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Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 8, 2013 8:58:10 GMT -5
Starting a new thread on this....but same as I posted elsewhere. Just received the call to return to work tomorrow, no pay status, but at least it is work! And this is much better as the getting paid for not working did not sit well with me as a taxpayer. I would much rather be in the category of working and no pay, than not working and later getting retro pay. The public is already sick of things like this even though it was not our fault we were furloughed.
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Post by chessparent on Oct 8, 2013 9:06:40 GMT -5
Respectfully, ....huh? I would rather work for pay or stay home. Plus, my caterpillar farm just came in the mail today.
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Post by moopigsdad on Oct 8, 2013 9:49:37 GMT -5
Respectfully, ....huh? I would rather work for pay or stay home. Plus, my caterpillar farm just came in the mail today. I love every post chessparent as you have keep me chuckling throughout the entire shutdown so far!
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Post by chessparent on Oct 8, 2013 10:49:06 GMT -5
Yep, its all true.I am now an exceptional employee also, oops "exception" employee-back to work tomorrow. Caterpillar farm has to go back today.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Oct 8, 2013 11:30:04 GMT -5
My office is increasing staff, as well. I guess I'll know tomorrow if everyone is "excepted".
Which kind of begs the question - why send everyone home in the first place (not that I'm complaining)?
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Post by funkyodar on Oct 8, 2013 11:56:20 GMT -5
Just got my call as well.
While I'm kinda happy to have something to do other than work around the farm, I'm not sure this is all that fair.
The rumor I have heard is this resulted from mucho complaints of those excepted employees that, after the winds began to indicate we would all be paid, felt they had to work and ot5hers didn't. supposedly odar was weighing a complete shutdown versus bringing everyone back. can't imagine a complete shutdown could have been legally supportable.
Still, those that had been accepted were, at least the majority, were management and aljs. the higher paid employees. to ask scts, receptionists and the like to incur the expenses of coming to work everyday without knowing when they will be paid just seems wrong.
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Post by christina on Oct 8, 2013 12:03:30 GMT -5
i was thinking all along that we need to get at least the partially favorable and fully favorable decisions out the door during the shutdown or payments to those people would be delayed. Slowing them down a week, not that big of a deal. Slowing them down by 6 weeks would be a big deal to those folks so somewhere in between one to six weeks, we'd be called back in and probably sooner than later. I personally thought SSA might just call some people back, using seniority but it is easier to just bring everyone back in than deal with a likely union backlash if only a light crew was called back for each position and the unions were not part of the decision making process of who got called back.
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Benny
Full Member
Posts: 56
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Post by Benny on Oct 8, 2013 12:46:21 GMT -5
Question..... Called back as essential, so that means we get paid when the shutdown ends? As opposed to waiting for the senate and the president to sign the retroactive pay bill? In other words, if we work we get paid, it's a matter of when???
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Post by eyre44 on Oct 8, 2013 13:22:14 GMT -5
Just got my call as well. While I'm kinda happy to have something to do other than work around the farm, I'm not sure this is all that fair. The rumor I have heard is this resulted from mucho complaints of those excepted employees that, after the winds began to indicate we would all be paid, felt they had to work and ot5hers didn't. supposedly odar was weighing a complete shutdown versus bringing everyone back. can't imagine a complete shutdown could have been legally supportable. Still, those that had been accepted were, at least the majority, were management and aljs. the higher paid employees. to ask scts, receptionists and the like to incur the expenses of coming to work everyday without knowing when they will be paid just seems wrong. I disagree Funky (on the rumor part). From day one the judges and three excepted staff in my office were asking for more staff because the work cannot be done with such a set up. I do think it is stupid to pay employees to sit at home, but that's not what the people in my office are complaining about. It's the unwritten cases, the inability to answer all the calls from claimant's and reps, the evidence piling up, etc.
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Post by eyre44 on Oct 8, 2013 13:28:36 GMT -5
i was thinking all along that we need to get at least the partially favorable and fully favorable decisions out the door during the shutdown or payments to those people would be delayed. Slowing them down a week, not that big of a deal. Slowing them down by 6 weeks would be a big deal to those folks so somewhere in between one to six weeks, we'd be called back in and probably sooner than later. I personally thought SSA might just call some people back, using seniority but it is easier to just bring everyone back in than deal with a likely union backlash if only a light crew was called back for each position and the unions were not part of the decision making process of who got called back. We tried to find out in my office whether decisions rendered by ODAR during the shutdown would actually be effectuated. I don't believe we've been able to get that question answered. If someone does know, please clue me in.
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Post by tripper on Oct 8, 2013 13:51:27 GMT -5
Called back too. What have people heard about ability to take leave. Some of us have heard no leave can be granted and you will be listed as AWOL. Thoughts?
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Oct 8, 2013 14:16:36 GMT -5
When I was called about the return to work, I was specifically told that no leave will be granted unless it was under an "extraordinary" circumstance, and once we returned we would be limited to performing only certain types of tasks. No information on the nature of those tasks, until a meeting tomorrow.
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Post by hopefalj on Oct 8, 2013 14:27:13 GMT -5
When I was called about the return to work, I was specifically told that no leave will be granted unless it was under an "extraordinary" circumstance, and once we returned we would be limited to performing only certain types of tasks. No information on the nature of those tasks, until a meeting tomorrow. Heard the same thing. What constitutes extraordinary circumstances is likely determined on a manager-by-manager basis. Hopefully those that need to use leave have understanding supervisors. It figures the day after I make a bunch of plans for the end of this week that we'd be called back into the office, but there are much worse things in this world than returning to work.
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Post by tripper on Oct 8, 2013 14:44:01 GMT -5
Recalling people without pay and not allowing leave (which has already been earned) I think will impact morale, which in my office is pretty poor already.
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Post by bartleby on Oct 8, 2013 15:02:18 GMT -5
Tripper, it will all be made up to us before long, so don't despair. Think of our claimants and appreciate what we have. Try to think of it as a noble thing and not let the negativity get you down. Remember good Kharma comes around.
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Post by slulawkid on Oct 8, 2013 15:53:31 GMT -5
Well done Bartleby! Remember the rest of the population, tour bus drivers that move tourist to and from National Parks, they will not be paid for the time off they are facing during the shutdown, or the mom and pop sandwich shop that feeds the Feds lunch everyday. There will be many that are facing far worse. Anyone that does not want the position, is more than welcomed to resign.
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Post by arkstfan on Oct 8, 2013 16:23:50 GMT -5
I disagree Funky (on the rumor part). From day one the judges and three excepted staff in my office were asking for more staff because the work cannot be done with such a set up. I do think it is stupid to pay employees to sit at home, but that's not what the people in my office are complaining about. It's the unwritten cases, the inability to answer all the calls from claimant's and reps, the evidence piling up, etc. VE's and hearing monitors are already contracted at least through December for dockets that have a couple cases if any scheduled. Those notices have to be out the door within a month. Most files for hearings be held now have unmarked exhibits to deal with. We've been given approval to start ordering consultative exams. Sent a TERI to be expedited, now whether it is effectuated is another question.
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Post by tmgesq on Oct 8, 2013 19:47:21 GMT -5
We were told in our ODAR office that leave that was PREVIOUSLY approved would be allowed but no new leaves would be approved unless there was a "good reason." And it would technically not be leave-- you would be furloughed for the days you're not in and you would be provided with a letter saying so.
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Post by Gram Pop on Oct 8, 2013 20:10:05 GMT -5
My spouse is an "exceptional" employee on the front lines at SSA. She assures me that the employees in the regional payment centers responsible for effectuating favorable decisions are equally "exceptional" and are hard at work keeping the wheels turning.
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Post by quesera on Oct 9, 2013 7:59:14 GMT -5
Hopefully y'all are NTEU Chapter 224 members and got the very useful email that answers a lot of our questions. It was sent late yesterday. Have a great work day, everyone!
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