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Post by grassgreener on Nov 15, 2014 9:42:22 GMT -5
Cougarfan, I am confused. Are you working one week hearing cases and then the following working at home? And you are working 9 days in two weeks? I think I am overlooking something? Sounds like when he works from home, he's working his usual commute time/get ready for work time as credit hours. For instance, on days where he goes into the office, he may wake up at six and get in around 8:30. When he works from home, he's on the computer and working at 6:30 since he doesn't have to get ready for work and commute. He works until he would normally leave (5 pm), and earns two credit hours M-Th. Then he takes off Friday with those credit hours. Except you can't earn credit hours from home.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Nov 15, 2014 9:46:00 GMT -5
Sounds like when he works from home, he's working his usual commute time/get ready for work time as credit hours. For instance, on days where he goes into the office, he may wake up at six and get in around 8:30. When he works from home, he's on the computer and working at 6:30 since he doesn't have to get ready for work and commute. He works until he would normally leave (5 pm), and earns two credit hours M-Th. Then he takes off Friday with those credit hours. Except you can't earn credit hours from home. Bummer. That is how I manage to reduce my in office time as a senior attorney. I work most of my credit at home. But we (NTEU) cannot earn credit on the weekends (we could but our local management does not offer it). I did not realize ALJs could not earn credit at home. Good to know!
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Post by cougarfan on Nov 15, 2014 12:07:34 GMT -5
Sounds like when he works from home, he's working his usual commute time/get ready for work time as credit hours. For instance, on days where he goes into the office, he may wake up at six and get in around 8:30. When he works from home, he's on the computer and working at 6:30 since he doesn't have to get ready for work and commute. He works until he would normally leave (5 pm), and earns two credit hours M-Th. Then he takes off Friday with those credit hours. Except you can't earn credit hours from home. I do.
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Post by cheesy on Nov 15, 2014 12:21:35 GMT -5
My takeaway, being an outsider but having read multiple discussions at length:
Credit hours and flexibility in scheduling seems to rest entirely with your office management. I hope when my call comes that my office management is on the more 'liberal' end of the regulatory curve. I personally don't quite understand yet why it matters where your corporeal being happens to be located as long as you're in your seat for hearings and otherwise firing electrons and phone calls through the ether at a rate of 500 cases per annum.
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Post by bartleby on Nov 15, 2014 12:29:54 GMT -5
Cougarfan, that appears to be in violation of the contract. We are supposed to work no more than 2 days a week at home and no credits hours at home. Someone might get in big trouble. The HOCALJ, HOD, and one GS were recently removed from an office near me for administrative investigation. Time and attendance violations are not something the Agency takes lightly.
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Post by cougarfan on Nov 15, 2014 12:41:50 GMT -5
Cougarfan, that appears to be in violation of the contract. We are supposed to work no more than 2 days a week at home and no credits hours at home. Someone might get in big trouble. The HOCALJ, HOD, and one GS were recently removed from an office near me for administrative investigation. Time and attendance violations are not something the Agency takes lightly. The instructions I read for VPN is two days per week or 8 per month. I work 4 every other week or 8 per month. (Avg 2 per week). I Will take another look at it; it would be a shame if I'm not allowed to work this way because I am way more productive under this schedule. What would be the rationale for allowing me to earn credit hours at the office and not at home?
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Post by philliesfan on Nov 15, 2014 16:23:45 GMT -5
While I do not have a copy of the current IFPTE contract available, if I remember correctly, Bart is right. You can only work telework two days per week, up to eight days per month or 10 days per month with HOCALJ approval. Cougarfan, I would check this ASAP.
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Post by philliesfan on Nov 15, 2014 16:24:34 GMT -5
While I do not have a copy of the current IFPTE contract available, if I remember correctly, Bart is right. You can only work telework two days per week, up to eight days per month or 10 days per month with HOCALJ approval. Cougarfan, I would check this ASAP.
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Post by jerseymom on Nov 15, 2014 16:51:20 GMT -5
ALJs have never been able to work credit hours while working from home. Bart and Philly are correct. Cougar, I would change my schedule to be in compliance.
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Post by cougarfan on Nov 15, 2014 17:37:42 GMT -5
if you schedule 5 days of hearings the week immediately before the week of telework you can then work 5 consecutive days at home (Article 15, Section 5(C)).
The contract does say no credit hours, so I will have to reconsider that. If so, I may stop VPN b/c I value my days off more than working at home. it would be a lose/lose situation though because I am far more efficient at home than at the office. That particular rule makes no sense to me; anyone know the logic there?
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Post by prescient on Nov 15, 2014 17:43:13 GMT -5
Cougarfan, that appears to be in violation of the contract. We are supposed to work no more than 2 days a week at home and no credits hours at home. Someone might get in big trouble. The HOCALJ, HOD, and one GS were recently removed from an office near me for administrative investigation. Time and attendance violations are not something the Agency takes lightly. The instructions I read for VPN is two days per week or 8 per month. I work 4 every other week or 8 per month. (Avg 2 per week). I Will take another look at it; it would be a shame if I'm not allowed to work this way because I am way more productive under this schedule. What would be the rationale for allowing me to earn credit hours at the office and not at home? My guess would be the same rationale attorneys can't work OT from home -- much easier to monitor you're actually working.
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Post by bartleby on Nov 15, 2014 18:05:45 GMT -5
Actually under the new contract, I believe attorneys can earn credit hours at home, just not Judges. I do believe Cougarfan is right on working/hearings 5 days, work at home 5 days, but not credit hours. I believe there is no good rationale on the Agency's side... Judges aren't trustworthy??
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Post by cheesy on Nov 15, 2014 20:50:29 GMT -5
There are many simple ways to ensure a person is working, just by monitoring VPN activity, etc.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Nov 15, 2014 22:09:08 GMT -5
There are many simple ways to ensure a person is working, just by monitoring VPN activity, etc. Exactly. In fact with VPN it is more easily verified than with the prior laptop method.
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woody
Full Member
Posts: 50
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Post by woody on Nov 16, 2014 7:01:48 GMT -5
I have some intel from the contract negotiations. We argued for credit hours at home, because as you say, it is very easy to determine if somebody is working at home and with VPN even easier. Agency said no. Rationale? None really, just came down to a control issue. In my region initially we were forbidden to exceed the 8 day limit in the months where there was an extra week, but then the CALJ apparently reconsidered and now we generally can. So who knows, as they get used to the VPN world being like being in the office they might reconsider credit hours.
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Post by prescient on Nov 16, 2014 7:51:49 GMT -5
All VPN does is make it easy to see that you are logged on. Pretty sure it's not recording what if any work is being done.
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Post by moopigsdad on Nov 16, 2014 7:55:56 GMT -5
Quite frankly, if you have to be in the office to earn credit hours so be it. The fact you get to work from home using VPN is a real perk in itself, so go to the office for one week of the pay period and earn your credit hours there. To grind and gnash your teeth over the fact you can't earn credit hours at home seems a little excessive to me. I am not trying to pick a fight with anyone, but if you truly want to work that much at home and away from the office, you probably need a different position than that of an ALJ.
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Post by cougarfan on Nov 16, 2014 17:54:07 GMT -5
Quite frankly, if you have to be in the office to earn credit hours so be it. The fact you get to work from home using VPN is a real perk in itself, so go to the office for one week of the pay period and earn your credit hours there. To grind and gnash your teeth over the fact you can't earn credit hours at home seems a little excessive to me. I am not trying to pick a fight with anyone, but if you truly want to work that much at home and away from the office, you probably need a different position than that of an ALJ. I agree it's not worth gnashing teeth; and I will likely just adust my schedule. I don't understand your comment about this job not being for you if you want to work that much at home. I truly find that I am more efficient at home, and I really enjoy saving the commute; I'm not sure what I miss by working at home. Anyway, I will either just work in the office, earning the same credit hours or I will forego my free Fridays and give up my eBB training in order to adjust for the difference. It's still a sweet job whether working at home or in the office.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Nov 16, 2014 18:07:52 GMT -5
Quite frankly, if you have to be in the office to earn credit hours so be it. The fact you get to work from home using VPN is a real perk in itself, so go to the office for one week of the pay period and earn your credit hours there. To grind and gnash your teeth over the fact you can't earn credit hours at home seems a little excessive to me. I am not trying to pick a fight with anyone, but if you truly want to work that much at home and away from the office, you probably need a different position than that of an ALJ. Oh I don't know about the last comment. I love my job as a senior attorney but love it even more getting to work at home 3 days a week. No different for the ALJ position. It's a nice perk and frankly if you are not in hearings there is no reason to be in the office with VPN access. It saves gas and travel time. You still have immediate access to staff with instant messaging and email. I see it as a huge money saver for taxpayers too. I think office sharing and work at home is the answer to budget needs. It's a total win win. So I respectfully disagree with you MPD.
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Post by bartleby on Nov 16, 2014 18:20:22 GMT -5
Cougarfan, I agree with you. I get more done at home than at the office also. Let's distractions and interruptions.
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