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Vilerat have you been through a shutdown before? What exactly happens? Someone on Livelines posted that the ambassador's still expect you to work, but getting paid for it can be a problem.
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Feb 20, 2011 05:43
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Doesn't bother me, HR said it won't affect my A-100 class.
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Feb 20, 2011 07:35
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Vilerat posted:So who else is psyched for a shutdown? Hell yes I am! We'll see if I'm essential staff. I'm guessing I will be, especially as my boss won't be at work. I'm already making contingency plans to have enough cash on hand etc. SWATJester posted:Doesn't bother me, HR said it won't affect my A-100 class.
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Feb 20, 2011 12:15
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Yup ... the next couple of weeks and beyond should prove to be very interesting. May end up with some free time. Talking to a vet that went through the 1995 shutdown ... he ended up with some unscheduled days off, but was paid for the days after the new budget got passed. With the deficit and political client in DC these days not so sure we would get paid for unworked days this time around. Going to be challenging for awhile Vilerat posted:So who else is psyched for a shutdown? Hell yes I am!
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Feb 20, 2011 13:41
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Tortilla Maker posted:I see that labor is listed under the Political track. Can anyone with experience in this capacity expand on their experiences? What does the training entail, what are typical assignments, when on a consular rotation do they push the visa interviews on you due to the labor background, etc. I was Labor Officer at my previous post. I didn't receive the labor officers training course before I did my job, though it might have been useful. The course itself gives an overview of labor issues of interest to the USG, including efforts to combat child and forced labor. It also covers the role of labor unions, etc. Though post's labor officer usually comes under the political section, the economic section is a possibility, too. Overseas, there are basically three possibilities that will give someone the opportunity to work labor issues. First, there are positions for full-time labor officers, including regional labor officers in places like the Caribbean. Then there are jobs formally designated as Pol-Labor or Econ-Labor, where labor is a formal part of the position. Finally, in most places labor simply makes up part of the portfolio of a political or economic officer, but is not part of the formal job title. All these jobs are bid in the usual fashion. A labor background probably isn't going to have any effect on one's consular tour, and moreover is likely to take place after the initial entry-level assignments.
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Feb 20, 2011 14:43
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SWATJester posted:Doesn't bother me, HR said it won't affect my A-100 class. bwahahahaha edit for substance: don't believe everything HR tells you. You will soon (hopefully) find out how it's a crap shoot.
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Feb 20, 2011 18:58
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I figured it sounded legit along the lines of "FSI is a vital governmental function that cannot actually shutdown unless of a major emergency".
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Feb 21, 2011 15:00
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SWATJester posted:I figured it sounded legit along the lines of "FSI is a vital governmental function that cannot actually shutdown unless of a major emergency". HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA! FSI closed for a week when it snowed.
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Feb 21, 2011 15:49
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So did metrorail though too. Everything shutdown.
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Feb 21, 2011 16:10
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SWATJester posted:So did metrorail though too. Everything shutdown. Not everything...  Somehow, I don't think this current Congress would be amused that training new federal employees is considered a critical government function.
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Feb 21, 2011 16:25
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SWATJester posted:I figured it sounded legit along the lines of "FSI is a vital governmental function that cannot actually shutdown unless of a major emergency". Don't count on anything. I know some 1811s who were out of work during the last shutdown.
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Feb 21, 2011 16:46
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Eh, I don't trust anything in DC anymore. :paranoid:
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Feb 21, 2011 16:55
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I think that if you have any courses scheduled at FSI they're already funded and there's no need for a new budget to keep them running. Stuff like the cafeteria may not be open though, which is sort of a blessing in disguise.
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Feb 21, 2011 17:20
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AKA Pseudonym posted:I think that if you have any courses scheduled at FSI they're already funded and there's no need for a new budget to keep them running. Stuff like the cafeteria may not be open though, which is sort of a blessing in disguise. haha. In the Fed jobs, they mentioned some guy's amendment to freeze steps and promotions... That would suck for us.
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Feb 21, 2011 19:16
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JohnnyHildo posted:Don't count on anything. I know some 1811s who were out of work during the last shutdown. 1811s aren't considered first responders, so this isn't surprising. Also, 
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Feb 22, 2011 01:36
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Last shutdown was for a very short period of time. People got sent home unless they were essential staff, and it turns out because of the brief nature of it that it would cost more to figure out the mechanics of not paying everybody for those days than it was really worth it so nobody lost money. In theory if a shutdown happens we get sent home and told to stay without pay. If you are deemed essential you get paid and show up for work. If they say you need to show up for work but you are not essential and thus don't get paid, you call DC immediately because that's not legal. -edit- I'm pretty sure that working at a consulate means I'm hosed though. Vilerat fucked around with this message at 18:24 on Feb 22, 2011 |
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Feb 22, 2011 18:20
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This is amazing. And one of the most riveting OIG reports I've read. . . . http://oig.state.gov/documents/organization/156129.pdf
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Feb 23, 2011 21:11
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Wow that is bad, even a negative inspector general report comes off as dry, dull, and professional. That was just searing with contempt. (it was awesome)
Jimb fucked around with this message at 07:02 on Feb 24, 2011 |
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Feb 23, 2011 21:55
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Just read today that they are trying to get rid of the Overseas Comparability Pay: http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20110222/DEPARTMENTS08/102220301/ I haven't even started yet and I already have to worry about a pay cut. :-(
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Feb 24, 2011 02:39
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Business of Ferrets posted:This is amazing. And one of the most riveting OIG reports I've read. . . . Lovely. And I'm pleased to see that there is a widespread hatred of E2.
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Feb 24, 2011 02:55
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Business of Ferrets posted:This is amazing. And one of the most riveting OIG reports I've read. . . . Read the report a couple of weeks ago ... It would be scary to be assigned to that post ... it seems things got a bit out of control.
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Feb 24, 2011 07:46
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1of7 posted:Just read today that they are trying to get rid of the Overseas Comparability Pay: Yeah, pretty fantastic.
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Feb 24, 2011 18:00
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Sorry I couldn't find a real news site to link. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/23/diplomats-union-pushes-proposal-cut-foreign-service-locality-pay/ quote:The organization representing America's diplomats is pushing back after the House voted to strip pay bonuses for Foreign Service officers working overseas. Diplomats union? Really?
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Feb 24, 2011 20:30
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Vilerat posted:Sorry I couldn't find a real news site to link. You know, the more you guys post lately, the more happy I am that I didn't qualify for that IMS listing this year.
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Feb 24, 2011 20:36
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quote:Dear AFSA Colleagues,
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Feb 24, 2011 22:03
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Jedi425 posted:You know, the more you guys post lately, the more happy I am that I didn't qualify for that IMS listing this year. Since I have been here I have: Taken a 3 day cruise on the Nile and snorkeled off the coast of Egypt I floated through a class 5 rapid on the Nile which will soon be flooded by a dam in Uganda - the raft went vertical and water swept me into the rapid Spent Thanksgiving at an Eco lodge in Uganda and ran after chimps through a gorge while dodging hippos Broke my leg during a drill Learned to drive a motorcycle and have driven some amazing motorcycle roads Observed a Presidential Election Had a cheetah jump on our safari car which meant I was 2feet away from a hungry kitty. Later saw 5 cheetahs almost kill a reedbuck. Saw the big 5 Camped in one of the oldest rain forests in the world. Yeah so our budget is tight and cuts are on the table. I've still had a great time TCD fucked around with this message at 22:36 on Dec 8, 2015 |
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Feb 24, 2011 22:32
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Since I've been in I've: Cruised the nile dodging alligators, Had an AK47 shoved in my chest in Kinshasa by an airport military guy trying to get me to bribe him. Stayed at a castle in Shannon Ireland for the US-EU summit Saw 'W' in his boxers at that summit because he forgot his curtains were open, Rode on a camel to see the pyramids, Had rockets fired at me in Baghdad, Watched people have what they say is the best seafood in the world in a small seaside restaurant in Mozambique (I do not like seafood but they seemed to enjoy it...), Played with baby lions and tigers in Johannesburg, Learned that people born and raised in San Diego should never ever move to Montreal. Next I move to the Netherlands. If you're doing this for money/benefits then you're not doing this right.
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Feb 25, 2011 00:33
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Vilerat posted:
Hey, that is a State Secret mister! The Secret Service has been dispatched. Assume the submission position, as they will be with you shortly. Seriously, they were Pink, weren't they?
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Feb 25, 2011 02:21
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Vilerat posted:Learned that people born and raised in San Diego should never ever move to Montreal. As a fellow San Diegan, I could have told you that. . . .
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Feb 25, 2011 08:46
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Slaan posted:Hey, that is a State Secret mister! The Secret Service has been dispatched. Assume the submission position, as they will be with you shortly. OK, that might be worth the trouble, then. I just wonder what you guys are going to do when Congress passes their Mandatory Government Employee Organ Donation plan to try and fix the budget. 
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Feb 25, 2011 09:29
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Jedi425 posted:OK, that might be worth the trouble, then. All of my organs probably have too much heavy metals in them for anyone to make use of them. And I probably don't have to say that you wouldn't ever want to be the recipient of a diplomat's liver. . . .
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Feb 25, 2011 12:33
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Somehow I wonder whether the Senate, of all bodies the one that should be most concerned with protecting the Foreign Service, will get their act together and smack down the House republicans.
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Feb 25, 2011 14:34
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Business of Ferrets posted:And I probably don't have to say that you wouldn't ever want to be the recipient of a diplomat's liver. . . . Party tonight, birthday party tomorrow night. It's like freshmen year college.
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Feb 25, 2011 14:42
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TCD posted:Party tonight, birthday party tomorrow night. Okay, I was having some doubts, but this is the job for me. Thanks.
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Feb 25, 2011 16:35
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This particular chain of conversation is getting OP'd. At the top of the OP. Yeah.
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Feb 25, 2011 17:04
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I'm pretty sure we had a party every day in Baghdad. I'm pretty sure we weren't particularly responsible at those parties.
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Feb 25, 2011 17:13
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Vilerat posted:I'm pretty sure we had a party every day in Baghdad. Still going strong here! (No more free beer, though.) Grampa, tell us again the stories about the free beer. . . .
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Feb 25, 2011 17:36
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At my last post had too much fun and couldn't party at the Marine House anymore.
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Feb 25, 2011 17:37
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AKA Pseudonym posted:At my last post had too much fun and couldn't party at the Marine House anymore. Hahaha we're getting there. I missed a happy hour at the Marines where they had free beers. loving free beer. Anyways, yeah, this is a culture of having a good time. My wife goes to a evening work related meeting once a week. I go over to a buddy's house (who's FSO's wife always works late) and more or less through a small guys house party. You know, the one where 5 guys get together, drink, smoke cigars, throw darts, listen to loud music like NIN, etc. Even with this proposed budget cut, this is still an awesome gig. Would we be getting underpaid? Probably. But, I've made some really good friends and had an amazing year+ for my first tour. In fact, probably one of our closest friends is newly expecting (I was the first one told, and I knew about it anyways due to my job) and it looks like we'll be in DC together for training when she's 7 months along. The husband will be at Post, and more or less said take care of her until he can get leave. Would I do that? Hell yes, I'd carry her groceries up 10 flights of stairs every day because I know he'd do the same for me and my wife. We've only known each other for 17 months, but I'd do it no questions asked. That's the great part of this job, and living in Africa. You really will meet some great people.
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Feb 26, 2011 00:43
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Failed the DSS BEX this week. Boooo. Went pretty well at least. And had a nice conversation with one my examiners afterward. I get the feeling I answered the diplomat questions better than the DSS questions or something, because he spent a lot of time talking to me about being an FSO and how great it is.
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