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Post by robespierre on Oct 10, 2014 11:11:46 GMT -5
I hope that OPM hasn't issued the certs because they are finishing up appeals which might change the register. It has been nearly 6 months since the appeal period closed. That's just wishful thinking, more than likely OPM is just messing with all of us. Hmm, ok, that's yet another theory to explain the delay in the second set of certs. Seems like the list of possible explanations is now: 1. OPM is busy testing vets 2. OPM is just slow 3. OPM is finishing up appeals before acting 4. Budget uncertanties 5. Dispute between SSA and OPM over how many names per cert 6. Transfer list still being worked by SSA. Or some combination thereof. There you are: a Baedeker's guide to bureaucracy.
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tr33
Full Member
Posts: 37
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Post by tr33 on Oct 10, 2014 11:31:45 GMT -5
On this Friday, October 10, 2014 - with no sign of movement from ODAR on additional hiring - I believe the window is closing on interviews and offers "this year" - realistically, if new emails for previously uninterviewed folks go out as quickly as next week, they would have ~5 weeks until Thanksgiving to get all of the sceduling and interviewing done. If they do so, it is at least logistically possible to get offers/acceptances in December for a January start. But, if there is nothing by October 17th - I think that's it for this year. Anyone heard anything additional about interview panels in November? It's been fairly quiet on that front and travel arrangements would almost already have had to be made. Unfortunately, I agree that if nothing by 10/17 that is likely it until next year as far as new interviews. The best fact for new certs soon is the new alj training that is set for February. So I think next week will be the e-mail coming out and then November interviews. However, if nothing next week then maybe no new interviews are needed if it is a very small cert of people who already interviewed and the new cert cities are only ones already on the first round of certs.
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Post by gary on Oct 10, 2014 11:38:14 GMT -5
I think the critical date for SSA is January 25, 2015. They need to hire enough more ALJs to have a training class made up of ALJs who begin work on that date. SSA could probably hire the last ALJ for that class as late as January 11. If the certs are for enough positions, although we have speculated that the next groups would start in February and possibly March, since those dates have not been set SSA has the flexibility to set starting dates and classes for that next group or two later if necessary given the offer/acceptance process.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Oct 10, 2014 11:53:00 GMT -5
Gary, I hear what you're saying, but using the backward planning process - last time the offers started about a month after interviews (and took 3 weeks), which were about a month after emails. Backing up 2 months and 3 weeks from January 11th is, give or take October 21st - and that does not take into account the significant number of lost work days in that quarter, compared to others, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and EOY use or lose.
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Post by gary on Oct 10, 2014 12:04:42 GMT -5
Gary, I hear what you're saying, but using the backward planning process - last time the offers started about a month after interviews (and took 3 weeks), which were about a month after emails. Backing up 2 months and 3 weeks from January 11th is, give or take October 21st - and that does not take into account the significant number of lost work days in that quarter, compared to others, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and EOY use or lose. i think you're right on all that. I just wanted to make the point that it's not the end of the year they need to be most concerned with--they've got a little more time than that before it really gets problematic for them.
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Post by funkyodar on Oct 10, 2014 12:06:07 GMT -5
Graduation day for us in FC. DCALJ again confirmed second cert has been requested but not received from opm.
In discussing transfers, he stated that transfers to cities on a cert would have to be stayed or they could never know what cities should be on a cert.
That prompted a question of whether or not they could tell us which cities were being certed so we know if we can transfer there. He responded he didnt know why they couldnt do that and he would check. If it can be released to current aljs, he would email the list.
If it's ok and he does so, I'm sure it wont take long to find its way here.
Good luck all. It's a great organization and an absolute honor to be selected. Hope you all get to experience it.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Oct 10, 2014 12:10:19 GMT -5
There is also the challenge of scheduling and holding, logistically, 3 back-to-back-to-back training sessions - and that is probably unprecedented. They're currently in the process of pivoting from a "full" class to a half class from today until Monday. Hopefully that experience pays some dividends for this putatively larger group coming (early?) next year.
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Post by luckylady2 on Oct 10, 2014 12:24:53 GMT -5
Graduation day for us in FC. DCALJ again confirmed second cert has been requested but not received from opm. In discussing transfers, he stated that transfers to cities on a cert would have to be stayed or they could never know what cities should be on a cert. That prompted a question of whether or not they could tell us which cities were being certed so we know if we can transfer there. He responded he didnt know why they couldnt do that and he would check. If it can be released to current aljs, he would email the list. If it's ok and he does so, I'm sure it wont take long to find its way here. Good luck all. It's a great organization and an absolute honor to be selected. Hope you all get to experience it. Wow - that went fast! Congrats to you and all the new graduates!! Also, thanks so much for remembering us and paying a little visit to the board with info. We really appreciate it!
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Post by luckylady2 on Oct 10, 2014 12:29:46 GMT -5
sr. could the tentative budget be delaying things too? or is just opm? Love the pink hair, christina!
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Post by christina on Oct 10, 2014 12:53:57 GMT -5
thank u luckylady I needed a change. No ALJ interviews next week, are there ??
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Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 10, 2014 13:59:28 GMT -5
It appears Bob is taking some well deserved time off today. We have off Monday, so I guess I will check back in Tuesday morning! Have a great 3 day weekend everyone!
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witty
Full Member
i tawt i taw a puddy tat (Livingston/Foster/May/ made famous by Tweety B.)
Posts: 66
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Post by witty on Oct 10, 2014 14:49:52 GMT -5
Maybe ODAR requested the biggest certificate in world history in an attempt to capture all the names on the register in order to have an opportunity to see all the available talent and this requires OPM to use an excessive amount of resources and requires an inordinate amount of time, and moreover, OPM is feeling a little overwhelmed and frustrated at the sheer magnitude of the task and therefore is taking its sweet time. [Yes, this sentence is too long.]
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Post by robespierre on Oct 10, 2014 15:38:47 GMT -5
Maybe ODAR requested the biggest certificate in world history in an attempt to capture all the names on the register in order to have an opportunity to see all the available talent and this requires OPM to use an excessive amount of resources and requires an inordinate amount of time, and moreover, OPM is feeling a little overwhelmed and frustrated at the sheer magnitude of the task and therefore is taking its sweet time. [Yes, this sentence is too long.] Good one! Here's the revised list of possible reasons for the delay: 1. OPM is busy testing vets 2. OPM is just slow 3. OPM is finishing up appeals before acting 4. Budget uncertanties 5. Dispute between SSA and OPM over how many names per cert 6. SSA requested a mega-set of certs and OPM can't deal with it 7. SSA not done working the transfer list. Or some combination thereof.
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Post by gary on Oct 10, 2014 17:26:53 GMT -5
Maybe ODAR requested the biggest certificate in world history in an attempt to capture all the names on the register in order to have an opportunity to see all the available talent and this requires OPM to use an excessive amount of resources and requires an inordinate amount of time, and moreover, OPM is feeling a little overwhelmed and frustrated at the sheer magnitude of the task and therefore is taking its sweet time. [Yes, this sentence is too long.] Good one! Here's the revised list of possible reasons for the delay: 1. OPM is busy testing vets 2. OPM is just slow 3. OPM is finishing up appeals before acting 4. Budget uncertanties 5. Dispute between SSA and OPM over how many names per cert 6. SSA requested a mega-set of certs and OPM can't deal with it 7. SSA not done working the transfer list. Or some combination thereof. 8. OPM layoffs at the end of March have reduced the manpower available to work on ALJ-related matters, see www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/opm-plans-to-trim-356-employees-in-march/2014/01/23/7de67a7c-8468-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html9. Determining how many candidates to put on each of the lists of eligibles is more complicated for the second set of certs than it was for the first set and, if they haven't computerized this function, this may be slowing them up.
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Post by patiently on Oct 10, 2014 18:26:48 GMT -5
Graduation day for us in FC. DCALJ again confirmed second cert has been requested but not received from opm. In discussing transfers, he stated that transfers to cities on a cert would have to be stayed or they could never know what cities should be on a cert. That prompted a question of whether or not they could tell us which cities were being certed so we know if we can transfer there. He responded he didnt know why they couldnt do that and he would check. If it can be released to current aljs, he would email the list. If it's ok and he does so, I'm sure it wont take long to find its way here. Good luck all. It's a great organization and an absolute honor to be selected. Hope you all get to experience it. Ditto. Four long and rewarding weeks. More hiring coming. Pending to top 1 million soon; that number will surely precipitate an influx to the Corps and management is very definitely committed to adding numbers. Good luck and remember....patience is a virtue often rewarded!
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Post by Missundaztood on Oct 10, 2014 19:02:30 GMT -5
Good one! Here's the revised list of possible reasons for the delay: 1. OPM is busy testing vets 2. OPM is just slow 3. OPM is finishing up appeals before acting 4. Budget uncertanties 5. Dispute between SSA and OPM over how many names per cert 6. SSA requested a mega-set of certs and OPM can't deal with it 7. SSA not done working the transfer list. Or some combination thereof. 8. OPM layoffs at the end of March have reduced the manpower available to work on ALJ-related matters, see www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/opm-plans-to-trim-356-employees-in-march/2014/01/23/7de67a7c-8468-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html9. Determining how many candidates to put on each of the lists of eligibles is more complicated for the second set of certs than it was for the first set and, if they haven't computerized this function, this may be slowing them up. 10. OPM is really run by gary and gaidin who figure stringing out the process will result in some folks cracking and thus getting more out of their way! Conspiracy theory! Could that land them on "The Blacklist?"
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Post by chessparent on Oct 10, 2014 19:05:17 GMT -5
That's the spirit.
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Post by orchid on Oct 10, 2014 19:41:16 GMT -5
10. OPM is really run by gary and gaidin who figure stringing out the process will result in some folks cracking and thus getting more out of their way! Conspiracy theory! Could that land them on "The Blacklist?" 11. This is a long psychological test. OPM is secretly measuring our capacity to handle rumors, speculation, and endless waiting!
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Post by robespierre on Oct 10, 2014 20:55:42 GMT -5
12. The Secret Service has been placed in charge of getting out the cert.
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Post by JudgeRatty on Oct 10, 2014 20:56:14 GMT -5
12. The Secret Service has been placed in charge of getting out the cert. Doh!!!!
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