I Had to Respond to an EMail

[ElChupacabra]

It was part of a time tracking and project management program that kept track of notes and time spent on various projects company-wide. And it wasn't just me that had to do it! Do you really think management invested in such a system just to keep track of an incompetent worker?! What a bizarre perception you have of the private sector! It's downright dreamlike...

Do you think what they're doing is in line with anything remotely related to project management?

In the private sector, profitability is a thing, and management likes to be able to calculate that sort of thing. Have you ever worked in the private sector? Just curious. Sure sounds like you haven't since you seem to treat accountability as some sort of punishment rather than the standard.

I have, and am certified in Agile. Please lay out for me how sending a list of five things people accomplished during the week is either effective project/productivity management when it is a random list of things being sent to someone who these people do not report to nor has a clue of the value of what they're likely to report on. I'd like to know how this action is more effective than getting productivity reports and department project overviews from management as well as an explanation of their methodologies in tracking productivity.

Same thing here. Again treating accountability as some sort of punishment or reaction to incompetence. Also, how does one calculate "results" without being able to calculate time (and thus money) spent on said results? It was like that before I worked at the place and applied to everyone, even the bosses. I guess here is another person who never worked in the private sector...

Here's where it gets interesting, and I'm glad you mentioned "punishment", because it will be a perfect segue in a second. I do want to address this "accountability" thing though. I'll assume you've worked in the private sector, and if so, hopefully at a large corporation. This way you can explain to those who haven't, the value of a company CEO receiving a list of 5 accomplishments from people in departments the CEO has little insight into their daily operations. Do you think he can glean the value of said work and their productivity using this method?

I eagerly await your explanation.


Now, back to the "punishment" piece. I'm sure you know who Russel Vought is and his current role. How is he relevant? Well, he's the architect of Project 2025 and has a real bone to pick with government agencies, who he largely wants to dismantle. What Musk's request is doing is carrying out this strategy Vought laid out for how to deal with government workers:

We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected. When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work, because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down … We want to put them in trauma.

That's what this "5 things you accomplished" is really about.

 

[Cosmo]

Do you think what they're doing is in line with anything remotely related to project management?


I have, and am certified in Agile. Please lay out for me how sending a list of five things people accomplished during the week is either effective project/productivity management when it is a random list of things being sent to someone who these people do not report to nor has a clue of the value of what they're likely to report on. I'd like to know how this action is more effective than getting productivity reports and department project overviews from management as well as an explanation of their methodologies in tracking productivity.


Here's where it gets interesting, and I'm glad you mentioned "punishment", because it will be a perfect segue in a second. I do want to address this "accountability" thing though. I'll assume you've worked in the private sector, and if so, hopefully at a large corporation. This way you can explain to those who haven't the value of a company CEO receiving a list of 5 accomplishments from people in departments the CEO has little insight into their daily operations, can glean the value of said work and their productivity.

I eagerly await your explanation.

I've mostly worked at medium/small-sized firms. As for the benefit of sending someone a list of tasks you performed, I think you're missing the point. If I had to, I would just copy and paste tasks I performed yesterday. In fact, I'd have more than 5 in just one day, never mind a week.

Now, back to the "punishment" piece. I'm sure you know who Russel Vought is and his current role. How is he relevant? Well, he's the architect of Project 2025 and has a real bone to pick with government agencies, who he largely wants to dismantle. What Musk's request is doing is carrying out this strategy Vought laid out for how to deal with government workers:


That's what this "5 things you accomplished" is really about.

 

[ElChupacabra]

I've mostly worked at medium/small-sized firms. As for the benefit of sending someone a list of tasks you performed, I think you're missing the point. If I had to, I would just copy and paste tasks I performed yesterday. In fact, I'd have more than 5 in just one day, never mind a week.

I'm actually trying to get you to explain the point of this exercise and its viability. This, of course, in the intended purpose Musk described.

 

[Taylor]

If you had to report your activities by the minute it was either because your boss was a micromanager or they felt you needed to be micromanaged.

Nah, it's not uncommon if you work contracts, especially government contracts. How else to know who's paying you?

 

[Juks]

If you had to report your activities by the minute it was either because your boss was a micromanager or they felt you needed to be micromanaged.

Well, technically, he could have worked as a consultant. (For example, a tax auditor bills for every minute they spend on a client. At least in Sweden.)

 

[Cosmo]

I'm actually trying to get you to explain the point of this exercise and its viability. This, of course, in the intended purpose Musk described.

Looks like the point is to expose useless, arrogant pricks on the government payroll.

 

[ElChupacabra]

Looks like the point is to expose useless, arrogant pricks on the government payroll.

Then it's a dumb point because this is not how you would do that.

 

[Mycroft]

This week I had to respond to an email from Pete Hegseth, our Secretary of Defense. The email requested that I provide 5 bullet points about what I accomplished in my DOD civilian job last week.

I found this completely demeaning to everyone who is serving our country. I served this nation for over 20 years in the US Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant and I now work for the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, our Secretary of Defense never commanded a unit greater than a Company, but is serving as Trump and Musk's lap dog.

I realize that this is nothing but political theater, since many Trump supporters literally hate government workers, but the vast majority of government workers work hard and serve this nation, but also need their job to provide for themselves and their families. Pay for government workers is less than 3% of the budget. I really worry about these people, who are affected by this garbage.

Fortunately I don't need the job. I tried the retirement thing, but got bored and went back to work. So, in case anyone reads them, which I doubt, my 5 bullet comments were:

-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you

You obviously don't know why he sent out that email...even though he has told everyone why.

shrug...

Regarding your bullet comments...if you get fired, you'll know why.

 

[----------]

Yeah, there are only two desk jobs that require that level of documentation:

When you say "that level of documentation" does that include the five bullet points?

1. The work done is billable to a client so documentation is needed.

Well no, there are not only two reasons. If you seriously believe this then you really don't know what you are talking about.

2. The employee in question is a very low performer, on a performance improvement plan.

Sounds like you speak of this with first hand knowledge.

 

[fallenturtle]

This week I had to respond to an email from Pete Hegseth, our Secretary of Defense. The email requested that I provide 5 bullet points about what I accomplished in my DOD civilian job last week.

I found this completely demeaning to everyone who is serving our country. I served this nation for over 20 years in the US Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant and I now work for the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, our Secretary of Defense never commanded a unit greater than a Company, but is serving as Trump and Musk's lap dog.

I realize that this is nothing but political theater, since many Trump supporters literally hate government workers, but the vast majority of government workers work hard and serve this nation, but also need their job to provide for themselves and their families. Pay for government workers is less than 3% of the budget. I really worry about these people, who are affected by this garbage.

Fortunately I don't need the job. I tried the retirement thing, but got bored and went back to work. So, in case anyone reads them, which I doubt, my 5 bullet comments were:

-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you

Ha! Let us know if they respond.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Why do so many people apparently find it "demeaning" to report on what they did? Pretty much every desk job I've ever had I've had to report on every minute I was at work. 30 minutes doing this, 1.5 hours doing that, etc... I've only ever worked in the private sector.

I had to do that when managing a parts supply room for a textile mill in my early 20s. Then I got a professional job and never had to do that sort of thing again.

However I did work as a consultant for a while and had to do something similar to total up billing hours.

 

[MamboDervish]

Why do so many people apparently find it "demeaning" to report on what they did?

They already report what they did - to their bosses. Not to some un-elected foreigner who, by his own power-mad public performances, is using a chainsaw instead of a scalpel.

Pretty much every desk job I've ever had I've had to report on every minute I was at work. 30 minutes doing this, 1.5 hours doing that, etc... I've only ever worked in the private sector.

It's no different. These people all have supervisors who already account for what they did. Just like in the private sector, their performance is already monitored and evaluated.

 

[maxparrish]

This week I had to respond to an email from Pete Hegseth, our Secretary of Defense. The email requested that I provide 5 bullet points about what I accomplished in my DOD civilian job last week.

I found this completely demeaning to everyone who is serving our country. I served this nation for over 20 years in the US Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant and I now work for the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, our Secretary of Defense never commanded a unit greater than a Company, but is serving as Trump and Musk's lap dog.

I realize that this is nothing but political theater, since many Trump supporters literally hate government workers, but the vast majority of government workers work hard and serve this nation, but also need their job to provide for themselves and their families. Pay for government workers is less than 3% of the budget. I really worry about these people, who are affected by this garbage.

Fortunately I don't need the job. I tried the retirement thing, but got bored and went back to work. So, in case anyone reads them, which I doubt, my 5 bullet comments were:

-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you

I think that was an excellent reply. First you responded so they know you read their email. Second, you gave it the degree of respect due.

In the future, however, you might think about signing off with "Respectfully Yours".

 

[maxparrish]

Why do so many people apparently find it "demeaning" to report on what they did? Pretty much every desk job I've ever had I've had to report on every minute I was at work. 30 minutes doing this, 1.5 hours doing that, etc... I've only ever worked in the private sector.

You must have worked in a screwed-up office environment. I worked 10 years for private employers and 20 years for public and the only time we were treated with such disrespect was when our bosses didn't have a clue as to what they were supposed to be doing. Insecure managers and immature bosses who are unqualified to be supervisors often think this is 'management'.

The most annoying part is having to take time to answer such crap when you are already swamped with work - anyone with an extra half hour or more to seriously answer that crap are probably the ones doing the least work.

 

[Utility Man]

Makes you wonder.....



.....how long before maga leader requires all citizens to prove they're worth keeping.

 

[trouble13]

This week I had to respond to an email from Pete Hegseth, our Secretary of Defense. The email requested that I provide 5 bullet points about what I accomplished in my DOD civilian job last week.

I found this completely demeaning to everyone who is serving our country. I served this nation for over 20 years in the US Army, retiring as a Master Sergeant and I now work for the Department of Defense. Meanwhile, our Secretary of Defense never commanded a unit greater than a Company, but is serving as Trump and Musk's lap dog.

I realize that this is nothing but political theater, since many Trump supporters literally hate government workers, but the vast majority of government workers work hard and serve this nation, but also need their job to provide for themselves and their families. Pay for government workers is less than 3% of the budget. I really worry about these people, who are affected by this garbage.

Fortunately I don't need the job. I tried the retirement thing, but got bored and went back to work. So, in case anyone reads them, which I doubt, my 5 bullet comments were:

-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you
-**** you

Why didn't you quit rather than putting up with being demanded like that? Where is your self respect?

 

[trouble13]

I've known ArmyCowboy dating back to another message board. I'm sure it's been decades.

He and I have shared private messages about politics and sports and he's told me about his life and I've probably told him some about mine. He's an honorable and really good guy.

This MAGA political theatre pisses me off because it insults decent, hardworking people like him.

Do you think the gov should employ goldbricks?

 

[trouble13]

That was before Trump/Elon decided to shit on people (including Trump voters) and ruin the economy.

So good luck.

So far they appear to be strengthening the economy. They are expanding the private sector workforce and shrinking the public sector simultaneously. That is economically healthy.

 

[NewfieMom]

MAGA thinks government workers are accountable to Musk. MAGA and accountability in the same sentence require metric tonnes of cognitive dissonance. I'm a little short, sorry.

This has nothing to do with accountability. It's about Musk.

This is right on target. Musk has no business asking anybody anything. He has no status legally and could never obtain any because he has huge government contracts and having any governmental power would be an enormous conflict of interest. These are questions from Musk-the-South-African-Nazi-Ingrate-Abusing-The US-Government.

 

[NewfieMom]

Do you think the gov should employ goldbricks?

They should get rid of the biggest abuser of tax dollars: Elon Musk.

 

[trouble13]

MAGA thinks government workers are accountable to Musk. MAGA and accountability in the same sentence require metric tonnes of cognitive dissonance. I'm a little short, sorry.

This has nothing to do with accountability. It's about Musk.

To be honestly I think a lot of it is about reorganizing the gov to run more efficently. Musk is tasked with looking at ways to get the gov to do more with less.

 

[NewfieMom]

So far they appear to be strengthening the economy. They are expanding the private sector workforce and shrinking the public sector simultaneously. That is economically healthy.

Biden left the economy in great shape. Now jobs are becoming more scarce and prices are rising.

 

[trouble13]

They should get rid of the biggest abuser of tax dollars: Elon Musk.

Can you elaborate on how you feel he is abusing tax dollars?

 

[NewfieMom]

To be honestly I think a lot of it is about reorganizing the gov to run more efficently. Musk is tasked with looking at ways to get the gov to do more with less.

Nobody gave Musk any power. Trump needs him to pay off his debts so he is giving him power he has no right to.

 

[NewfieMom]

Can you elaborate on how you feel he is abusing tax dollars?

Yup. His project was cancelled by the government, so he latched onto Trump. Now he has a contract for Tesla trucks and God only knows how many other hidden contracts. We don't see them.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/business/musks-starlink-federal-program/index.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2025/elon-musk-business-government-contracts-funding/