Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   LakenGulf, Fly Fisher Date:   4/27/2016 2:06:48 PM

No, fired does not mean reassigned, fired means seperated from goverment service.  "Reassigned" means moved to another job.  There is a process by which you can have someone downgraded, and moved to a lessor job for performance issues.  Under the current laws, it can take up to two years to actually seperate someone - because they have appeal processes and even failing that, they can sue in civil court.  Not all performance issues are the employees fault.  Sometimes it is just not a good fit for their skills, and reassignment is the answer.  Sometimes, some time off without pay will result in an attitude adjustment.  As a former manager, the goal is not to fire people, but to find a way to best utilize them - and that is not so different than private industry.  In fact, I had broad experience with defense industry and I only know of 4 people that were actually fired.  One for deliberately ignoring the law, and 3 others that ended up going to jail. 

So it is not like there is no accountability.  There is plenty of accountability and ethics and standards.  I've been retired now for almost 10 years, and I have no reason to lie about it.  That is no longer my world and I can discuss with you where the real problems lie.  One of the biggest problem I see in the VA is the low grade structure.  A low grade structure doesn't necessarily attract high quality people or highly motivated ones.  And I personally believe that they are so understaffed and overwhelmed, it doesn't surprise me that people start taking a "I don't care" attitude.  Many of the VA centers and hospitals are located in bad areas, where people don't want to work.  They contact a lot of their Drs.  and I ask you - what kind of Dr do you think would work for much less pay than on the outside? 

As far as I know, at least in the Army civilian workforce where my sister is a manager, they have been under a hiring freeze for the past two years.  Not many promotions under a hiring freeze.  And with projection budget cuts, it is quite possible there will be a non-voluntary reduction in force (that means firing), more time off without pay, and more consolidations (which cost very much on the front end, but supposedly save money in the long run.)

One thing I was just reading about is that with the emphaisis on hiring veterans, the veterans now believe that they are being guarenteed a government job.  Veterans are given preference for hiring and for promotions, but there aren't any guarentees, because they have to be basically qualified for the job.  One of the complaints I have read is that in some cases they are hired, but then don't really work out, for a variety of reasons.  Temperment, skill levels, inability to adjust to an office environment are creating additional burdens for managers. 

But I will tell you this - if you are a veteran, and particularly a disabled veteran, you will be the last one out of the building when they shut the place down. 

I don't expect you to change your mind, but these are some facts and views as I see them.