From the people I know who are telling me this, those using sick pay are required to come to work.  The bosses aren't asking for a doctors note either.

Then that tracks with what I said about "excepted" employees.

However, they need to be careful.  From what I read, an excepted employee must come to work.  If they are taking sick leave, it will potentially be looked into.  It's expected that annual leave will not be summarily approved except in unusual circumstances due to the reduced manning situation.

OPM states that any leave that federal employees previously had scheduled
during the period of the lapse in appropriations is canceled, so they will not
be charged leave in those cases.

If a federal employee had properly scheduled “use-or-lose” annual leave that
he or she was not able to use because of the lapse in appropriations, that leave
must be restored.
........
Both furloughed and excepted federal employees will receive credit for any
annual and sick leave they would have otherwise accrued during the period
of the government shutdown once Congress restores appropriations.
........
OPM further adds, “Generally, we do not expect excepted employees to request
to use paid leave during a lapse, since they are entitled to retroactive pay for
furlough periods without charge to leave. Use of paid leave under this special
authority is subject to normal rules for the applicable leave program, including
leave request and approval procedures.”

Most companies have reduced sick leave program abuse by creating a comprehensive leave category.  No matter if you want time off for travel or because you are sick, it comes from the same pot of money.  A separate sick leave category encourages abuse by saying you're sick when you're not.  I think the government needs to look at following industry standards so people aren't fudging the system to take advantage of paid sick days.

Not requiring a doctor's note seems like an invitation to abuse the system just because of the shutdown.

There are several local news videos of lines being set up for federal workers ONLY to come with their expensive new vehicles so volunteers can put free food into their nice new trunks of their nice new vehicles.

I hope that after the government re-opens and they get paid back pay, that they would "give back" to these nice agencies that gave them free food so that people who are in need can also utilize the services.

I commented on one of those news videos that after they get home after picking up their free food to contact hawaii's 2 senators and ask them if they voted to re-open the government.

There are several local news videos of lines being set up for federal workers ONLY to come with their expensive new vehicles so volunteers can put free food into their nice new trunks of their nice new vehicles.

=============
Along this line...Sometimes I drive past a church on the way to the range.
They set up a food distribution tent. All the cars that I see in the line as I go past it are nicer or newer than my car.

There are several local news videos of lines being set up for federal workers ONLY to come with their expensive new vehicles so volunteers can put free food into their nice new trunks of their nice new vehicles.

I hope that after the government re-opens and they get paid back pay, that they would "give back" to these nice agencies that gave them free food so that people who are in need can also utilize the services.

I commented on one of those news videos that after they get home after picking up their free food to contact hawaii's 2 senators and ask them if they voted to re-open the government.

Having a nice car doesn't mean they don't have money.  They bought the car with their current income.  Maybe they even over extended or are planning for the future, so they're getting food now to save money.  Instead of waiting until their bank account reaches zero, then go get free food.

The same happened during the Covid shutdowns.  My friend worked at a car dealership and months in, is when he saw the cars being returned cause they couldn't afford the monthly payments anymore.

Since the DNC and the media work together, I highly suspect that HI voters will see this as the GOP's fault. Refer to my post about how my feed is getting flooded with stuff like this from other states senators/reps in DC.

What does being poor mean?  My sister tells me a story of her classmates family being poor long ago.  Their father brought home a can of coke and the family enjoyed sharing it together.

I talked to my friend who works at the shipyard at Pearl (DOD).  This is just his office/department.  Of those who are still coming into work, they don't blame Trump or the GOP at all.  IDK what political demographic is in the office, but knowing that HI is a very blue state, odds are that the office would be filled with more DNC supporters.  But at the same time, they don't blame the DNC either.  They're just frustrated that they aren't getting paid yet.  So it seems like they're smart enough to knwo that in the end, they will get paid as this has happened many times in the past.

Now on my feed, being added to the propoganda are stories of people who rely on money from the feds for medical treatments to cancer like things.  They're saying that their treatment will either stop or that they will have to pay big time to continue treatment.

Having a nice car doesn't mean they don't have money.  They bought the car with their current income.  Maybe they even over extended or are planning for the future, so they're getting food now to save money.  Instead of waiting until their bank account reaches zero, then go get free food.

.....
FYI
This was way before the government shutdown.
I suppose the nice cars could be older retired folks who qualify  for assistance.  Heck, ....I could probably qualify.

There are alternative sources of money for these people to live on during the shutdown in order of what comes first.

1.  Emergency savings, which is recommended 3 to 6 months.
2.  14 day supply of food for natural disasters
3.  Borrowing or gifts from friends and family
4.  Short term loans
5.  Selling some belongings/downsizing
6.  Withdrawing from retirement accounts
7.  Community aid/donations
8.  Government aid

Last resort is government aid.  Everyone's been so complacent on everything else.  There are some people that are truly poor and struggle.  But vast majority is self made problems when they eat out all the time, have nice smartphones, and drive good cars instead of catching the bus.

..

What does being poor mean?  My sister tells me a story of her classmates family being poor long ago.  Their father brought home a can of coke and the family enjoyed sharing it together.

In Hawaii, the criteria for SNAP assistance is your income/family income can't exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.  There are 3 different charts for residents of the 48 contiguous states, AK and HI.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dd73d4f00d8a819d10b2fdb70d254f7b/detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf

So, you find the poverty level for that size household, then multiply by 3 (300%). 

Hawaii has the highest poverty-level amounts of the 3 categories.  A family of 5 in HI can earn ($43,310 * 3)=$129,930.00, and qualify for SNAP benefits.  If 2 members are income earners, each one can make an average of $64,965.

The amount of benefits per month can vary.  Not everyone qualifies for the max.  It depends on things like monthly mortgage or rent amount, utilities, debt payments, and other expenses, if anyone is a minor or disabled, and so on.

In Hawaii, the criteria for SNAP assistance is your income/family income can't exceed 300% of the federal poverty level.  There are 3 different charts for residents of the 48 contiguous states, AK and HI.

https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dd73d4f00d8a819d10b2fdb70d254f7b/detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf

So, you find the poverty level for that size household, then multiply by 3 (300%). 

Hawaii has the highest poverty-level amounts of the 3 categories.  A family of 5 in HI can earn ($43,310 * 3)=$129,930.00, and qualify for SNAP benefits.  If 2 members are income earners, each one can make an average of $64,965.

The amount of benefits per month can vary.  Not everyone qualifies for the max.  It depends on things like monthly mortgage or rent amount, utilities, debt payments, and other expenses, if anyone is a minor or disabled, and so on.

Damn, having to multiply it by 3 shows how expensive HI is.  "I'm not poor, I'm hawaii poor. If I lived in Montana, I would have a mansion".

Damn, having to multiply it by 3 shows how expensive HI is.  "I'm not poor, I'm hawaii poor. If I lived in Montana, I would have a mansion".

....
This is why most of my family moved away.

There are alternative sources of money for these people to live on during the shutdown in order of what comes first.

  This past month, I reassessed my expenses and cut/improved where possible.
I lowered my auto insurance by $300 per year, Cell phone service (x2) by $80 per month, internet and TV by $80 per month.
$2,220 per year savings ! 
   Went over and made adjustments to my "Retirement Account" and it gained 11.25% this month.
   Also in the process of "cleaning up" MY environment like shedding un-used vehicles, household goods and replanting garden.
Three new chicks due this week.
 
   And yes, we have also been "eligible" for decades but never depended on others.

There are alternative sources of money for these people to live on during the shutdown in order of what comes first.

1.  Emergency savings, which is recommended 3 to 6 months.
2.  14 day supply of food for natural disasters
3.  Borrowing or gifts from friends and family
4.  Short term loans
5.  Selling some belongings/downsizing
6.  Withdrawing from retirement accounts
7.  Community aid/donations
8.  Government aid

Last resort is government aid.  Everyone's been so complacent on everything else.  There are some people that are truly poor and struggle.  But vast majority is self made problems when they eat out all the time, have nice smartphones, and drive good cars instead of catching the bus.

You don't have to have a nice car if you are hard pressed to make rent and put food on the table.  I put #1 above as the top priority and it has served me well.  I made average income, and raised 3 kids without any outside assistance.

Depending on the times, sometimes you gotta realize you need to eat hamburger instead of steak.

Lots of people nowadays are living short sighted.  They are not looking far down the road, when their financial situation requires they SHOULD.

Cross-posted from another topic.  Felt it's more applicable here...

Among program participants, over 35 percent identified as White,
nearly 26 percent as African American,
nearly 16 percent as Hispanic,
4 percent as Asian, and
a little over 1 percent as Native American.

It should be noted that 17 percent of participants are listed as “race unknown.”

About 36 percent of SNAP households receive the maximum allotment.
The other 64 percent of participating households receive less than the maximum.
The average benefit is just $6 per person per day.

As described in a prior FRAC analysis, the greatest shortcoming of SNAP
is that benefits for most households are not enough to get them through the
entire month without hunger or being forced to sacrifice nutrition quality.

https://frac.org/blog/characteristics-report-by-usda-provides-insights-into-who-participates-in-snap

Speaking of Trump and nukes ...

Trump says since it's been 30 days of government shutdown, it's now time for the GOP majority in the Senate to take the "Nuclear Option" and bypass the filibuster altogether.

I think this will be the path that garners the most favor with voters.  The GOP gets roasted for not using their majority powers when it would benefit them and their agenda, and then they get roasted for using their power instead of "compromising" with the Democrats.  Might as well use that club while they can.  Everyone knows the Democrats would.

I expect a report tomorrow that SNAP benefits, military paychecks, and all the rest of the doom and gloom tied to the shutdown will be funded tomorrow -- either because the GOP decide to use the power they were given, or because the Democrats realize they have no leverage to continue playing games for no real political gain.

We shall see ...

Speaking of Trump and nukes ...

Trump says since it's been 30 days of government shutdown, it's now time for the GOP majority in the Senate to take the "Nuclear Option" and bypass the filibuster altogether.

I think this will be the path that garners the most favor with voters.  The GOP gets roasted for not using their majority powers when it would benefit them and their agenda, and then they get roasted for using their power instead of "compromising" with the Democrats.  Might as well use that club while they can.  Everyone knows the Democrats would.

I expect a report tomorrow that SNAP benefits, military paychecks, and all the rest of the doom and gloom tied to the shutdown will be funded tomorrow -- either because the GOP decide to use the power they were given, or because the Democrats realize they have no leverage to continue playing games for no real political gain.

We shall see ...

A majority of the GOP are deep state.  They are the same as the gotdam democrats.  My prediction is they will allow the democrats to “negotiate” a deal to fund snap, allowing them to take credit and boost their numbers for the midterm talking points. 

They had them by the balls from January, yet we have seen no real movement on any thing significant on ANY real issues that they were elected to now hold the majority, including what DOGE reported on and 2a issues, which we have seen ZERO REAL movement on.   It’s really very sickening.   It’s clear both parties have no real interest in MAGA.  They want to continue the status quo. 

I hope I’m wrong and wish to say so come Nov 1, but I’m not holding my breath…

A majority of the GOP are deep state.  They are the same as the gotdam democrats.  My prediction is they will allow the democrats to “negotiate” a deal to fund snap, allowing them to take credit and boost their numbers for the midterm talking points. 

They had them by the balls from January, yet we have seen no real movement on any thing significant on ANY real issues that they were elected to now hold the majority, including what DOGE reported on and 2a issues, which we have seen ZERO REAL movement on.   It’s really very sickening.   It’s clear both parties have no real interest in MAGA.  They want to continue the status quo. 

I hope I’m wrong and wish to say so come Nov 1, but I’m not holding my breath…

According to this,  GOP isn't interested in spending bills for individual programs or agencies to ease the consequences of the shutdown.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5581231-republicans-reject-rifle-shot-bills-shutdown/

Getting rid of the fillerbuster is a bad idea.

When Democrats are in power they push hard to remove it while Republicans strongly oppose it.
When Republicans are in power they push hard to remove it while Democrats strongly oppose it.

Thats a sign it's a really bad idea.

Speaking of Trump and nukes ...

Trump says since it's been 30 days of government shutdown, it's now time for the GOP majority in the Senate to take the "Nuclear Option" and bypass the filibuster altogether.

I think this will be the path that garners the most favor with voters.  The GOP gets roasted for not using their majority powers when it would benefit them and their agenda, and then they get roasted for using their power instead of "compromising" with the Democrats.  Might as well use that club while they can.  Everyone knows the Democrats would.

I expect a report tomorrow that SNAP benefits, military paychecks, and all the rest of the doom and gloom tied to the shutdown will be funded tomorrow -- either because the GOP decide to use the power they were given, or because the Democrats realize they have no leverage to continue playing games for no real political gain.

We shall see ...

MTG posted 2 weeks ago on how this should have been used.  I guess she foresaw that nothing would be done in the future.