IRS Reviews

Pros

Paycheck
The GS pay system puts everyone on same level
Job security (used to be a pro, anyway)
Looks good on a resume
Don't take your work home with you, no deadlines or meeting to worry about, it's as simple as answering a phone call then moving on, day after day after day. Some people may like this aspect of the job, some might want to be challenged with their career more than a 4th grader, to each their own

Cons

Hours were cut 5 days 6hrs a day
Layed off from June-December, supposed to be about a month or so furlough a year, not 6 months
Tied, and I mean life or death tied to your computer and phone. Bathroom break outside your 15 minute break, a manager is literally at your desk looking for you.
So so so much supervision, felt like kindergarden all over, LET US BREATHE!
You make the smallest most insignificent goof up you will be dinged for it, everycall is scrutnized
Taxpayers really have no care for the IRS and take it out on the phone rep's, it gets old having to take harrasment everyday without being able to reply back to that
I could go on with a lot more cons, but hey I lasted 6 months and took a better job right after being furloughed. It's a job, it's a paycheck.

Advice to Senior Management

There is a reason why more than half of the class I was hired with didn't last a year, turnover rate says it all. Treat us like kids, less than full time work, layed-off half the year (not mgmt's fault, but nonetheless), I would advise to look around before accepting a contact rep position.

Pros

Great benefits and retirement system

Cons

no raise in the past 2 years
take forever to accumulate upper pay grades in support section
favoritism and nepotism

Advice to Senior Management

provide more upward opportunities for support staff in Criminal Investigations division

Pros

Decent salary. Can work from home on occasion. Management allows staff to balance work and home life.

Cons

Hectic work schedules. Work assignments not always dispersed equitably, good workers get more work. Less dependable workers get less work.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep the staff morale high. Keep the workplace and assignments flexible.
Continue to encourage staff and reward good employees. Listen to employee suggestions.

Pros

Balanced and diverse work place

Cons

Not exciting place to start a career.

Advice to Senior Management

Explore opportunities and changes within agency.

Pros

Benefits are a plus.
Good balance between work and life.
Good pay for the amount of work.
Good training.
People are nice.
Retirement.
Travel.

Cons

Micromanagement.
Lack of knowledge sharing from senior employees.
No team work.
Co-workers miss work a lot.
Working with the public on tax issues is a challenge.
Constant changes of laws and regulations.

Advice to Senior Management

Better leadership skills. Micromanagement and knowledge sharing are important. What will happen when all senior people retire? Knowledge must be passed on to junior employees.

Pros

I fell into this job, literally. So right now, I am trying to do all that I could to get out of this dead end job.

Cons

Not compensated enough and the advancement opportunity is limited.

Pros

The atmosphere is very professional, and the managers are very interested in improving employee moral. The work can be very interesting at times, and many jobs offer you the freedom operate independently.

Cons

Like any bureaucracy, there is very little change in the IRS, and any change that does come about is a result of congressional action. It's also not generally well received when you tell people you work for the IRS at social functions.

Advice to Senior Management

Management generally does a good job. My only advice would be to make sure there is a difference in pay that is commensurate with job difficulty rather than seniority.

Pros

-Flexible Schedule
-Great benefits
-Great co-workers
_Opportunity Growth

Cons

Downside to working here is the Favoritism received by certain employees. Co-Workers can be nice however they sometimes be traitors.

Advice to Senior Management

Management should treat their employees with respect and fairness.

Pros

Competence of employees; chance to help people; work/life balance; ideas are fully considered by management; numerous opportunities for advancement are available.

Cons

Slow (if not resistant) to change; meetings for days; you'll get blamed for the work of Congress, which creates the policies the IRS follows; some shortsightedness in communications policies.

Advice to Senior Management

Split Twitter accounts into more specific channels. Three accounts for all varieties of taxpayers makes absolutely no sense. Also, be more forward-thinking in your communications approaches.

Pros

Because our culture is one that balances work and life, there are many interesting people who work here. They volunteer significantly outside of work. They have 2nd jobs. They are NOT just working drones. I also love that we care about people and you get time off when needed to take care of family issues. The work is also very interesting--I manage people working on large corporate audits and there's always something new.

Cons

No monies for basic things--as a manager we are expected to buy treats at meetings for example. Also, we are so guided by politics--what the lawmakers do in Washington significantly impact our work on a daily basis.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep on keeping on and keep talking to the legislators--perhaps someday they will listen and act upon some obvious things.