Fed retirement

[AbnormalPsych]

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I wouldn't hold out hope for a GS-15, I've never met a psychologist at that level of executive leadership. I'm sure it happens, but it is relatively rare.

I knew of at least one. Person was close to retirement so didn't really care much about much other than having a good time.

 

[WisNeuro]

I knew of at least one. Person was close to retirement so didn't really care much about much other than having a good time.

Fair. Bottom line for interested parties. There is one person like this at large VAMCs. I imagine they stay there for a while when they get it. So, I wouldn't base my VA career in the hope of securing one of these.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Ah, I may have known 1 then.

Yep, I've known two. Both were Chief of Psychology or the equivalent. I've also known Lead Psychologists that were 14's, usually in smaller systems. If I were going to take any Chief position, I probably wouldn't settle for less than a GS15.

Then again, I don't think I'd want either job. But if I were burned out enough on clinical activity and wanted to stick with VA, it's an option. As is a more central office-type position. And plenty of psychologists work in managerial roles outside of mental health (e.g., employee education and workforce development, quality control, other random spots).

As others have said, it's likely to be less frustrating and more lucrative to have one or more side gigs.

 

[deleted106747]

So, others can correct me if I am wrong. However, if you go from worker to manager, you don't keep the same step level (ex. gs-13 step 10 to gs14 step 10). You get what I believe is about a 2 step increase to begin with. So if you were making GS-13 step 10 money you start at gs14 step 6 and then have tp keep working your way up again. So the initial raise is only $6-8k and then you have to work your way up the steps. It is easier to keep a side PP, then do that IMO.

Curious about this - why would you start at 14 step 6 by the calculation that you get a 2 step increase? Is it to keep the pay increase in the $6-8000 range?
Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the flexibility. I was thinking maybe at the leadership level there would be a little less babysitting - e.g. if you get your work done, who cares if you're in your office until the dot of 4:30.

 

[Sanman]

Curious about this - why would you start at 14 step 6 by the calculation that you get a 2 step increase? Is it to keep the pay increase in the $6-8000 range?
Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the flexibility. I was thinking maybe at the leadership level there would be a little less babysitting - e.g. if you get your work done, who cares if you're in your office until the dot of 4:30.

I am no expert on this for sure. However, my understanding is that if you accept a promotion you generally start on whatever salary is the equivalent is two step increases above your current salary. If you are GS13 step 10 that equates to around GS14 step 5 or 6 as each step increase is $3-4k at that level. If you are at a different step level, it would change correspondingly.

As for flexibility, at that level it often goes one way. Our chief is often leaving around 4-4:30pm, but we get emails at 6am as well. So yeah, you have the flexibility to work more than 8 hours because there is no way to be done in 8 hours. Similar to my experience as a manager not in VA.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Curious about this - why would you start at 14 step 6 by the calculation that you get a 2 step increase? Is it to keep the pay increase in the $6-8000 range?
Thanks everyone for your thoughts on the flexibility. I was thinking maybe at the leadership level there would be a little less babysitting - e.g. if you get your work done, who cares if you're in your office until the dot of 4:30.

I think your best bet for the bolded portion is probably just going to be PP or a clinical position outside VA, depending on the culture of the hospital/clinic. Like Sanman, I get the feeling that even upper-level leadership doesn't seem any less beholden to a normal work schedule than front-line providers.

 

[Sanman]

I think your best bet for the bolded portion is probably just going to be PP or a clinical position outside VA, depending on the culture of the hospital/clinic. Like Sanman, I get the feeling that even upper-level leadership doesn't seem any less beholden to a normal work schedule than front-line providers.

Or be out driving in the middle of nowhere like me. Then no one has any clue where you are or what schedule you are keeping. 😉

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Or be out driving in the middle of nowhere like me. Then no one has any clue where you are or what schedule you are keeping. 😉

Hah, true. HBPC can be great for flexibility, particularly as far as VA is concerned.

 

[JustNoticing]

Fair. Bottom line for interested parties. There is one person like this at large VAMCs. I imagine they stay there for a while when they get it. So, I wouldn't base my VA career in the hope of securing one of these.

Not true at my VA. Other positions, like Dom Chief at my VA are GS-15 positions that can be held by psychologists as well, in addition to other possibilities for MH leadership or hospital-wide leadership. There are at least 4 other psychologists in addition to the psych chief that are GS-15 that I can think of at my large VA. Still not something I would count on, and for me personally, not really positions I'd be interested in anyway.

 

[WisNeuro]

Not true at my VA. Other positions, like Dom Chief at my VA are GS-15 positions that can be held by psychologists as well, in addition to other possibilities for MH leadership or hospital-wide leadership. There are at least 4 other psychologists in addition to the psych chief that are GS-15 that I can think of at my large VA. Still not something I would count on, and for me personally, not really positions I'd be interested in anyway.

That is definitely an outlier. I've trained at the largest VA, and worked at one of the flagships, and that was nowhere near the case. Even so, advice stands for people thinking about that career, don't plan on it. Though, I wouldn't plan on it outside of the VA, either.

 

[bananabread2323]

It is true you have to ask permission to take time off, but it's almost hard for me to take enough vacation to use up all my 8hrs paid annual leave that I get each pay period and 8 hours sick leave per month.

And to be fair, you'd have to essentially ask clients/colleagues permission to take off in PP

 

[WisNeuro]

And to be fair, you'd have to essentially ask clients/colleagues permission to take off in PP

In therapy services you do need backup. But for those of us in assessment, we can take whatever days off we want. Only person I have to ask is myself.