Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 10:11:30 GMT -5
Yes, it is certainly not unique to this situation. In most jobs I've had, complaining was rampant. When I went to a job where nobody complained, it felt sort of boring. But then managment changed and the complaining started. At this point in my life, I just want to avoid the negativity. It becomes too consuming. I agree, it does become consuming. I previously had a job where everyone complained and I too became a complainer. No way to avoid it at times however if you work in a place where folks are not happy.
|
|
|
Post by bartleby on Aug 1, 2013 10:19:09 GMT -5
The smartest thing the Agency ever did was change the name from Hearing Officer to Judge (Administrative Law).. As lawyers, from Paper Chase to The Verdict, we all want to be Judges.. They put it in the water at Law School. It is irresistable. We can't help ourselves.. We would probably take janitor jobs if they called us Judge and let us wear our Robes while sweeping the floor.. Well, it's not that bad, but it is the natural progression in the food chain of law. Those of us that have darkened the door of the Courthouse are in awe of even the slackest of Judges. After all, they can hold us in contempt. I don't think there would be such a clamour for hearing Officer positions. They are out there. The VA has many. Even those claiming that they want to be ALJ's for the good of the claimant and public service, don't seem to consider the needs of our Veterans in their desire to walk away from sole practice. To be a Judge or not to be. That is truly the quest, isn't it???
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2013 10:21:18 GMT -5
As jobs go, there are many worse and I can see why many would want this one. I did not mean to discourage anyone. Despite the BS, and there is a lot of it and more each day, I would pursue it if I were at a different point in life. As many have said, every job has its pros and its cons, that's why they give you money to do it. Anyway, my last two cents. Good luck to all and may the force be with you.
|
|
|
Post by jigjigjig on Aug 1, 2013 23:17:40 GMT -5
I have also come to the decision (thanks to the much-appreciated advice and information on this board) that I would not be happy as an SSA ALJ and should decline any such offer unless at the time I am reasonably confident that my connections with other agencies I want to work for will enable me to transfer within a short time. to. I agree. You all have made me understand that the grass isn't greener. In fact, it is pretty sweet where I am. I still am going to take the exam in DC too (for an excuse to visit some friends) and because I think these tests are fun in a strange way. However, I would have to think hard before making a change. I appreciate the sage advice.
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Aug 2, 2013 17:04:33 GMT -5
The reason for my posting this thread was to just inform everyone of the fact that hires may be less in the near future than in the past absent SSA creating new offices or hiring more ALJs in the future.
|
|
|
Post by hopefalj on Aug 27, 2013 8:50:10 GMT -5
Bumping this thread because there is a blurb in the Washington Post about SAA ALJs and retirement (contained in an article about the increasing rate of retirement throughout the federal government.
- Average age of judges is 59 right now. - 2/3 will be eligible for retirement by 2016 - ALJ retirement rate has been increasing annually - currently losing more judges than are being replaced - there have been 90 retirements this fiscal year - increased backlog was mentioned by SSA personnel person as well as current inability to fully replace exiting judges (supporting funky's theory on backlog creation for increased funding)
It'll be interesting to see how the next year or two play out.
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Aug 27, 2013 9:02:48 GMT -5
Bumping this thread because there is a blurb in the Washington Post about SAA ALJs and retirement (contained in an article about the increasing rate of retirement throughout the federal government. - Average age of judges is 59 right now. - 2/3 will be eligible for retirement by 2016 - ALJ retirement rate has been increasing annually - currently losing more judges than are being replaced - there have been 90 retirements this fiscal year - increased backlog was mentioned by SSA personnel person as well as current inability to fully replace exiting judges (supporting funky's theory on backlog creation for increased funding) It'll be interesting to see how the next year or two play out. Great catch on the Washington Post article hopefalj. It will indeed be an interesting next couple of years.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2013 9:15:41 GMT -5
Bumping this thread because there is a blurb in the Washington Post about SAA ALJs and retirement (contained in an article about the increasing rate of retirement throughout the federal government. - Average age of judges is 59 right now. - 2/3 will be eligible for retirement by 2016 - ALJ retirement rate has been increasing annually - currently losing more judges than are being replaced - there have been 90 retirements this fiscal year - increased backlog was mentioned by SSA personnel person as well as current inability to fully replace exiting judges (supporting funky's theory on backlog creation for increased funding) It'll be interesting to see how the next year or two play out. Thank you! Here is a link to story: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wave-of-retirements-hitting-federal-workforce/2013/08/26/97adacee-09b8-11e3-8974-f97ab3b3c677_story.html
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Aug 27, 2013 9:53:17 GMT -5
Bumping this thread because there is a blurb in the Washington Post about SAA ALJs and retirement (contained in an article about the increasing rate of retirement throughout the federal government. - Average age of judges is 59 right now. - 2/3 will be eligible for retirement by 2016 - ALJ retirement rate has been increasing annually - currently losing more judges than are being replaced - there have been 90 retirements this fiscal year - increased backlog was mentioned by SSA personnel person as well as current inability to fully replace exiting judges (supporting funky's theory on backlog creation for increased funding) It'll be interesting to see how the next year or two play out. Thank you! Here is a link to story: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/wave-of-retirements-hitting-federal-workforce/2013/08/26/97adacee-09b8-11e3-8974-f97ab3b3c677_story.htmlThanks exjag! Good news to all in the mix!
|
|
|
Post by bartleby on Aug 27, 2013 11:41:24 GMT -5
Talk of closing Augusta, GA ODAR due to "sick" office conditions landlord won't fix..
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Aug 27, 2013 12:28:06 GMT -5
Talk of closing Augusta, GA ODAR due to "sick" office conditions landlord won't fix.. Would they move the office in the same area or transfer all those folks to Savannah or Atlanta?
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Aug 27, 2013 12:44:15 GMT -5
Talk of closing Augusta, GA ODAR due to "sick" office conditions landlord won't fix.. Would they move the office in the same area or transfer all those folks to Savannah or Atlanta? If it is like most other government entities (federal or state) the ODAR office will just move to another location (a different building) in Augusta.
|
|
|
Post by bartleby on Aug 27, 2013 20:16:45 GMT -5
Actually, the word is it will be closed. Employees are being asked for their preferences as to where they wish to move to.
|
|
|
Post by trekker on Aug 27, 2013 21:41:03 GMT -5
Bartleby: Disgusta (as those of us from the area grew up calling it based on the yucky Savannah River plant) is a fairly big city for that region and it has a major military base (Fort Gordon) and VA hospital. I don't usually doubt your posts but I find it hard to believe the government will close that office on a permanent basis. But then, customer service may not be high on the list given the current budget cuts. I guess if the agency is really transitioning to video hearings then the local residents would be accommodated. But it is a fairly long drive for residents to most of the ODARs in the region and the nearest ODAR office would be Columbia SC which is 75 minutes away. While that may be "close" for big metropolitan areas elsewhere in the country, not so much for that neck of the woods so to speak. But I am no expert and have travelled to remote hearing sites prior to video hearings so your information could be very reliable.
|
|
|
Post by sealaw90 on Aug 28, 2013 9:32:52 GMT -5
Trekker, My local ODAR is responsible for claimants who are anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours away, so I am not sure that geography has anything to do with how SSA thinks. Why would they, when that would be considerd logical reasoning if they did! Besides, having Augusta off the plate is good news as far as I'm concerned. If they started talking about closing Savannah ODAR down - that would be a crime! One of the most beautiful cities in this country, it would be heaven to get my dream job and work in such wonderful place.
|
|
|
Post by trekker on Aug 28, 2013 10:51:49 GMT -5
I realize that clients drive long distances but it is usually from a smaller town to a larger town/city, with some exceptions. SSA has to pay for transportation if the travel is more than 75 miles one way and the bigger the town/city, the greater the number of applicants and, therefore, travel costs. There is the alternative of having an ALJ travel into the city and hold hearings. It just surprises me that where there is such a large military base (with Eisenhower AMC -- a teaching hospital) and a large VA hospital, that SSA would permanently close the ODAR. Of course, all of these expenses may still be cheaper than keeping an office open.
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Aug 28, 2013 11:01:55 GMT -5
Trekker, My local ODAR is responsible for claimants who are anywhere from 5 minutes to 5 hours away, so I am not sure that geography has anything to do with how SSA thinks. Why would they, when that would be considerd logical reasoning if they did! Besides, having Augusta off the plate is good news as far as I'm concerned. If they started talking about closing Savannah ODAR down - that would be a crime! One of the most beautiful cities in this country, it would be heaven to get my dream job and work in such wonderful place. The only problem is most ODAR offices are facing hearing room shortages for ALJ's now and if you try to send the ten ALJ from Augusta to other offices, it will lead to even more hearing office shortages in the new offices to which they switch. Further, I don't see SSA wanting to anger Congress by closing the Augusta Office and not re-opening it in the local vicinity, but instead forcing those claimants to go a distance. It is one thing where the claimants are use to traveling distances for hearings in the past, but another where they didn't have to travel long distances in the past. Also, the Augusta office was one of the most proficient in the State of Georgia in terms of disposition and processing time. Closing it and forcing those employees to go to other existing offices would be useless. I am not saying it won't happen, but I don't think it is a completely done deal as bartleby thinks.
|
|
|
Post by sealaw90 on Aug 28, 2013 11:16:56 GMT -5
mpd - Good point on the lack of closet space in the other offices to hold hearings in. Hey - another great reason for flexplace working and only having the max number of ALJs in the office on any one day, with the rest at home or on the road hearing cases. JMHO. It also depends upon the Congressman in that District who may want to weigh in on the closure. Back in the old days, when the Coast Guard would want to close a small search & rescue station that was (thankfully) not really needed, Congressman so-and-so would freak out and make us keep it open, even though it cost tens of milions. Depends upon what type of 'hero' your constituent needs in their congressional district, I suppose. So, back to the subject of the thread, any idea when we will have the final number of new hires so we can calculate the total number of hires off the old cert? I believe Bartleby said it may take a few weeks before we really know.
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Aug 28, 2013 12:30:09 GMT -5
mpd - Good point on the lack of closet space in the other offices to hold hearings in. Hey - another great reason for flexplace working and only having the max number of ALJs in the office on any one day, with the rest at home or on the road hearing cases. JMHO. It also depends upon the Congressman in that District who may want to weigh in on the closure. Back in the old days, when the Coast Guard would want to close a small search & rescue station that was (thankfully) not really needed, Congressman so-and-so would freak out and make us keep it open, even though it cost tens of milions. Depends upon what type of 'hero' your constituent needs in their congressional district, I suppose. So, back to the subject of the thread, any idea when we will have the final number of new hires so we can calculate the total number of hires off the old cert? I believe Bartleby said it may take a few weeks before we really know. I agree it may be a couple of weeks yet before we know.
|
|
|
Post by 71stretch on Aug 28, 2013 13:07:49 GMT -5
If not before, we usually get good intel about that from someone when everyone shows up for training.
|
|