Since Trump took office in January, the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as DOGE has been at work to cut back on federal waste. Whether it was the offer of deferred resignation, voluntary early retirement incentive payments (VERAs) and other early retirement options, or widespread reductions in force (RIFs), the department has been busy.
But DOGE is also working to change the way federal employees interact with technology.
Republicans and Democrats alike have come out in support of updating old tech and pushing new processes, like using AI to prevent fraud in the Social Security Administration.
While the hope is to address the root issue, using AI is also intended to reduce workforce numbers through VERAs and incentive payments like VSIPs.
We’ve seen it before – a new piece of technology 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 it 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.
