I Had to Respond to an EMail

[armycowboy]

Ah yes just ignore the boss's and clients' emails. Good strategy!

You obviously feel that a worker is subservient to their boss. That's absolute bullshit. If a boss treats good workers like crap, they leave and get jobs elsewhere and then the boss's business sufferes.

I've owned my own business after I retired from the Army. I always treated my subordinates with respect and expected the same from them. It's a partnership, the people who work for you aren't your slaves.

 

[armycowboy]

As a former vet myself I can proudly say I'm ecstatic someone like you will no longer be sucking off the government tit funded by my tax dollar.

As someone who served far longer and at a much higher rank than you ever achieved, I could give a shit what you think.

But to set you straight, I work for DeCA, we're self sufficient, the few hundred dollars you spend on taxes don't go towards my salary, the money Soldiers, their dependents and retirees spend at the Commissary pay my salary.

 

[armycowboy]

By definition MAGA is beta personality types.

No alpha type worships another man.

Especially one that wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire.

^ This

 

[Grogu]

LOL..time tracking software is primarily used for law, accounting or designer contract work - those who bill clients the hour. If that is the sort of business you worked for then ya, your office environment wasn't screwed up.

Exactly.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you can only bill the client what the client thinks the work is worth. Those industries you mentioned don't have any special legal privileges to "bill clients the hour."

Your post couldn’t be more wrong. My final job for the company I retired from, a Top 100 company in the Fortune 500 since that list was originated in 1955, was as a litigation administrator. In other words, I directed our local legal counsel across the country where there were usually two to ten firms per state depending on the size of the state. Each month, I reviewed the billing statements per attorney and firm for each legal matter currently being litigated. Then I paid the firms.

What you apparently don’t know, is that there was a legal working agreement between my employer and each law firm. That included each attorney’s and paralegal’s hourly rate. It had nothing to do with paying the law firm what I thought their work was worth. It was contracted as such, and the hourly rate was plainly spelled out on the attorney’s billing statement each month, as well.

I knew the approximate legal costs up front from each type of matter I was about to retain an attorney to handle. If I wanted massive headaches and negative feedback to my superiors way up the executive ladder, I could question the billable hours submitted by the law firms with little to no basis. There is also a level of professional trust at work here.

Law firms getting the business from my employer usually spanned years and decades. It was work volume and a feather in their cap to be able to say they represented my employer. I had a business relationship with every one of these attorneys- some damn good ones, too. It got so that if I called one of them for counsel on a prospective matter or something they weren’t currently working on, the billing meter on their end wasn’t running. If it was something they were eventually going to be retained for, they would eventually get paid. It also had to be a billable matter- in other words, they would have to formally be asked to take a matter and conduct a conflicts check.

So yeah, they had “special legal privileges” to bill clients by the hour or fraction of hours. The original signed working agreement gave them that.

 

[MamboDervish]

Do Democrats not understand what an appointee is? I guess not.

Do Republicans not understand the difference between a scalpel and a chainsaw? I guess not.

So I guess all of those supervisors are elected?

Most civil servants were hired based on having qualifications for their job, and after working competently for years at those jobs, were promoted to their supervisory position.

 

[MaryP]

The first thing the Democrats need to do is get rid of Jeffries.

He would be a great leader in decades past where there was decorum and decency.

Right now we need a street dog to fight the mafia that is the Republican party.

Jamie Raskin? He's not a street dog, but he's smart enough to think like one, probably.

 

[dobieg]

As someone who served far longer and at a much higher rank than you ever achieved, I could give a shit what you think.

But to set you straight, I work for DeCA, we're self sufficient, the few hundred dollars you spend on taxes don't go towards my salary, the money Soldiers, their dependents and retirees spend at the Commissary pay my salary.

lol

Son, I pay more in taxes than multiples of your salary which means I pay a disproportionate amout of your bloated government salary only to see you whine and disparage our leadership. And let's be real honest. Your job at aafes is not very important and in no way will you running away sobbing have any impact on anyone.

 

[VySky]

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 believe your 5 bullet points are a lie.

Follow the orders soilder and answer the email

 

[VySky]

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.

During CA-76 studies as a DoD employee I and my Branch had to log our activities in 15 minute increments.

The request presented to the rank and file is not uncommon.

 

[VySky]

MAGA thinks government workers are accountable to Musk.

The OP's email came from the Secretary of Defense.

Do try and keep up.

 

[VySky]

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.

Are you a DoD employee? If not, you are not required to be provided with an explanation.

 

[VySky]

Very few will ever be read. Over 2 million people work for the federal government. Nobody is reading that many emails.

You never sent that response. Not buying it.

 

[Callen]

Is that what you gathered from a simple question? Christ! My boss asks me what I'm working on all the time, either explicitly or by looking at my time spent log.

Musk isn't their boss. What skills or knowledge do the Doge team have to understand and evaluate the importance of the accomplishments listed? How do they use the information in a meaningful way?

 

[ElChupacabra]

I disagree with the premise of your question.

I'm sure you do, but what you have yet to do is explain why it would make sense.

The amount of outrage over this nothingburger tells me it's not stupid to begin with.

It's less outrage and more calling out the stupidity of what Musk is doing, and mainly because of the reasons he's given explaining the reason he's asking for people to do this. Is it easy for employees to do? Sure. Does it make sense? Not so much. I mean, the CEO of a company could ask all of his employees to write limericks about pie every day. How much sense do you think that would make?

 

[ElChupacabra]

Are you a DoD employee? If not, you are not required to be provided with an explanation.

I am, since I'm a tax payer who helps fund the DoD. Besides, Musk made all of this public and addressed this publicly so it's fair game. I'm sure Elon thanks you for your defense of his honor.

 

[rjay]

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 was government employee for eight years. I have worked, as a contractor, with government employees for twenty years. My observation about government employees is this:
80% of them are hard working, proud of their work, and trying to give good ROI for their employer. 15% are nearing retirement and trying to ensure their area is in capable hands when they leave and 5% are trying to hide and keep getting paid for doing as little as possible. Not unlike any other large organization.

 

[Allan]

I was government employee for eight years. I have worked, as a contractor, with government employees for twenty years. My observation about government employees is this:
80% of them are hard working, proud of their work, and trying to give good ROI for their employer. 15% are nearing retirement and trying to ensure their area is in capable hands when they leave and 5% are trying to hide and keep getting paid for doing as little as possible. Not unlike any other large organization.

Spot on observations.

 

[CaughtInThe]

Jamie Raskin? He's not a street dog, but he's smart enough to think like one, probably.

 

[Grand Mal]

I don't see it as an insult. I am quite certain that is not where Musk's or Trump's mind was going with that request. Why do Liberals always try to make it up as they go? Oh yeah, because they are consistently on the wrong side of the argument.

So what's the point?
How many people will have to respond, 10,000? Let's say 10,000. So now 10,000 responses have to be read, by who, supervisors? That's gonna take some time. Do those supervisors also have to write responses and email them to managers or whatever?
Someone has to check the truth of those responses or it's pointless, innit. Damned slackers might just make up accomplishments otherwise. Now, THATS gonna take up time. Time on the government dime when other stuff isn't getting done.
And this is all in the name of efficiency? Gimme a break. This is all in the name of demeaning people. Know your place, jump through hoops when you're told to jump.
The best people won't tolerate it. They'll walk. Which fits the downsizing agenda but it sure won't make a more efficient, more effective civil service.

edit- just read elsewhere that the number is actually 2,000,000+. Now THATS efficiency, reading and checking up on 2M replies.

 

[armycowboy]

lol

Son, I pay more in taxes than multiples of your salary which means I pay a disproportionate amout of your bloated government salary only to see you whine and disparage our leadership.

Of course you do. Everyone on the internet is wealthy.

 

[armycowboy]

I believe your 5 bullet points are a lie.

Follow the orders soilder and answer the email

After all these years, do you really believe I care what you think?

 

[JMR]

So do you understand why timesheets are not a big deal (to be asked to provide one)?

Do you understand that "the boss" making clear he is cutting staff and requiring bullet point justification for yours is not the same as routinely being asked to fill a timesheet? Especially when "the boss" knows nothing about the agency?

 

[dobieg]

Of course you do. Everyone on the internet is wealthy.

*shrug*

And everyone is a vet who served with distinction and honor.

 

[Fearandloathing]

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

Dear Mr. Musk


I apologize that I am unable to comply with your request for details on my performance the last few days. I have been so inundated with such demands that I have had no time to accomplish anything.

This has led to an outbreak of severe depression as, like most professionals, my psyche is attached to my self image. The constant firings and pressure to send useless emails has caused another relapse of my PTSD first acquired in Iraq while serving the CIA.

Because of my high security clearance I cannot attend a non-cleared facility. The wait for a safe seat is five years. I therefore, have decided to self commit to radical therapy and will be on medical leave again, this time for eleven years.

Feel free to contact me then.

 

[VySky]

I am, since I'm a tax payer who helps fund the DoD. Besides, Musk made all of this public and addressed this publicly so it's fair game. I'm sure Elon thanks you for your defense of his honor.

The email came from The Secretary of Defense. You do realize that right?