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Post by globalpanda on Feb 16, 2008 12:18:53 GMT -5
I thought it might be useful to start a thread with tips and tricks for those folks about to join the Federal Government for the first time. The intent would be for those of us who have "learned lessons the hard way" to share that information with our soon to be colleagues. Things that the folks over in BEST do not mention.
Here is my first tip.
When you move to a new town, consider having an unlisted phone number. If you do want to have a listed number in the phone book, consider using your spouses name for the listing. Your friends and family will be able to look you up that way. Do not list your street address in the phone directory.
Reason: You will be dealing with all sorts of people in the course of your career with the Administration. Some of them more stable than others. It occasionally happens, that someone who is not happy about something, will look your name up in the phone book because they remember you. And then call you. Worse yet, they may call and talk to your spouse or children about how unhappy they are. FPS usually reacts quickly to these situations, but you can not unring that bell. It is very unnerving. Do not give them the opportunity to know your street address.
All of this is doubly true if you have an unusual name and are posted to a small town.
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Post by judicature on Feb 16, 2008 13:26:30 GMT -5
I highly recommend the unlisted number. As a state court judge, I got one immediately when I was appointed. One of my colleagues received death threats recently and experienced significant stress because he felt he had placed his family at unnecessary risk by not having an unpublished number (and address). Use some caution: as an ALJ, you are presuming to make decisions that affect people's lives . . . occasionally they don't like it much....  |
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Post by aljsouth on Feb 16, 2008 13:53:36 GMT -5
Take Globalpanda's advice. I used to disagree until my spouse got a very odd phone call from what turned out to be a claimant. I am now unlisted. Make sure it won't be available on 411 or internet services as well.
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Post by nothingventured on Feb 16, 2008 15:10:33 GMT -5
Is confidential vehicle registration available to ALJs?
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Post by Pixie on Feb 17, 2008 8:41:25 GMT -5
When you go to training, you will need a document to prove citizenship. On your checklist of things to take with you, add a birth certificate, passport (expired will probably work), or voter's registration card. Whatever you bring with you to the new judges' school is what you will have. There is no finding it when you go home at the end of the day and bringing it in "tomorrow." Pix.
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Post by odarite on Feb 17, 2008 9:18:42 GMT -5
Quite the opposite. Any new employee for any employer in the country must prove the legal right to work in the US, so that part is no different than if you had gotten a job with Dewey, Cheathem & Howe, but one of the qualifications for this job is you must be a US citizen. Permanent resident aliens need not apply. You gotta provide the actual documentation at some point, and from what Pix is saying, you will do it in B'more, not when you first enter on duty at your new office.
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Post by aljsouth on Feb 17, 2008 9:52:35 GMT -5
When you go to training, you will need a document to prove citizenship. On your checklist of things to take with you, add a birth certificate, passport (expired will probably work), or voter's registration card. Whatever you bring with you to the new judges' school is what you will have. There is no finding it when you go home at the end of the day and bringing it in "tomorrow." Pix. . I just happened to carry my passport to training (used it as ID in the airport, two were required for a time after 9/11). Very good thing I did. Bring your social security card. Go get it from your safe deposit box. Bring birth certificate. You won't be paid unless you have ID like this. Quite a few in my class ended up getting things fed ex'ed because they forgot. It added more stress to their families already stressed with a hurried move to another town. You may do some of these things in your two week orientation at your new office. I am uncertain about this. Bring those papers to that office as well. Better safe than sorry. |
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Post by globalpanda on Feb 18, 2008 18:23:45 GMT -5
Tip #2
When you first come on duty you will be offered the opportunity to purchase Federal Group Life Insurance. Buy as much as you can tolerate. It is a very good deal.
Basically you are only allowed to purchase FEGLI at the start of your employment or during the once a decade open season. Think twice before you make a decision to forgo purchasing it. You will not get another opportunity for years and years and years.
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Post by nonamouse on Feb 18, 2008 22:11:35 GMT -5
Go to the various websites and check out what health plans and retirement benefits are available if you are new to fed employment. Do not expect to receive explanatory handouts before you must make your choices. Do not expect anyone to even supply the individual websites. I had to wander the halls to find someone to explain the life insurance deal since I was handed a bare stack of forms to complete without any manuals or pamphlets.
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Post by judicature on Feb 18, 2008 22:24:06 GMT -5
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Post by jagghagg on Feb 19, 2008 6:14:44 GMT -5
FEGLI: Think twice before you make a decision to forgo purchasing it. You will not get another opportunity for years and years and years. Excellent advice. I forwent and now am forelorn I did!!!  |
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Post by testtaker on Feb 19, 2008 14:36:51 GMT -5
I don't remember where I had posted this before, but since I can't find it I'll just post it again. this info was from the "benefits" section of the ALJ job posting on USA Jobs way back when in May 2007. Flexible Spending Accounts – The Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSAFeds) allows you to pay for certain health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. For additional information visit: www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/index.asp Health Insurance – The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program offers over 100 optional plans. For additional information visit: www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp. Leave – Most Federal employees earn both annual and sick leave. For additional information visit: www.opm.gov/oca/leave/index.asp. Life Insurance – The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) offers Basic Life Insurance plus three types of optional insurance. For additional information visit: www.opm.gov/insure/life/index.aspLong Term Care Insurance - The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for Federal employees and their parents, parents-in-law, stepparents, spouses, and adult children. For additional information visit: www.ltcfeds.com/Retirement Program - Almost all new employees are automatically covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan. The three tiers are: Social Security Benefits, Basic Benefit Plan, and Thrift Savings Plan. For additional information visit: www.opm.gov/retire/index.aspThis link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees. www.usajobs.opm.gov/ei61.asp |
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Post by tdtksbp on Feb 20, 2008 8:47:35 GMT -5
Speaking of benefits, does anyone know if state retirement time can be transferred into federal retirement time? I know the opposite is true in my state.
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Post by morgullord on Feb 20, 2008 8:58:50 GMT -5
Your phone number should be unlisted and unpublished. Get caller ID so that if a disgruntled claimant somehow obtains your number you can pinpoint the source of the call.
Do not "wear the black robe" outside of work. I have gone to the same church for 17 years and the vast majority of the congregation knows only that I work for the government as an attorney; my neighbors know only that I work for the government. In short, do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself.
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Post by aljsouth on Feb 20, 2008 9:02:34 GMT -5
Speaking of benefits, does anyone know if state retirement time can be transferred into federal retirement time? I know the opposite is true in my state. Mine would not. This may be true for all states or it may have just been mine. The few times this topic came up the answer was no; but by all means ask. Perhaps your state has some sort of compact with the feds. |
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Post by chinook on Feb 20, 2008 9:08:45 GMT -5
No, you cannot transfer state government retirement to the Federal system (except certain DC Government employees - such as employees of the DC Courts -- but I forget DC is not a state). If you have military service, you can buy that time for retirement and if you have prior Federal employment you may or may not be able to get that time back depending on the system you were in (CSRS or FERS) and whether you took your money out when you left the government.
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Post by conanthebarbarian on Feb 20, 2008 9:34:49 GMT -5
morgullord: Sound advice. Throughout my travels, I have found that keeping a low "personal" profile is usually best especially when starting a new job.
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Post by Litigator on Feb 20, 2008 21:42:38 GMT -5
There is another perspective regarding the FEGLI life insurance program. Many of you are relatively young and in good health. FEGLI doesn't offer "super preferred" rates or distinguish between underwriting risks other than based on age.
Many of you non-smoking youngsters that are in good health may be better off shopping on-line for a 15-year, 20-year, or even a 25-year level term life insurance policy. If you are a young, healthy, non-smoker, on a cost per unit basis (e.g. cost per $100,000 in coverage) you'll save money by purchasing a level-term policy from a private insurer in contrast to purchasing a FEGLI policy.
FEGLI policy premiums do go up as you age. And if you are presently a healthy non-smoker, you'd likely be indirectly subsidizing the premiums of other federal employees that are not in as good of health.
Would you buy auto insurance through the federal government merely because it was offered to you as a new hire? Certainly not. And especially if it wasn't price competitive given your individual characteristics as a driver. The same premise holds true for life insurance.
I speak from experience. When I entered on duty with the federal government I discovered that I could get a lot more coverage for the money purchasing a 15-year level term policy than I could through the FEGLI program.
On the other side of the coin, if you are all but uninsurable in the private sector then FEGLI is the way to go.
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Post by testtaker on Jun 26, 2008 12:03:04 GMT -5
bump - thought I'd revive this for us soon-to-be newbies.
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Post by nonamouse on Jun 26, 2008 13:59:04 GMT -5
For newbies to govt. service, don't forget to ask if there is a government rate at hotels even for non-business trips because many of them offer a substantial break. For example, in Hawaii I know that the Hilton hotels/resorts have a federal and military discount that is quite good. Many places only give the discount for business trips but many others are more generous.
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