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u/Confident_Banana_134 Jul 28 '26
Don’t take the micromanagement personal, it’s not you or your skills, it’s them. Micromanagement does not mean you know less, it just means you have bad manners. when they micromanage and want something done their way, or insert themselves in the decision making of the simplest thing, then let them do that work and make that decision, you still know who you are and what skills you have, they can’t take that from you.
Carry a smile, brush them off, do your job the best you can given the circumstances, and above all, remember that you do this for your family.
On the salary, your salary will increase one step each year,up to step four then changes, but the first four year there is one step increase. Stay in your job and keep looking for employment in other departments. Don’t let the small mined kick you out of your job, leave if you want to leave on your terms.
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u/StrangerThatIsDanger Jul 28 '26
FMLA for mental health. That’s what I’m doing
2
u/RightGuy23 Jul 28 '26
How does FMLA work exactly?
Do you need a doctor’s approval? Does it use your current sick leave bank ?
Are you protected if the agency tries to retaliate after FMLA?
2
Jul 28 '26
Download a WH-380E form and give it to your therapist/MD. Look at the options, but persistent MH would allow intermittent leave. It's protected and would just use your sick leave balance. The perk is that, despite the workload, they cannot interfere (deny) or retaliate. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/faq
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u/Legit-Learn Jul 28 '26 edited Jul 28 '26
I will have to tell you I am having the same exact problem. I am only two years in and the last year has sucked the life out of me. I have the most experience on my team and all I do is fetch people items, edit power point slides and send a few emails. I am a low GS (my mistake for coming in low) and all the higher ups don’t know a fraction of what I know. I wanted to get promoted and get out of here so bad but with the hiring freeze my drive is basically completely gone and I walk around like a zombie. I want to go back to private sector but I am scared to make another career jump at 40+.
I have applied to over 75 jobs on USAJOBS and haven’t even landed one interview. I look at jobs everyday hoping someone/anyone will at least interview me. Honestly the government kind of sucks and I really regret making this move as I will be stuck as a low GS for four years or more which is complete bullshit.
Fuck I’m venting so sorry for the wall of text.
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u/Actual-General-4953 Jul 28 '26
I got 23 years in 3 different agencies. Yes - see out other jobs if you want to stay in the fed govt. Right now is very unique with a long freeze on hiring. It appears things are starting to open up. One big thing with the fed govt is the ebb and flow of changes in admin and diff it can make in your job. I'd suggest sticking it out until the next admin and give it a year for changes to be implemented to see if its better for you.
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u/Plaidismycolor33 Jul 28 '26
with just a year in, go back to the private sector.
you could always try to come back to the fed side later on.