Shutdown Message to Members 

Dear FEDS Member:

As the President of FEDS, I don't know whether to celebrate the agreement to fund agencies through mid­-February or to commiserate over the uncertainty that lies ahead.

As a former federal employee, I made the decision very early on in December that benefits would not be interrupted and that policies would remain in-force even if there were missed payments during or because of a shutdown. I feel that it was necessary then, and now more than ever, that you know that we are in this with you and that we will always have your back.

In addition to the uncertainty in the coming weeks, you may experience:

• Overwhelming workload - you are not alone. Do the best you can with the time and resources you have.

• Resentment from those who worked without pay or other coworkers. Be understanding, this was not easy or fair to anyone.

• Political commentary - we recommend you talk about this at the dinner table and not at work, if at all possible. If you are a manager, you are responsible for discontinuing any conversations that become aggressive, disrespectful, or threatening. Emphasize the need to respect individual differences and encourage employees to maintain civility and engage one another in a professional manner. Ensure that your employees don't feel uncomfortable, harassed or intimidated.

• Perceived judgment - for a variety of reasons. Remember, this was a political problem, not an employee one. Be respectful of the hardships and sacrifices made by your coworkers - everyone's situation is different.

I founded this company to support and defend federal employees when the unexpected happens. Uncertainty and increased workloads often lead to an uptick in professional liability claims and there may even be consequences of which we are not yet aware. We communicated our commitment to you early on in this shutdown in the hopes you'll get through this with as little disruption as possible and stand by that commitment now. Thank you for your service and thank you for choosing FEDS to provide your liability protection.

Keep on doing what you do for our country and don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or needs.

 

Thanks and best regards,

Anthony F. Vergnetti, President & CEO
Federal Employee Defense Services, Inc.
866.955.FEDS