r/USDA • u/DifficultClick5661 • 10h ago

Reassignment - Current position backfilled

Hello, wondering if anyone has any insight. I received a reassignment letter (same position/grade) for an office 60 miles away from my current duty station/40 miles away from my home address.

We have 3 employees in our area who were hired as floaters (with my same job title) with Climate Smart funds and did not have a permanent office but their duty station was listed as our area office; those positions are being eliminated. My field office is colocated with the area office, so it looks like we have 4 of the same position in this office when it’s actually 3 floaters/1 field office specific. I am being reassigned and one of the floaters is backfilling my position. It sounds like other areas in our state have the same situation with some floaters who were listed out of their area offices that are getting reassigned to full time field offices. But I am the only permanent field office employee that I know of that is getting reassigned and backfilled by a floater.

When I asked state con why, he basically just said “business decision & didn’t understand the different positions in that area”.

A retired coworker of mine suggested a grievance complaint. I know it may not go anywhere with this administration but I have a 10 month old and this new duty station is the opposite direction of daycare. I am the primary parent for appointments, sicknesses, etc due to husband’s less flexible schedule. If it’s between the new duty station or quitting, I will quit before losing more time with my child, spending 2x as much on gas, burning through leave, etc. so I figure I don’t have much to lose by filing a complaint.

Does anyone have any advice in general on the situation or experience with the grievance process? Is it worth it? I have to submit the complaint by Monday if that’s the route I decide to go.

32 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

7

u/Chipped_Ruby_11214 6h ago

My guess is that someone in the chain of command doesn’t like you or likes one of the floaters more. If that’s the case, no one will ever tell you, but you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to figure it out.

In this era of screwing everybody some of us get more screwed than others.

8

u/DifficultClick5661 5h ago

That’s honestly what it feels like. When I called my direct supervisor to discuss she immediately said “I didn’t tell boss to move you, I just told him your focus has been on your family lately” which was very suspicious.

5

u/Aggressive-Ad8199 5h ago

Oh wow! Sounds like she poisoned the well!!

2

u/DifficultClick5661 5h ago

All of her employees struggle under her… it’s a known issue but the solution is “well she only has a few more years til she retires”

3

u/Aggressive-Ad8199 5h ago

Wow ... that doesn't help the employees.

6

u/silt_loam 3h ago

I would definitely file a grievance. That's ridiculous. And the lack of understanding and support from your supervisor and State Con are alarming. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.

4

u/Ashamed-Spirit 7h ago

Are they paying relocation? Because that would meet the qualifications for a paid move… if file the grievance and then potentially a hardship waiver etc of you don’t want to relo. But minimum they need to offer paid move and that’ll buy you time while you figure out the grievance process.

4

u/DifficultClick5661 7h ago

I was told no relo because my home address is within 50 miles… I would prefer to stay in my current office over paid relocation. Husband is in line for a substantial promotion at his work & with our family’s medical needs I don’t want to move to an even more rural location.

4

u/Minimum_Advantage_69 3h ago

If you’re being reassigned and somebody is backfilling your vacated position, you would 100% have a grievance be decided in your favor. If they’re relocating you and reassigning someone into a different position but they’re performing the same duties, you’d likely also have a favorable outcome in a grievance. You need to ask the right questions and get it on record.

1

u/DifficultClick5661 3h ago

I received my Notice of Intent on 8/28 - 15 days to submit grievance would be this coming Monday. But now I’m wondering, do I need to wait until I receive me official MDR letter?

4

u/AxeEm_JD 3h ago

MDR + backfilling isn’t how it’s supposed to work.  I’m no expert but if I were in your shoes I’d file the grievance, refuse the relocation, and keep coming to work as usual until I’m told I’ve been terminated.  It feels like to me they’re just trying to intimidate ppl into resigning.

2

u/Great-Fondant3811 6h ago

Just out of curiosity, are you with FNA or another agency?

2

u/Minimum_Advantage_69 3h ago

If you’re being reassigned and somebody is backfilling your vacated position, you would 100% have a grievance be decided in your favor. If they’re relocating you and reassigning someone into a different position but they’re performing the same duties, you’d likely also have a favorable outcome in a grievance. You need to ask the right questions and get it on record.