Mister Ed

I came across this information on the Internet. Supboneas have been issued. Interesting reading.

http://www.cbsnews.c...n20120732.shtml







http://www.sodahead....estion-2220963/



http://www.scpr.org/...ast-and-furious

Cleaning House - Here's the scoop:

http://online.wsj.co...005-715247.html

The article lists all of the changes announced today.

It is my understanding the VERA/VSIP package has been approved by OPM. ATF needs to get letters out to impacted employees whose positions have been "targeted" as being eligible to receive the benefit. Not everyone will receive a letter from HR. Some will receive a letter informing them they are eligible for VERA (Voluntary Early Retirement) and others will receive a letter informing them of the Incentive being offered to entice them to retire. I wonder how will HR be able to process the paperwork in a timely manner. Before submitting paperwork, those who do receive the letter from HR need to consider their financial situation carefully. OPM is taking 6-8 months to process the retirement paperwork before individuals receive a retirement check. There has been no word on how HR will be able to process these requests in a timely manner. The only way they could possibly do it, is by hiring a contractor to do the calculations. Where is ATF getting the money to do this? How much is it going to cost? I doubt anyone would have any recourse against the contractor or ATF if the calculation was not close to what the retirement benefit check would be. It will be interesting to see how this all works out.

Here is it the end of August, and no letters have gone out yet. In order for HR to accomplish this, letters will have to be out somewhere around September 11th - 15th. Then you will get 30 days in which to make your decision and get your paperwork in, and then be off the rolls by the end of November 2011. If not, there is a very strong possibility of furloughs which could be anywhere from two weeks to three weeks. If furloughs are not enough, then the only thing left is to reduce funding for major/large contracts or begin a Reduction In Force. I'm hopeful that ATF will not have to initiate a RIF.....because if they did, I seriously doubt they would get it done correct.

It is my understanding the VERA/VSIP Package is now in the hands of OPM. They have had it for a few weeks now. No word from them at this point. In the Town Hall held a few weeks ago, Melson indicated that ATF needed about 400 people to leave ATF. It was also mentioned that they needed this many people to retire or leave ATF during the 1st quarter of FY 2012. What is interesting to me is that HR does not have sufficient staff to handle the mass calculations that could come into them from ATF employees who are considering the VETRA/VSIP. Does the management of ATF honestly think anyone is going to consider taking an early out, without having their retirement benefit calculation being done before submitting the necessary paperwork? If HR doesn't have the personnel in the Retirement/Benefits Section to do this, more than likely ATF will have to hire a contractor to do this for them, in order to get it done in a timely manner. That costs money, and its' expensive too! What's more important, is that more than likely if a contractor is hired to do the calculations, the contractor will have a clause in the contract that will "hold the contractor harmless" on the calculated retirement benefits.

It is also my understanding if the desired number of people do not retire or leave ATF, then we can expect to have furloughs up to three weeks. I seriously doubt that ATF has developed a strategy on how the furlough days are to be taken, so that there is not a negative impact on the operations of ATF. Will the furlough apply across the board to everyone, or only targeted groups or areas?

The first quarter of FY 2012 will be interesting. So, buckle up....this is going to be one bumpy ride!

Here is a brief synopsis of what Melson explained in the Town Hall Meeting:

At the beginning, he explained the issue with the Debt Ceiling and the uncertainty of the impact on ATF. Then he went on to explain:

1. It is anticipated that 150 people will leave ATF by attrition in FY 2012;

2. ATF has submitted the VERA/VSIP package to DOJ. Once reviewed and signed off on by DOJ, it then goes to OPM for approval. I'm surprised that there was no mention of it needing review/approval by OMB;

3. IF approved (the VERA/VSIP), ATF plans on offering an "incentive" of $25,000 to eligible employees. It was explained that each of the Directorates have identified (i.e. "targeted") positions that are eligible to receive the "incentive" payment. Not all employees will be offered the "incentive". When (and if it is offered), it will be done on a "first-come, first-serve" basis. In other words get your package in early. First ones in....are most likely to get approved. There was no mention of how this information will be given to eligible employees. Will ATF "notify" the eligible employees, or are we just supposed to put in our retirement papers, and "hope" they choose us?

4. ATF is hopeful that those taking the "incentive" or accept the early out (and receive no "incentive") will retire in the first quarter of FY 2012.....preferably, the "sooner the better". That way, ATF will be able to save money (payroll dollars and benefits).

5. If the needed 400 (150 leave through attrition, and 250 accept the VERA/VSIP and retire), then ATF does not project any furloughs.

6. IF the needed 400 do not leave (through attirion, or retire), then ATF will consider furloughing its' employees. At this point it is uncertain whether or not it will be a few days, to two weeks

7. If the furloughs are not enough, then ATF will have to consider "Reduction In Force".

8. All contracts are being looked at closely. Where necessary contracts are being reduced.

9. ATF management (the SLT) is not planning to cut or eliminate ATF Programs. Programs will be scaled back or reduced (dollars to fund projects).

10. ATF will continue with the hiring freeze.

11. ATF will "only" fill positions that are "critical or hard to fill".

12. ATF FTE ceiling has been reduced to the 2008 level (which I believe it was around 4,500 or 4,600 employees back then).




I hope this is helpful. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.