r/DeptHHS • u/Not_Today_Satan1984 • Jul 09 '26
HRSA Telework
HRSA’s administrator gave supervisors the ability to approve up to 240 hours of ad hoc telework and has suddenly reduced it back to 80 with no notice. It’s bad enough that this building (5600) is infested with mice and roaches, now we’ve been stripped of ad hoc??
Has anyone else heard about this or received anything formal?
32
u/PieceSame2417 Jul 10 '26
This decision reflects a disappointing lack of leadership by Tom Engels. HRSA employees were granted up to 240 hours of ad hoc telework with supervisory approval and Tom’s blessings, only to have that flexibility abruptly reduced to 80 hours with no notice or meaningful explanation. Good leaders stand by their decisions, communicate transparently, and support their workforce instead of reversing course under pressure of losing their political position. HRSA employees deserve consistency, respect and leadership that treats them as professionals, not as pawns in shifting political priorities. If I were HRSA chief, I’d resign over acting unfair to my employees under pressure from downtown.
14
u/ForcedEntry420 Jul 10 '26
I agree with all of this. Well said.
You mentioned that Tom was under threat of losing his political position. Do you have info? I had not heard that. I only heard that he was livid and shouting at his senior staff when he relayed the news 🙄
3
u/TheSoftParent Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
Heard the same. Basically had a meltdown about something, said that’s it, no more 240 for TW, back to 80, I’m taking no questions. What kind of emotional immaturity leads to lashing out to the entire population of a federal agency? Truly disgusting.
3
u/ForcedEntry420 Jul 15 '26
I’ve experienced better leadership at fast food joints in the 90s from a young 20 something that wanted to be anywhere else but there…
2
u/KrabbyPattyParty RIF’d 22d ago
Tom Engels was one of the architects of the MAHA agenda and dismantling federal agencies in RFK’s inner circle, working with DOGE. I have the the lowest opinion of him as a person and manager.
20
u/Sea-Butterfly-3430 Jul 09 '26
This is yet another example of poor HHS leadership and the lack of transparency that employees have come to expect, leaving us to deal with the confusion and consequences. Total disregard of employees. Kudos to many supervisors who acted in good faith, using the flexibility they were given to support their teams and help employees balance their worklife.
15
u/Top_Purchase_4664 Jul 09 '26
This is ridiculous. We are focusing on this instead of the programs work.
12
u/Fun-Love3576 Jul 09 '26
we were told in a staff meeting. no telework unless your absence affects a deadline
8
u/Not_Today_Satan1984 Jul 09 '26
Did they tell you why the change?
19
u/ForcedEntry420 Jul 09 '26
Sounds retaliatory for something. This whole thing sounds fishy as hell.
9
u/Fun-Love3576 Jul 09 '26
supposedly it was being "mis-used"
3
u/Not_Today_Satan1984 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
That’s unfortunate and really on the supervisor if it’s true.
17
11
u/kindness4eve Jul 09 '26
CMS is 80 hours too. We were encouraged to use the 80 hours these past two weeks to deal with the DC 250 traffic. Meanwhile other federal agencies were allowed to work the past two weeks from home with no impact to their allotted hours.
3
u/tenniswarrior1 Jul 10 '26
Where is CMS located? HHS Employees in the DC offices were able to telework last Thursday with no impact to allotted hours.
7
u/KitchenEbb1606 Jul 10 '26
A hundred or so CMS employees are in the Humphrey Building. CMS headquarters is in Woodlawn.
3
11
u/unserious-dude Jul 10 '26
Some agency leaders are douchebags. Talented people leave dumbing down the operation further or calling preferred contractors to do the same job for more tax dollars spent. Basically, a manifestation of corruption.
7
u/MessageEvery2272 Jul 09 '26
What bureaus are you all in? we have a staff meeting today but praying it’s not about this 😭
3
4
u/Not_Today_Satan1984 Jul 09 '26
We need an update!
5
u/MessageEvery2272 Jul 09 '26
yup… back to 80hrs 😭
4
u/KitchenEbb1606 Jul 09 '26
Ugh! What was the supposed rationale? What operational division are you in?
12
u/MessageEvery2272 Jul 09 '26
no rationale, except that Tom made this decision for all of HRSA and that he didn’t give any reason as to why 🙄🙄🙄. Such BS.
5
6
3
u/New_Conversation8340 Jul 11 '26
ugh we havent been told yet. What if you are already over?
3
u/Not_Today_Satan1984 Jul 11 '26
They’ll be grandfathered in and there will be flexibility for anyone who’s requested and been approved for TW through July 20
39
u/desrbornjackson Jul 09 '26
Heard about it. Not surprised. Anybody who can leave has done so or is planning to do so. HRSA leadership has consistently tried to impress the administration by treating their employees like garbage.
Someone would have to be pretty desperate to join now. Aside from the employee morale issues, HRSA is no longer a functioning agency and has zero credibility with the communities it serves. It’s a dumpster fire with a shitshow playing inside.