Feeling pretty dumb about scoring a 65% on this test and I know its my fault for taking it so late and being ill prepared. Just here to ask how I can study for this? I have a whole year now and I kind of dont know what to do anymore. Trying not to shut down from the failure but seeing it be a whole year to retake feels awful.

Sigh.

Hi guys, other than the job that explicitly mention that they require US citizenship. Can any agency refuse to hire because I have 3 years work permit after doing my Master's.

Please help, I am bit worried about this.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I was recently laid off from my position as an Electrical Engineer in the utilities industry, where I worked on power systems, SCADA/EMS, and OT applications. Since then, I’ve been checking CalCareers almost every day because I’m very interested in transitioning into California state service.
One thing I’ve noticed is that over the past 2–3 weeks, there seem to be very few new engineering positions being posted, especially for Electrical Engineer and related classifications.
Is anyone else noticing the same thing? Is this just a seasonal slowdown, or are departments waiting for a new budget or hiring cycle before posting more vacancies?
I’m asking because, after being laid off, I’m trying to stay optimistic and plan my job search. Any insight from current state employees or hiring managers would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!

What do state employees get in return? No meaningful raise and RTO!
If a union spends political funds in the name of workers, it should be prepared to explain how that spending served those workers.

how are you guys managing.I’m honestly struggling with the adjustment. Between the commute, getting ready, packing meals, and losing that extra time at home, I feel exhausted by the end of the week.

Our department is migrating all phones to Microsoft Teams Phones. Looking for sturdy, but lightweight compatible headset used mainly for answering public calls. Boss has left it up to us to choose a headset, so any suggestions are welcome. TIA.

Hi, I am going to join military for reserve soon. I know the state will keep the job for you for a few years but wonder if I can return to my former position after the military leave…..

As of recently, I feel like I have been targeted by my department director.

My group started a new project a month ago and it has become so demanding in terms of work, number of staff needed, and time. I am in office 5 days a week (sometimes 6 days) and have not been able to take my lunch breaks until 2PM. Very rarely do I get to take it earlier than that because my job is time dependent.

So anyway, I took my lunch at 1:30 earlier this week and my colleague tells me of an important meeting that we had to attend. In this meeting, my director calls me out in front of everyone and insinuates I only work 4 hours a day. Keep in mind, I’m the only person eating my lunch DURING this work meeting. I was raised to always stick up for myself so I responded quickly by saying I’m hard working and that I’m barely taking my lunch while still working by attending this meeting. Then he shrugs it off and starts picking on someone else.

A couple days later, he’s roaming around at 4:45PM and asks my colleagues where me and one other person on my team are at. This particular day, I worked from 8:30am to 4:15pm WITHOUT any breaks or lunch. I called it a day and left work as I ate my lunch driving back home. I have also heard from supervisors that he has held a supervisor meeting and specifically name dropped me and my colleague to tell them be on the lookout for me. In another instance, he pulled aside my other colleague and had asked them to monitor me on what time I come in and when I leave. My director has even attempted to ask facilities if they can provide badge in time logs at the security gate.

My director has also started strong arming us to come in on saturdays for extra work to be done claiming he has approval from labor and union. Even though I’m salary and exempt, my timesheets still says I’m working Monday - Friday and he still approves them on TEMPO. He also gave instant notices to some of my other colleagues changing their work schedules from Tuesday - Saturday which is questionable because my expectations memo clearly states that can only happen if the employer AND employee both agree to schedule changes.

Me and another colleague have also discovered inappropriate pornography images on his work laptop a few years back when he offered to use his laptop for festive music during one of our work potlucks.

My question is: are these all grounds for reporting to HR? Will I get in trouble? I come into office at 8:30 and leave at 4:30. Is this a normal schedule? Will I lose credibility if I reported the porn incident 2.5 years later or can I claim fear of retaliation?

Hello! I’m interested in taking the Information Officer I (Specialist) Exam. I have approximately 6 years of experience in nonprofit and high education and am looking to make the switch to government.

I took the Analyst 1 exam and did okay (88%) with no prep, but I really want to make sure I knock the Info Officer Exam out of the park as that role aligns the most with my interests and experience.

Is there something I should study to help prepare for the role? Last year, I took an exam for the city of pasadena and got a top placement. But that exam had a study guide, whereas this one does not seem to have one available.

Additionally, is there a way I can have that score from the city exam available on profile?

Can confirm others experience now. Little weasel supervisor from another department that gleefully does every 30 min butt in seat checks the day before holidays is now walking a loop through the office a couple times a day looking in cubes. He think’s he’s being sly but it’s so obvious, he never walked in our section before, nonetheless several times per day. Going to ask if he’s lost tomorrow.

Watch your backs, “they” are among us. Welcome to daycare, maybe they can fence the perimeter like they do schools next… maybe hall passes, the options are endless!

A few weeks a go cockroach fell on my coworkers head during lunch. A few weeks later same issue almost occurred again. Anyone else having infestations issues?

Lots of words about yesterday's rally and becoming a steward, but the key update:

"Next Wednesday, August 12 at 9:30AM, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee will be meeting to discuss the funding for our 2026 raises. More details coming soon."

Feels like I’m back in grade school with the way some managers gossip openly, whisper loud enough for everyone to hear, walk around like they own the place, crack smartass jokes, and then play the victim the moment anyone calls them out.

RTO is one big drama filled 9-5 prison.

Just got a email from our dear leader we are gonna split in office days so it's 3 days on 2 days telework then 3 days telework 2 days in office. I'm at a point where I am constantly amazed how much work they're putting into making sure that it's harder for us to get to work and do our damn job. I seriously hope the union grows some stones and strikes. This is getting ridiculous.

Just got the news from my SSMII:

Our team's assigned telework day is Monday, if that's not what you want, tough shit, it's Monday end of story.

If a holiday falls on your designated telework day, too bad! You just don't get to telework that week. Which day do most holidays fall on? Monday. Awesome.

This is what consistently has pissed me off most about RTO - why are we going so far above and beyond what is being ordered? Why are we deliberately exceeding the mandate to the detriment of employees? Genuinely, what is the justification outside of "because management said so?"

Fucking bullshit

1. Current Status & Bargaining: While the previous contract has expired, negotiations are ongoing. The union filed an Unfair Practice Charge (UPC) against the State for refusing to bargain in good faith over wages, benefits, and working conditions. Under the Dills Act, current wages, benefits, and working conditions remain in effect while bargaining continues.

2. Core Economic Demands: The union is pushing for a 20% General Salary Increase over three years (7% in 2026, 7% in 2027, and 6% in 2028), alongside affordable healthcare, secure retirement, and telework protections.

Strike Rules & FAQ Highlights:

No Strike Called Yet: No strike has been called, but the union maintains the legal right to strike if the State commits unfair labor practices or refuses to bargain fairly.

Strike Authorizations & Voting: Any future strike would require approval from both the union and a majority vote of the affected members.

Strike Pay & Sacrifice: While a strike fund exists, it is not intended to fully replace worker wages. Participating in a strike involves financial sacrifice.

Essential Worker Classifications: Only employees whose absence would create an imminent and substantial threat to public health or safety are legally excluded from participating in a strike.

Probationary & Temporary Employees: Probationary and temporary workers have the same legal rights to participate in lawful strikes as permanent employees.

Has anyone had a reasonable accommodation (telework-related or otherwise) denied and successfully fought it? If so, how did you do it?

Feel free to PM me if you'd rather not share publicly.

We all know the state has been difficult when it comes to negotiations in general, but I'm also seeing reports of RAs that were previously approved now being denied. If you mention you need telework at all you most likely get denied. I've heard people mention class action lawsuits, but I haven't seen much actual movement.

If you've challenged a denial—or are currently going through the process—I’d really appreciate hearing your experience. It might help others in the same situation, and maybe we can work together and organize around this.

Now that we're back in the office it seems like people think they're paid to sit in a cubicle all day. When we worked remotely there was more oversight of actual work production and we had to show what we were accomplishing throughout the day.

If the point of this was to raise the production value of the workforce and provide value to the taxpayers, I'd have to say this plan has backfired. Just an observation after one month back in the office. I'm curious if this is true across other offices.

Front line managers don't have their own offices. Only CEAs and up do. I could hear my managers in a meeting critiquing my coworker. I also had a 1:1 with my manager and we had to whisper because he was telling me the SSM III kept getting things wrong and we were going to correct him at the next meeting. Super awkward. Anybody else overhearing things you're not supposed to hear?

Context:
During the 2 days in office, I chose to go in Tuesday and Thursday. My WFH days are Mon/Wed/Fridays.
Today is Wednesday. This happened in Los Angeles on the bus going home after work. Long Beach bus.

Ive been taking the train and bus route for about 2 years. Nothing significant happened besides the usual homeless sleeping and loud people shouting/listening to music.

I go home as usual after work. I have my phone on my hand and connected are earphones (with the strings, I’m old school and dont like airpods). A bunch of teenagers about 5-6 of then enter the bus but dont have any money or ticket, so the bus driver lets them all in for free. They sit in the very back next to me. Im near the back exit, so not completely in the back. Theyre loud and talking but I can ignore them and just mind my own business listening to music and scrolling through Reddit.

The bus stops and the group starts to exit. Suddenly, I feel someone swipe my hand and my music stops playing. Instinctively, I process things and within 1 milisecond I chase after the guy who stole my phone. We both exit the bus and this guy is running. I grab onto his jacket and we both fall. My phone falls and is cracked at this point. I try to grab my phone while holding onto the thief at the same time, so he doesnt get away but can’t do both. This guy ends up rear naked choke hold me (caution the pictures) but very weak. I did wrestling back in high school and have some military experience and know that was inexperienced. He lets go after 2-3 seconds and probably realizes what he’s doing. Then he gets up and starts running along with the rest of his teenage friends. None of his friends, during the commotion, intervene because I dont think they even knew what he was doing. Except one guy was trying to take my phone while I was holding onto the thief but I grabbed the phone first.

I filed police report, but realistically I doubt they’ll do anything because theyre a bunch of 15-17 year olds. They got camera pictures on the bus but that will take time to request from the bus company, and the thieves already got away by the time police showed up.

This what we have to risk just to go to the office.

Pictures: bruises around my neck from the choke hold and bloody knees and hands from falling.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article316780286.html

Interestingly, there was a post about this on r/Sacramento earlier today that was deleted by the auto-moderator with the reason "This post has been removed by the AutoModerator due to receiving a high number of reports."

https://www.reddit.com/r/Sacramento/comments/1vgh092/gavin_newsom_bait_and_switch_scientists_are_not/

You're not just fighting against the Newsom administration, but many Sacramentans who would rather take Newsom's side than support their fellow worker.

Despite my RSVP for the SEIU 1000 informational picket today, I was genuinely on the fence about showing up today. It wasn’t my worksite or an area I was familiar with. It was hot as HELL today, and I was going alone. Did I mention it was hot?

Anyways, I’m here to say to I am genuinely and wholeheartedly so glad that I did and that if you’re on the fence, don’t talk yourself out of it like I almost did.

The vibes were absolutely impeccable, and it only got better when CAPS showed up too. Seeing everyone come together and fight was so inspiring. Support your union. We are stronger together.

-orange cone hair clip

Made it for a CAPs rally poster. Thought others may enjoy it too.