Pros
Learned about how the VA disability system works. Loved talking with the veterans on the phone! 45 min lunch breaks. Seats were ergonomic, great air conditioning as well as a panoramic view of the Bucs stadium across the street!
Cons
Ok, here we go..... 1. Don't get up to stretch, because you should be sitting down the ENTIRE day unless you're getting something from the printer or fax or going to the bathroom. Even then don't do anything that could be misconstrued as talking. See # 2.... 2. Don't talk to ANYONE other than your supervisor unless it's another supervisor. If you do talk to another person it better be only because a supervisor isn't around to confer with. And if you do get a chance to sneak a quick two-second "hey how's it going with you? Still alive?", you better be prepared for a sneak attack of a supervisor asking if they can 'help you with anything'.... Like a ninja! There are no conversations allowed outside of work related material. Because we alllll know that taking a quick two min break every so often to breathe and decompress from the angry vets that call in (because overall RFV just milks the cases...) is detrimental to the constant workflow, right? 3. I understand the cell phone thing. But if we can't have a cell phone then why aren't we allowed ANY phone calls related to important matters such as our family? Not like: let's sit and chat about what's for dinner and what Netflix reruns we're going to zone out to.... but actual important matters. ZERO personal phone calls allowed. Not even a 2-3 min call ONCE a day to check on kids to see if they made it home ok! Because we all know that once we step foot in the doorway of a job, the rest of the world and our lives come to a screaching halt. And they wonder why people are constantly 'going to the bathroom'......... 4. The current script for talking with the veterans on the phone is short and robotic and isn't all that clear. 5. Super fast revolving door!! There are always new hires and quits... some people come for a day or two, then just never come back. I don't feel it's the people being hired, but possibly the lack of decent training and the ridiculous amount of rules. They hire and train one or two people almost every week, because they know one, or two is getting ready to walk off.... 6. Supervisors: a) Are the smile-to-your-face, but talk smack-about-you-behind-your-back type. They act like they care but turn right around and talk about you outright or gossip in the office or break room for all to hear. They also like to stand directly behind you and watch over your shoulder, just out of sheer nosiness. (Aka micromanaging) They'd also stand from afar and glare over the cubicles to see who they can write up. Like I said previously, don't try to take a mini break, (standing up!) Just to peal your eyes from the computer screen, that makes it look like you haven't worked all day nor are currently working. b) Are also rude and condescending. Talking down as if subordinates were monkeys. It almost felt as if they were trying to SCARE people into staying! Almost as if they weren't good enough to find another job! It seemed to me that those that had been there awhile, stayed because they felt like they wouldn't be able to find anything else! That's sad! Most of the long-termers were kind, educated, intelligent and hard working people that cared about the veterans!! But it seemed that after working for RFV for awhile they were thinking they weren't capable of finding anything better! Most seemed drained, miserable, negative but couldn't find it in themselves to just walk out on that place. 7. Pay wasn't the greatest @ $12/hr. There was no upward mobility either. If you choose to stick it out, don't plan on moving up because there's nowhere to go.... Sadly, the senior people were making the same as the newbies coming in. 8. Oh and most importantly because you get the glorious 45 min lunch, there are no 'breaks' during the day. (Refer back to #'s 1, 2, 3...)