcare/babysitting services, etc.
9) If you itemize your taxes, and don't want to have a yardsale, etc. you could give donations of items to Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. and ask for receipt to use to lower your taxes when you itemize your taxes.
10) If your spouse isn't working and is capable of working, perhaps they could find part-time or full-time work during the Shutdown to supplement your income, since you now don't have an income.
11) As soon as possible, file an unemployment claim. You can file online. Here is link for Federal Employee information about filing for unemployment (the Department of Labor):
http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp
State laws vary, but most require a one to two-week waiting period before you begin receiving unemployment checks. A waiting period does not mean you must wait one or two weeks to file. You should file immediately.
Here is the link to locate your state employment website to file for in your state:
http://www.servicelocator.org/OWSLinks.asp
I just filed for unemployment online at my state's website and it took me about 10 minutes to file.
We had a brief meeting about the Shutdown, did a few things to close out and now we are officially shut down.
Returned home & am now making list of things I need to accomplish.
Considering the facts that we have no idea when we will be recalled back to work,
that we have no guarantee that we will be paid for the time we are furloughed,
and that the bills still come in and must be paid, here are things federal employees who are furloughed from the Shutdown can consider doing now:
1) Make list of things you'd like to accomplish during the Shutdown
2) Revise/Update/Make a Budget considering your non-pay current status
3) If you need to take a loan, you can get a 2% interest loan against your federal TSP (Thrift Savings Plan).
Go to the TSP website and print the forms, fill out loan application forms and sign them in presence of notary and have notary sign them.
Here is link to the TSP website where the loan forms and loan publications are found:
https://www.tsp.gov/forms/loans.shtml
4) If conserving money is an important issue for you, consider cutting back expenses.
I called Optimum (now Charter) today and was able to lower my cable tv/internet/land phone triple package cost from $135.96 a month to $94.85 a month.
Expenses you could cut & Ways to Make Some Extra Cash:
1) Food - cut back or eliminate eating out
2) Food - Eat more meatless meals & eliminate luxury foods i.e. expensive foods.
3) Use coupons and rebates for purchases.
4) Buy items in bulk which in long run is cheaper than running to store every week.
I go to Big Lots in a city south of here, and stock up on food (they carry lots of bulk, cheap food), toiletries, etc.
I buy toilet paper, paper towells, cleaning supplies, etc. in bulk.
I stock up there on packaged milk which is sterilized in waxed paper rectangle-shaped box containers. The milk doesn't need to be refrigerated until opened.
5) Shop for cheapest gas before refueling your vehicle.
Gas Buddy is a website where you can enter your zipcode and find the cheapest places to get gas:
http://gasbuddy.com
6) Cut back on home utility expenses. Keep thermostat less hot/cool, use a/c less, close off rooms and heat/cool fewer rooms. Use those twisty shaped lightbulbs that save energy to lower your electric bill. Insulate your home, windows, etc. better to conserve energy. Conserve use of water to lower water bill.
7) Have a yard sale or put items for sale in a consignment shop to get some extra cash.
8) If you have marketable skills you can make money at immediately, consider using those skills to earn money and work for yourself. Such skills that could be used temporarily would be selling arts & crafts items you make, providing childcare/babysitting services, etc.
9) If you itemize your taxes, and don't want to have a yardsale, etc. you could give donations of items to Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc. and ask for receipt to use to lower your taxes when you itemize your taxes.
10) If your spouse isn't working and is capable of working, perhaps they could find part-time or full-time work during the Shutdown to supplement your income, since you now don't have an income.
11) As soon as possible, file an unemployment claim. You can file online. Here is link for Federal Employee information about filing for unemployment (the Department of Labor):
http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp
State laws vary, but most require a one to two-week waiting period before you begin receiving unemployment checks. A waiting period does not mean you must wait one or two weeks to file. You should file immediately.
Here is the link to locate your state employment website to file for in your state:
http://www.servicelocator.org/OWSLinks.asp
I just filed for unemployment online at my state's website and it took me about 10 minutes to file.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)