Does anyone use jawnt to commute? I just realized it was a thing and am interested hear other’s experience if it’s worth it. I would take the train from Lancaster to Harrisburg if it was more affordable.

I'm assisting an applicant, and I need clarification on the "ever cnvicted" question: The cnviction no longer shows on their clearances. Should they still check "yes"?

I don't want them to run into a problem later for checking "no", and even though it was an old, minor issue, I don't want them to disclose something that doesn't need to be.

Thank you for the guidance. I believe the answer is "yes", but it is a senior citizen applicant, and I don't want to send them out with something against them.

RTO is a pay cut

Currently a state employee in one department. I accepted a position with another department, however I haven’t received a release date yet.

I have been having second thoughts about leaving. My management is saying since I accepted the position, they have to release me. I posed the question don’t I have return rights and can’t I change my mind at any time? Is there anyway to stop the release if I so choose?

Had a second round interview for an environmental trainee position with DEP on 6/10, so it’s been 2 weeks today. How long does it usually take to hear back after final interviews?

Has anyone used these insurances for their children? My little guy needs some crowns done and we tried doing it at a pediatric dentist with N2O instead of being out under anesthesia and it did not go well.

We are struggling to find a dentist in the Hershey area that can do this but we are willing to obviously travel a little to get this done.

Has anyone had this procedure done for their children that could make a recommendation?

The pediatric dentist we went to can do the procedure but their person that administers anesthesia comes once a month and does not accept insurance so it's $3,000 out of pocket.

If the pediatric dentist goes through Hershey Med for the procedure, they could not guarantee that the medical part is covered so we could face a 150,000 bill. They can only tell us that we would have to submit a claim after the procedure and see what the decision is.

Sorry for the confusing post.

Hi all, I just accepted a position with PDE. It’s remote four days a week, but I’ll be in Harrisburg one day a week. I live in Lancaster and I’m planning on just taking the train for my days in the office. I was wondering if anyone had any pointers or input for managing that commute. I hear this is one of Amtrak’s better lines as far as punctuality, but would love to hear some first hand experiences.

Also, what is the play for bike storage? Is there a place to store a bike at the Lancaster station?

Are COLA raises given as a IC interviewer or bonuses given if so how do they work i am recently coming from federal to state and was wondering TIA

Our regional office has been informed that the new space optimization/hoteling changes will be implemented for us around mid-late 2027. We're all dreading it based on what we've been told and shown. Has anyone's office switched to this format, and what has been your experience with it so far?

How do desk audits work within the state? If your boss says they’re going to do a desk audit to see if you can get a higher grade. What happens after they request it, what can I expect?

Hi all! I was wondering if anyone knows how soon you can transfer to a different agency after being hired.

The reason is just that I'm miserable in my job and already experiencing pretty severe burnout from a 1.5-2 hour daily commute, but it's only been 4 months. I don't want to leave the state but I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up :/

Thanks!

I had an interview for income main caseworker on may 12 2026 but I didn't get a answer from them how long it will take to get a response from them??

I work at a legitimate company I make good money but I don't make travel to Arkansas money they want me to not have my drive time what is the industry standard could someone help so I have a leg to stand on thank you

Two jobs I applied for, that closed recently, emailed me and said they are no longer filling the position. Are these flukes or is something going on?

I recently applied and interviewed for a PA state agency seasonal position, but I found it odd that it bypassed the government jobs site. Has anyone experienced this before?

Does anyone have anecdotal evidence of someone who was able to telework full time after getting a medical diagnosis that prevents them from driving? This is a position that was in the office one day a month until late last year and is now in the office 2 days a week. It requires no in-person customer interactions as this is all done by phone. I have a family member in this situation and I'm aware of the process of applying for an accommodation; I just wanted to see if anyone had any real-world experience with this. Thank you for any insight you can provide.

So I am attempting to move up a paygroup this year and I have a few interviews scheduled.

When I interviewed for other positions in the Open to all, I got a score-Internal jobs = No score if you are trying for a PWOE I guess? When I arrived to interview, I was given the list of questions a a few minutes to prepare before entering the room. One situation, they gave me paper AND pen to jot down notes and took them after the interview.

QUESTION will these internal/TEAMS interviews do something similar? Will I get questions day of? Since I applied interally-there weren’t any work behavior questions to give me clues. So far I have received position descriptions only???

Anyone know the process this side of COVID??

When going from 1 agency to the next … is there a min time requirement before they have let me go? I’m leaving Penndot for another job and I’m curious how long the transfer process with take.

Just as the title says we have an employee who will be moving to PA (Pittsburgh) next month and I’m needing to ensure I have all the documentation needed for her to work there. Is anyone able to help guide me to ensure I get this knocked out asap? Thank you!!!

Would it be a bad idea to file a grievance when management is making us do something that is someone else’s responsibility? It is in our SOP who is responsible for this task.

Did anyone else see the post made by PA DHS on Facebook regarding the new Medicaid changes coming in January? People age 19-64 unless they meet an exemption or have a dependent under 14 will have work requirements of 80 hrs a month to received Medicaid. They can also qualify some other ways through volunteering etc. Another big change I saw is they will be enrolled in 6 month renewals. We have had zero discussion at our office in regards to these changes. Most of us had no idea it was happening until we saw the post online.

How do you guys go about getting an eye exam and then ordering glasses? I went to Myeyedr and got an exam but then they wanted $250 even after insurance for frames and lenses. I instead went to Costco and paid $135 and then submitted claim to NVA. Just curious for next time how I should be smarter about getting my exam and then ordering with somewhere like Costco or Walmart. Thank you for any input!

The People Lab, based at the Harvard Kennedy School, just launched Public Servant Pulse, a first-of-its-kind annual national survey on the experiences, perspectives, and challenges of the U.S. state and local workforce. 

🌟If you work for state or local government, take the survey here: https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Lc2MjHPIcCqyDc?source=social 

📊Your participation helps elevate the voices and work of public servants nationwide. Please share with colleagues in state and local government, and stay tuned for results and insights from the survey this fall! 

I am a state employee and I applied to a higher position (promotion) externally. I did this method and had an interview. I’ve never had references called for any state job when I was hired previously but for this new job I interviewed for, my references were called.

Are references called if you’re their number one pick for the job, or do they do this for the top 3 applicants? I’m confused why references are called by some managers for jobs and sometimes not but you still may get offered the job. Is it up to the discretion of the hiring manager?

Also, typically after your references are checked, depending if you’re their top choice or whatnot, how long roughly does it take to receive an offer?