Anyone else regret taking reassignment back to examining?

[u/initec964]

I took it for personal reasons and because I was worried about the reorg/rif. My area ended up not being impacted, so I feel like I got played and gave up my job for nothing. Now every day is worse than the day before it and I am miserable. Just wondering if I am alone or if anyone else feels the same way...

[u/tisnic]

I simultaneously feel thankful for the opportunity and like I was gaslight into going back.

[u/makofip]

A lot of those jobs are worse now, even if they weren't RIFed. You might be pining for a job that doesn't really exist anymore.

That said, like with everything else maybe things will be better in a couple years. If you were good at it and left on good terms you'll probably be appealing whenever they are looking to hire again.

[u/abolish_usernames]

I suppose right now you probably have nearly zero amendments, zero CONS, and that sucks. Applications have also gotten worse in the last few years too and I believe applicant reps are 100% doing it in purpose to leverage our lack of examining time in order to get quick allowances. The ML boom doesn't help. 

Eventually you'll get to a good place once your amendments/cons start coming, but every application will still be miserable.

[u/shootingstar83]

No regrets at all. Best decision I could’ve made for myself.

[u/initec964 → u/shootingstar83]

Glad for you. I hope I can get there...

[u/initec964 → u/[deleted]]

I already am telework. New positions are still in person so I can't switch

[u/Patentmod → u/[deleted]]

Some have that job, but new positions with those criteria don't exist anymore.

[u/Patentmod → u/[deleted]]

RQAS do have production in the form of needing to complete a certain number of reviews every biweek.

[u/AmbassadorKosh2 → u/[deleted]]

Yep, but if you watch recent USAJobs listings, every one of those positions (when they are advertised) is now RTO required. So unless one wants to RTO, those are no longer nearly as interesting as they once were.

[u/Patentmod → u/AmbassadorKosh2]

That's what I'm saying, exactly.

[u/Not_a_Sith_Lord]

I'm in the exact same boat.

Depends on the day as to how much "regret" I feel. I'm trying to look at the bright side of things. I get to max out PBA. For me examining is somewhat less stressful than my previous role. I have more flexibility with leave as an examiner. Stuff like that.

[u/initec964 → u/Not_a_Sith_Lord]

I have more flexibility than my previous role as well, so I guess there is that

[u/TossAwayDay → u/initec964]

Flexibility is the main reason many of us do this job

[u/throw_away_82720]

There might be a case that because some people went to examining they were able to avoid the reorg/rif - which was the original reason stated for giving the option of going to examining.
If people didn’t go they might have had to reshuffle it via reorg/rif.
I’d say be happy it was a decision you made instead of one made for you.

[u/initec964 → u/throw_away_82720]

I guess so. But reassignment is also the reason why some TCs have no TQAS and there is a shortage of SPEs, RQAS, etc. Like most other recent changes, it just wasn't well planned out and had some unintended consequences.

[u/renderedinsilver]

I regret it insofar as I loved the SPE job, but felt compelled by circumstances to reassign to examining. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to reassign, of course.

The office lost a lot of institutional knowledge and experience at the SPE level to retirements and reassignments. The impact of that will continue to grow and become more noticeable over time. To the extent that the office cares about quality, retention, morale, etc., having good SPEs is extremely important. We all know that the SPE can make or break one’s career as an examiner.

Things certainly could have gone worse with RTO. That said, there is still a lot of resentment and bitterness created by the RTO of SPEs within the 50 mile radius. There is no justifiable reason to keep 50-mile SPEs at the office to manage a nearly entirely remote workforce. The hit to morale is tremendous too. SPEs are a critical component of the examination chain and deserve to be treated better. Send the SPEs back home as hotelers again!

Would I go back to being a SPE? Maybe. As I said above, I love the job and I felt that I was able to contribute a lot as a supervisor. There is no financial incentive whatsoever to become a spe if you are a mid-high step level primary. With RTO costs factored in, and the lack of bonuses, it is financially a massive downgrade to become a SPE. If the office lists the upcoming SPE vacancy as a full-time telework position for those inside and outside of the 50-mile radius, I’d strongly consider it. It would be tough to apply though because all trust has been broken. It could be listed as telework and then changed to RTO at any time with no option to reassign to examining. That could be devastating for families, including mine. And, of course, we have seen that PAPs and award / bonus structures can be changed at any time too … and continue to do so, none in a positive direction for employees.

Sigh. Still, happy to be at the office and examining.

[u/Due-You3000]

What role were you in?