u/Careless_Tree_7686

What are the ground rules for basic etiquette when bumping into former service coworkers? Times being what they are for me personally I have had many incidents of running into coworkers. These encounters have been in public view in stores and gas stations.

Despite thousands of hours of training the ground rules for bumping into former service employees isn't well covered per say. However, there are rules for basic conduct. The nature of the professional relationship changes when a coworker leaves the service. I am not really interested in the latest gossip in my former POD nor do I necessarily care to share what I've been up to while pumping gas.

Perhaps I want to attend an event in support of federal workers or not. What has kept me from those events is the lack of etiquette. As a retired service employee I am just a voter now and external customer. I already know what is happening in the service from media reports so I don't need a briefing.

As a retired federal worker I share the same community space as many former coworkers and federal workers from other agencies. There will be encounters at hospitals, picking up prescriptions, going to a movie and getting an oil change will happen. I see you but don't engage. Its OK for you to say no more than Hi, Bye. You don't need to have a fake made up story that you are too busy to talk when we would not otherwise have a need to talk.