National Park Workers Forced to Create Resumes for Their Own Layoffs
National Park Service staff now have a strange new job duty – helping with their own layoffs by submitting resumes before more jobs are cut.
While already busy keeping visitors safe, cleaning bathrooms, and covering for missing coworkers, thousands of park employees must now update or create resumes by Tuesday noon. This requirement comes from an email sent by Rita Moss, an associate director at the Park Service, as SFGATE writes in their detailed news report.
Evaluate workforce optimization opportunities
“The Department continues to evaluate workforce optimization opportunities”, Moss’ email reads. “This includes plans for reductions-in-force, with exemptions for positions that are critical to public safety” or are linked to the ‘highest priority programs’, with no examples given.
The Park Service is already struggling with 100 unfilled leadership positions and 2,400 fewer employees than last year. Workers must include all their positions, responsibilities, and qualifications in their resumes – even if they’ve been with the agency for decades and never needed one before.
Paralyze
“These reductions would paralyze the ability of the NPS to carry out its legally mandated mission”, warned Resistance Rangers, a group of more than 1,000 off-duty park rangers.
The situation is getting worse as park visits have increased by 15% over the past 15 years while staff numbers have dropped by 20%. In Yosemite National Park, scientists and rangers are now cleaning bathrooms because there aren’t enough custodians.
