If you’ve been reading the news as the administration change takes place, you’ve probably seen that President Donald Trump has established The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
There are plenty of changes in the works under this agency, but its main goals are:
- Addressing the way federal employees interact with technology
- Creating a more efficient workplace that’s more cyber secure
- Updating all outdated systems with modern ones
Republicans and Democrats alike have come out in support of updating old tech, agreeing that systems need to change – but what about the countless federal employees actually using them?
We’ve seen it before – a new operating system is introduced and a federal employee who has worked with the old system for 20-plus years is asked to learn the new system overnight. They struggle to learn the new system because of a mental health condition like OCD or anxiety. Their productivity goes down and ultimately, they fall behind.
Or maybe they have chronic migraines that get worse when they look at screens and a new process forces them to look at their computer all day long. Their doctor restricts them to looking at a screen for only two hours per day and they’re forced to miss work or continue working in pain and risk their condition becoming worse.
Whatever the case may be, sometimes advancing technology leaves federal employees behind. We understand the frustration.
What are your options moving forward?
Technology in federal workplaces is evolving faster than ever, and the pressure to adapt will only increase. Maybe your agency has already updated their old operating systems, and you’re struggling to catch up. Maybe you’re battling anxiety and the idea of having to learn new processes weighs on your mind.
If that sounds like you, it might be time to consider your options. Here’s a few to consider:
1. Request Supportive Documentation from your Doctor: This could help you in several ways, including supporting a reasonable accommodation claim and/or Disability Retirement claim in the future.
2. Request Reasonable Accommodation (RA): Especially when backed up by a doctor’s note, an RA could help you get a change in your duties or workspace so you can keep doing your job.
3. Apply for Federal Disability Retirement: We’ve seen people just like you deal with this problem, and we’ve helped them secure their future with this benefit. It would:
- Let you to continue getting a portion of your monthly salary
- Allow you to hang on to your health and life insurance
- Let you to keep gaining years of service so you don’t lose out on increased pay later on
4. Explore other Federal Retirement Options: Check to see if you meet the eligibility criteria for other retirement options. You can find out more about what’s available to you here.
Don’t wait until your agency decides it’s time to change everything. If you’re unsure what your next steps should be, give our office a call. We’ve seen claims like this time and time again, and we know how to help. You’ve already worked so hard to get where you are – let us take it from here.