The frustration continues with working for TPWD.
It actually started back in feburary 2000. I had th interview in January and that didn’t a selection until Feburary. They stated the start date was March 6. I asked if we could push that out since I was out of state and would need to put the house on the market, find s place in Texas and also travel to Texas. I was told if I was not able to start on the 6th of March I wouldn’t have the job and it would go to someone else.
So we made it happen. Moved, lived in a park for a week until we could close on the new house. We took a loss on the Wisconsin home to be able to afford the new texas house.
Susan applied at TPWD in November 2000 and was hired at the help desk in December.
IT hired 2 more people for the DCS team that I was part of and they were hired at almost $400 a month more. I was told it would be adjusted and it was months later.
My skills were valued so I was able to advance to the next level in about a year as were the other two. To advance to the next level i needed to create a promotion packet that was actually more difficult to accomplish than any job I had ever applied for. It was thick and required jumping through hoops to prove myself. I accomplished it, but it was ridiculous. Then came the waiting for funding the promotion. The other teams in IT only needed to have time in grade to receive their promotions.
Then the manager retired and I was placed in that position which was converted to a team lead position. I was told there was no pay increase because I was the highest paid on the team.
In 2004 Susan had enough dealt with her crappy manager long enough and left the agency. During this process the customer service manager made the comment that maybe my wife needed to be on medication! I was pissed! During out processing we were also informed by the HR department that pensions had to be removed because Susan was not vested so we had to fill out the forms to draw the monies out. This was false, but we did not know and believed they knew the rules. This will come up again.
Then 4 years later the customer service manager prepared to retire and a reorganization took place. Basically I was removed from the team lead position and someone else was put in the position with a pay promotion of more than $300 a month more than I was making. During this time I was also told by the Division director that I was not managment material. I also heard that there was talk of firing me, but I wasn’t doing anything incorrectly so there were no grounds.
I applied for the CS manager position and obviously did not get it. I continued in that position for another 5 years without a promotion and same pay I was at before taking the team lead position.
During the five years I had applied for other IT jobs but was not considered for them. In 2012 I asked why and was told that they were not sure why I was demoted in 2007 and didn’t want to take a chance on me.
2011 we loose everything in a forest fire. The agency and the IT division are supportive. I am happy to still be working for TPWD.
In 2012 a few security positions were created. I was able to apply and finally escaped the DCS team. Of course this also did not come with and increase in pay.
Susan has been at the IRS for about 8 years. It is 2013 and she has been on a team that excludes her for year or two. Being frustrated with her team and her management for not allowing her take other positions, she applies for the help desk and SP support positions back at TPWD since the help desk manager has changed. She does not even get an interview.
In 2014 my boss the ISO took another position in IT. I applied and was not selected. The position was reposted a second time and I was told not to reapply as I would be considered with the other candidates. I was not selected. The position was posted a third time. Again I was told not to reapply. They did not have any candidates that would accept less than $125,000 a year. Well, now it was time to me if I was interested. Again I was pissed and really feeling low and disrespected. I was asked to be the interim to see if I would work out. I told them I had to think about it.
I knew I would not get a big pay increase, but stated I needed at least $300 a month more during the interim of the 6 months and manager salary if selected. Of course they agreed as that kept me under $70,000 and they still did not need to keep me on.
Well 6 months came and went and there I was required to push the issue to try for what was agreed. It was not quick or smooth, but finally was processed. It is years later an I finally get the pay of the customer service manager.
I continue to go above and beyond for this agency and always rarely is it recognized.
2016 Susan applies for the help desk and SP support positions again, as well as a position in boats at TPWD. She does not even get an interview in IT, but does land the BRITS position, hoping this will help her get back in IT.
2017 I am hit with another life smackdown. I am diagnosed with stage 4 head and neck cancer. Life is grim, but again the agency and the IT division are supportive. I am happy to still be working for TPWD. During my recovery I enter into my last 3 years of employment before retirement which will determine my pension.
2018 Same low pay compared to what my position is worth and what others are being paid. I had to go ask if something could be done to get me a pay increase. I was informed yes. Well it is still being worked on and I have less than 2 years left.
Susan again has applied for the SP support positions since she has been back TPWD for over 2 years. She has not heard anything about the position, but has been checking.
Today the same customer service manager informs me that they plan on doing a courtesy interview. I have been frustrated, hurt, angry and disappointed ever since.