Pros
Work-Life Balance: Can be remote some days; if you work overtime, you get credit hours for future time off; can revised schedule allowing every other Friday off; reimbursements processed within 48 hours; Financial: The agency covers commute costs if using public transit; reimbursement is processed and deposited quickly; transparent pay scale; regional pay adjustments based on the cost of living; work gym at headquarters and most regional offices; technically offers a pension; pay is meaningfully higher than working for federal elected officials; costs covered for all work-travel; company travel credit card.
Cons
Career development: Limited upward advancement opportunities and bias in promotions; Equal Opportunity: people with disabilities, Black, Native, Pacific Islander, and other people of color persistently less likely to be promoted, rise to senior leadership, or be invested in--unless hired for a limited term. No human resources, hiring, evaluation, promotion, or overall reforms in four years since anti-racism commitment; a widespread belief that speaking up will lead to retaliation with example to support; no required anti-bias training; no screening for bias in managers Financial: not competitive compared to the private sector Work/Life Balance: required in-person days despite all virtual meetings and work; short notice for new assignments and deadlines; assignments can be vague, unclear, and subject to last-minute changes; sometimes have to start work hours before start time due to last-minute request; the mental toll of microaggressions in work culture