TSA (Transportation Security Administration) reviews

Everything else Have you ever been to an airport, or even just the DMV? Think of the people who've been in the line with you. Imagine going through their underpants. Imagine having to touch them. Imagine having to argue with them, deal with them day in day out. Imagine having to take a snow globe they bought as a present but didn't check with their bags. Now imagine doing all of that knowing what happened in Brussels could happen at any time/ at that moment - that precise moment, because if they get to you everything else has failed - you are the only thing stopping another tragedy. Sound like a good time? Congratulations, you're a.. word glassdoor wont let me use. Welcome back to high-school. Some of these people are fresh out of high school or never graduated from high school. They bring it with them. That and the horrible working climate brings everyone susceptible back to a state of petty gossip and tantrums. You better not be susceptible to peer pressure, because some TSOs don't want to do any work that doesn't result in a real prohibited item, and they'll give you an earful every time you call for a bag to be looked at that has nothing but clutter. The job is not easy, these people need to do their jobs, don't be afraid to tell them. After you've made a good number of friends, of course. You anger the wrong people and you will stay at the bottom for your entire career. You anger people by being candid about how bad working for TSA is to Management, and by criticizing those above you. If you manage to anger a passenger too much, they can also file a complaint that will stop you in your tracks. If you do a good job and people like you, you will move up, though. It also helps to pick up some extra duties and make sure you do a lot of work above your pay grade (LTSO level). You can get promoted, it's just a minefield. Say goodbye to holidays. Unless you've stayed with TSA a few years, you will never be fully in charge of your schedule. Holidays and work hours are bid on. When you bid is determined by your start date. If you're a new hire, you have to wait for everyone above you to move on before you'll get anything good. People who've been stuck in TSA that long, enough to build up seniority at the TSO level, are not going anywhere. Most of them either don't want to be promoted or are un-promotable. Once you get promoted your Your probationary period is about 2 years long, if I remember correctly. Which means you can be fired for sneezing wrong for two years. You will be verbally abused by a lot of people, and they wont be entirely wrong. You'll also get some really welcome praise. They also wont be entirely wrong. That's the job.

Next to no opportunity for advancement. Not many are able to use job as a stepping stone to other federal agencies. That's a bag of goods someone sold TSO's. Management all the way down treat and speak to employees disrespectfully. Stupid policies that are so antiquated and backward thinking. TSA is at bottom of the list as far as employee satisfaction. Poor morale and sinking. NO GS scale! That's how they keep reminding us we are step children ready to be cut off. Pay is awful when you consider what we do, our purpose, and the potential harm we expose ourselves to. Let's see, our pay starts at the minimum wage 14 states just passed. Pension stinks. We've had so many freezes and cut backs over the past 7 years we're underpaid. Ten years service will get you 10% of highest 3 year average pay. $315 month or so. After paying your health insurance/dental, maybe you'll get $75 a month. Better have your own Roth going since Thrift Savings Plan hasn't been doing well. No opportunity to take leave since calendar filled for the rest of the year minus a handful of Tues. and Weds in Oct/Nov. This is early April...People will lose leave when they can't use it. Mismanagement of checkpoints restricting employees from breaks based on "operational needs"...yeah, its more like poor operation. Management doesn't know how to hire, train, schedule, rotate, and manage flow of passengers at checkpoints. They promote individuals to LTSO's and STSO's with relatively no training. Favoritism still exists when it comes to TSO's receiving bonus though. TSA still hires lazy people and those working the system. No programs fostering employee development/advancement or assistance in obtaining advanced degrees. Job intellectually unchallenging but if you're a worker, it can be physically challenging especially if checkpoint mismanaged. Bidding process for schedule once a year, crazy. Single day bids at 2 a.m. in the morning, in person, insane!! Airlines efficiently bid every month on line with no problems. The government spends on everything else so don't you think it is time to spend on improving the efficiency of running this business? But don't expect appreciation.....its a job, not a career.