|
|
Post by Orly on Oct 7, 2013 20:01:35 GMT -5
I was provided the same info. Management returns tomorrow. Everyone else on Weds. I heard that as well. It will be great to have the staff back. The wheels were beginning to come off at my office. |
|
|
|
Post by lildavey on Oct 7, 2013 20:16:43 GMT -5
I don't get it. How can we go from non-essential to essential under the statutory scheme for a shutdown? Plus, I was going to learn a new language on Wednesday. Now, THAT'S funny!!! |
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Oct 7, 2013 21:01:05 GMT -5
A friend of mine works in a SSA office in Crapland. He is not an attorney or ALJ just a hard working Joe (not his real name)  . He and many folks in his office have been working without pay. He reports tonight that many of them will not be able to afford the commute as early as the middle of this week.  I feel for all you guys that are on furlough but honestly the folks making a lot less worry me a lot more. |
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Oct 8, 2013 5:15:20 GMT -5
A friend of mine works in a SSA office in Crapland. He is not an attorney or ALJ just a hard working Joe (not his real name) . He and many folks in his office have been working without pay. He reports tonight that many of them will not be able to afford the commute as early as the middle of this week. I feel for all you guys that are on furlough but honestly the folks making a lot less worry me a lot more. The thing that worries me the most is you have a Congress that doesn't really care how many people it hurts. |
|
|
|
Post by tmgesq on Oct 8, 2013 5:20:14 GMT -5
No matter what level you're at you can't survive long term without a paycheck. As a newbie, this shutdown has cost me an unexpected additional $1700 so far due to extra 2 weeks in a hotel...not to mention the additional 2 weeks away from my family
|
|
|
|
Post by christina on Oct 8, 2013 8:01:40 GMT -5
I just got on to ask about being recalled. Thanks for the heads up! And is it confirmed we can still go on previously requested vacations?
|
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 8, 2013 8:23:37 GMT -5
The national hotline for SSA still says we are still on furlough, and my supervisor knows nothing of this report back on Wednesday. Perhaps not all agencies? I know that several agencies are being recalled but have heard nothing official from SSA as of this morning.
|
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 8, 2013 8:26:50 GMT -5
A friend of mine works in a SSA office in Crapland. He is not an attorney or ALJ just a hard working Joe (not his real name) . He and many folks in his office have been working without pay. He reports tonight that many of them will not be able to afford the commute as early as the middle of this week. I feel for all you guys that are on furlough but honestly the folks making a lot less worry me a lot more. This is interesting as we (SSA/ODAR at the National level...not just regional) were told we would be in violation of law if we worked without pay if not considered one of the few that were allowed to work: one SCT, one HOD, one HOSA, etc. So, I am not so sure about this, either they are helping / volunteering or perhaps they are really individuals who are allowed to work, one of the exempt few. |
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Oct 8, 2013 8:34:18 GMT -5
A friend of mine works in a SSA office in Crapland. He is not an attorney or ALJ just a hard working Joe (not his real name) . He and many folks in his office have been working without pay. He reports tonight that many of them will not be able to afford the commute as early as the middle of this week. I feel for all you guys that are on furlough but honestly the folks making a lot less worry me a lot more. This is interesting as we (SSA/ODAR at the National level...not just regional) were told we would be in violation of law if we worked without pay if not considered one of the few that were allowed to work: one SCT, one HOD, one HOSA, etc. So, I am not so sure about this, either they are helping / volunteering or perhaps they are really individuals who are allowed to work, one of the exempt few. I think gaiden is speaking about a local SSA office, not an ODAR office when he is mentioning this individual of whom he speaks. At least that is my take on it and gaiden can correct me if I am wrong. |
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 8, 2013 8:52:07 GMT -5
WELL now....I just got my official notice I am now an "excepted" employee, status change, and that although I am not getting paid I must report to work tomorrow! Yay! Getting closer to pay at least....and I feel better about working for no pay, versus NOT working and potentially getting paid.
|
|
|
|
Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 8, 2013 8:55:17 GMT -5
This is interesting as we (SSA/ODAR at the National level...not just regional) were told we would be in violation of law if we worked without pay if not considered one of the few that were allowed to work: one SCT, one HOD, one HOSA, etc. So, I am not so sure about this, either they are helping / volunteering or perhaps they are really individuals who are allowed to work, one of the exempt few. I think gaiden is speaking about a local SSA office, not an ODAR office when he is mentioning this individual of whom he speaks. At least that is my take on it and gaiden can correct me if I am wrong. This may also be the new change in status...and they may have received the call sooner than me. So I will be one of those working but no pay too starting tomorrow. Maybe this roll out of status change is just taking differing times throughout the agency. Funny, I posted that and then my phone rang....LOL! |
|
|
|
Post by bartleby on Oct 8, 2013 8:56:25 GMT -5
This is from our HOCALJ this morning. It is my understanding that no leave will be given.
We have been advised that the managers for ODAR offices (and some other offices) will be recalled and will report as excepted employees on Tues (10-8-13). In addition, all line employees for ODAR offices will be recalled and will report as excepted employees on Wed. (10-9-13).
So when the government shuts down, all it means is that we go on working, but don't get paid.. How strange..
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Oct 8, 2013 8:56:31 GMT -5
This is interesting as we (SSA/ODAR at the National level...not just regional) were told we would be in violation of law if we worked without pay if not considered one of the few that were allowed to work: one SCT, one HOD, one HOSA, etc. So, I am not so sure about this, either they are helping / volunteering or perhaps they are really individuals who are allowed to work, one of the exempt few. I think gaiden is speaking about a local SSA office, not an ODAR office when he is mentioning this individual of whom he speaks. At least that is my take on it and gaiden can correct me if I am wrong. That is correct. He works at a local SSA office not ODAR. |
|
|
|
Post by chessparent on Oct 8, 2013 9:17:45 GMT -5
So, who's a line employee, who's a non -line employee, and who likes to line dance?
|
|
|
|
Post by Ace Midnight on Oct 8, 2013 9:58:11 GMT -5
It appears the rumors are true - management is back at work today, at my office, and I go in tomorrow.
It's amazing - no Congressional action - just the magic words "excepted".
|
|
|
|
Post by eyre44 on Oct 8, 2013 10:08:37 GMT -5
It appears the rumors are true - management is back at work today, at my office, and I go in tomorrow. It's amazing - no Congressional action - just the magic words "excepted". Each agency makes the determination of who is excepted and who isn't. That's why DOD recalled 400k furloughed workers a few days ago. When SSA realized that no cases were getting released by ODAR they decided that support staff was necessary for ALJs to hear and decide cases. I'd say duh on that, but I guess it took them a little longer. |
|
|
|
Post by christina on Oct 8, 2013 10:20:53 GMT -5
actaully, SSA indicated in the agency contingency plan that they might recall ODAR employees depending on how long the shutdown continued. They worded it that "the approach in ODAR could evolve over time"
|
|
|
|
Post by moopigsdad on Oct 8, 2013 10:29:24 GMT -5
How many of you think the agencies decided to change who was "excepted" because of the Congressional action to pay all furloughed employees once the shutdown ends? Why let people stay on furlough with no work, if they are going to be eventually paid for the entire shutdown?
|
|
|
|
Post by eyre44 on Oct 8, 2013 11:00:35 GMT -5
How many of you think the agencies decided to change who was "excepted" because of the Congressional action to pay all furloughed employees once the shutdown ends? Why let people stay on furlough with no work, if they are going to be eventually paid for the entire shutdown? I don't think that's what is happening at ODAR. The work the excepted employees are supposed to do, "hear and decide cases," just cannot be done without more excepted employees. |
|
|
|
Post by Ace Midnight on Oct 8, 2013 11:33:05 GMT -5
It just doesn't make sense - if lack of Congressional action sent us home - how can continued lack of Congressional action result in us going back to work? Unless it was all just smoke and mirrors to begin with?
I apologize for my terminal case of cynicism, but I'm getting too old to not ask the obvious questions.
|
|
. He and many folks in his office have been working without pay. He reports tonight that many of them will not be able to afford the commute as early as the middle of this week. 
