Internal Revenue Service

I am technically a permanent seasonal WI CSR at a call site not a service center. I self furloughed a few years. Only one of those years was I furloughed and got unemployment. Of course I was essential and worked during the shutdown where you didn't know if you were getting paid or not.

My experience has been that some seasonals need permanent jobs that creates problems with sidebar agreements where one passes so the other can get a perm slot. Then there are those that believe quality not seniority should decide who gets the perm slot which tends to decrease morale. Seasonal extensions are also a problem that some expect you would decline like them. I extended once going against the majority of seasonals which they didn't appreciate. Its very two classes of worker groups at my location where there is also expectation as a seasonal you stay in your lane which isn't my thing.

Seasonal is thought of at my location as being an unreliable worker without skills that need hyper micromanagement which doesn't fit the workforce today and it creates conflicts/lowers self esteem that impacts morale. Its hard to see good people leave the service because they don't feel good about their workplace.

I have been seasonal for almost 15 years in a callsite. I have not been furloughed for the last 3 years. It’s really about budget and not lack of work. Your furlough letter has to say lack of work in order to qualify for unemployment. I have not been treated differently because I am seasonal. You can choose to end health insurance when furloughed stay on it and pay double payments when you return to work or pay the premium out of pocket during your furlough. You sign a seasonal agreement when you start with an estimated seasonal timeframe. If the furlough date on the agreement passes and you haven’t been furloughed you are supposed to be given another agreement with another estimated timeframe. The agreement always ends September 30 not because you will be furloughed but because that’s the end of the fiscal year. You will receive another agreement at the beginning of October for the remainder of the year if you want to be furloughed per the IRM when your contract signed in January is up they cannot force you to extend your season. You can choose to furlough until the new season in January. The only difference between involuntary and voluntary furlough is you don’t qualify for unemployment if you go voluntarily. Management will lie and tell you you have to sign the extension. It’s not true and no consequence for voluntary furlough. I don’t know the IRM offhand but you can certainly look it up.

People retire,or leave,I think you would be needed.

The IRS also requires pre-approval of any secondary employment regardless of your pay status.

Question about the seasonal CSR position. It’s listed as 6 month seasonal with a salary amount. Is that salary for the 6 months? Or do you really earn half of that salary?

For example I think it said around $35,000. Does that mean you earn $35,000 in 6 months or is it actually ~ $17,500?

It means you will be paid hourly like non seasonals, and then if/when you furlough you will be able to get unemployment until you're called back to work. My experience as a seasonal I was only off 4 wks the first time and 11 wks the next time, but you are still a permanent employee. If you're supposed to earn $35k for the year and you don't furlough then you earn that. If you furlough 1 pay period then subtract that from $35k, but note you still could earn that $35k.

Hopefully this answers your question.

For a lot of people yes. I think it would depend on the flow. My first experience as a CSR I worked from November to October the next year. 2020 as an ITAS I worked till August and returned in November. I only became seasonal again last year and Covid played a part in my furlough.