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Post by Patience on Jun 13, 2015 12:43:01 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the welcome and the helpful answers. Given my very limited GAL, it's particularly useful as it doesn't look like my first choice has a lot of potential movement one way or the other, although it appears to still be in play on the present cert. I saw a few references to "non-conforming office space" being made available. Can anyone clarify what that term means? It conjures up images of Milton and his stapler in the basement in the like-named movie .... I have been in "non-conforming" offices although not with the Feds. Most government offices have a pecking order for the best offices, based on seniority. My last "non-conforming" office a number of years ago (yes, I have seniority now) consisted of a filing cabinet drawer, a small space under a bookshelf, a metal bin to carry files from office to office, and a daily fight for a recorder and an office emptied for the day by another employee who was working in the field or home, or who had a flex day.
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Post by mamaru on Jun 13, 2015 13:20:07 GMT -5
Patience, SSA has labor contracts for the judges, writers, etc., that govern office configuration, size, etc. Within the bargaining unit, office selection is usually based on seniority in the office, which is why transfers and newbies are being offered non-conforming offices. So far, by all reports, the non-conforming offices for ALJ's are group sup or decision writer offices which are smaller than ALJ offices and not quite so elegant. I have not heard of situations where ALJ's are not given designated private office space, fully equipped, as "non-conforming" offices. I don't think anyone who accepts an ALJ position is going to be in the situation you describe.
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Post by lawdog77 on Jun 13, 2015 13:37:09 GMT -5
I will take conforming, non-conforming, or coat closet! Just give me a call.
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Post by peach66 on Jun 13, 2015 14:11:56 GMT -5
So I had a one city cert this time and two transfers in to fill the two vacancies there shows up on the May transfer list equals I am out??? Is that right?
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Post by Patience on Jun 13, 2015 14:14:14 GMT -5
Patience, SSA has labor contracts for the judges, writers, etc., that govern office configuration, size, etc. Within the bargaining unit, office selection is usually based on seniority in the office, which is why transfers and newbies are being offered non-conforming offices. So far, by all reports, the non-conforming offices for ALJ's are group sup or decision writer offices which are smaller than ALJ offices and not quite so elegant. I have not heard of situations where ALJ's are not given designated private office space, fully equipped, as "non-conforming" offices. I don't think anyone who accepts an ALJ position is going to be in the situation you describe. I would certainly hope that would not be the case. The Feds have more $$$ than other governmental entities. So much for my attempt at Saturday morning humor:-)
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Post by westernalj on Jun 13, 2015 14:25:17 GMT -5
They could have passed on the transfer. Also look at the date they were added to the list. If it was recent, this could be after SSA asked for the cert, which freezes out transfers until the cert is finished.
EDIT: responding to peach66
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 17:07:24 GMT -5
I will take conforming, non-conforming, or coat closet! Just give me a call. I just took a non-conforming office and it's a lot smaller, but it works fine for me. Folks, you will spend a huge percentage of your time looking at two computer screens (90% of your time outside of hearings), so your world exists in a very small work space area anyway. My office in Tupelo was much bigger and the furniture much nicer (at least it was until Funky moved into it, you know what they say, you can take the ALJ out of Mississippi, but you can't get the Mississippi out of the ALJ), but as you approach teleworking and a busy schedule, all you care about is a cool/warm workspace to do your work when you are at the office. I have my hearing room 10 feet from my door and the IVT room 15 feet away, so I doubt I will move down to the bigger office down the hallway in January when one of the other guys retire because I like the convenience and it's only 3 of us down in this part of the office. The bathroom is a 50 yard walk, but with this job, you could use all the walking that you can fit into your schedule. IMHO Tiger
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Post by hilltopper on Jun 13, 2015 21:20:47 GMT -5
I will take conforming, non-conforming, or coat closet! Just give me a call. I just took a non-conforming office and it's a lot smaller, but it works fine for me. Folks, you will spend a huge percentage of your time looking at two computer screens (90% of your time outside of hearings), so your world exists in a very small work space area anyway. My office in Tupelo was much bigger and the furniture much nicer (at least it was until Funky moved into it, you know what they say, you can take the ALJ out of Mississippi, but you can't get the Mississippi out of the ALJ), but as you approach teleworking and a busy schedule, all you care about is a cool/warm workspace to do your work when you are at the office. I have my hearing room 10 feet from my door and the IVT room 15 feet away, so I doubt I will move down to the bigger office down the hallway in January when one of the other guys retire because I like the convenience and it's only 3 of us down in this part of the office. The bathroom is a 50 yard walk, but with this job, you could use all the walking that you can fit into your schedule. IMHO Tiger Now wait a minute ... I heard from Funky that when you moved out, you left some Tiger droppings in your former den ... talk bout funky ... ht
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Post by mamaru on Jun 14, 2015 9:30:00 GMT -5
Patience, SSA has labor contracts for the judges, writers, etc., that govern office configuration, size, etc. Within the bargaining unit, office selection is usually based on seniority in the office, which is why transfers and newbies are being offered non-conforming offices. So far, by all reports, the non-conforming offices for ALJ's are group sup or decision writer offices which are smaller than ALJ offices and not quite so elegant. I have not heard of situations where ALJ's are not given designated private office space, fully equipped, as "non-conforming" offices. I don't think anyone who accepts an ALJ position is going to be in the situation you describe. I would certainly hope that would not be the case. The Feds have more $$$ than other governmental entities. So much for my attempt at Saturday morning humor:-) Apologies Patience - didn't know you meant that tongue in cheek. Many of us have had your experience of toting those files around looking for someplace to work as new hires. And many of us would agree to work in the supply room to get a foot in the door. I was just trying to be reassuring to outsiders that they don't need to bring a tent for the parking lot to have a place to work if they agree to a nonconforming office.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 11:50:52 GMT -5
Coming from decades in the private sector where I was 100% responsible for everything from paperclips to computers, I find the national discussion and proceedings about ALJ office size a fascinating excercise in "why do we need this". Union provisions stipulate that ALJs have a certain sq. footage of office down to the inch. ALJs must have their own printers, specific desks, and other office furniture. In my office(s) I have a good size desk, with credenza, book cases, chairs etc. My desk drawers are empty as well as the credenza and the bookcases. (What would I put in them except for my coffe pods?) I have the std sq footage of office space, but in reality I walk in and out the exact path each day, stand/sit in the exact place each day and look as the exact same two computers screens each day for 99.99% of my office time. Take away all the space I do not ever use I could theorectically "office" in about 15 sq ft. I rarely use my printer (that is why I have a computer with email/Link etc.) so it takes up space. There is a landline phone on my desk that never rings (I don't even know my office phone number/extension). New ALJs (as I was) are going to be quite take aback how quiet are ODAR offices. Telephone ringing is a rarity, most staff communicate by lync or email. Save for the occasional music leaking out of earbuds inside staffs cubicles or from desktop stereos (mainly in ALJ offices brought on their own), the overall sound in ODAR offices is just a lowlevel rythymic continous clicking of keyboards. As with most offices there is little to very little office lingering and couch potato sitting among staff/ALJs during workdays so there is little need for the extra chairs. As Tiger aptly pointed out , as an ALJ you are going to spend 99.99999% of your time staring at two computer monitors either in a hearing room and more commonly in your office. Once done with computer work you are going to be out of there on telework, credit hours, travel, leave, vacation etc, or just clocking out. Thus having a large office filled with accoutrements is nice but not physically necessary to your production as you will rarely notice anything outside the peripheal view of those two computer monitors. As long as I have my electric stand up desk (admittedly the best office accoutrement you will be provided) a good lumbar desk chair and a window for that occasional glance away from the monitor screens, and up to date computers, I am happy.
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Post by Gram Pop on Jun 15, 2015 12:58:51 GMT -5
Coming from decades in the private sector where I was 100% responsible for everything from paperclips to computers, I find the national discussion and proceedings about ALJ office size a fascinating excercise in "why do we need this". Union provisions stipulate that ALJs have a certain sq. footage of office down to the inch. ALJs must have their own printers, specific desks, and other office furniture. In my office(s) I have a good size desk, with credenza, book cases, chairs etc. My desk drawers are empty as well as the credenza and the bookcases. (What would I put in them except for my coffe pods?) I have the std sq footage of office space, but in reality I walk in and out the exact path each day, stand/sit in the exact place each day and look as the exact same two computers screens each day for 99.99% of my office time. Take away all the space I do not ever use I could theorectically "office" in about 15 sq ft. I rarely use my printer (that is why I have a computer with email/Link etc.) so it takes up space. There is a landline phone on my desk that never rings (I don't even know my office phone number/extension). New ALJs (as I was) are going to be quite take aback how quiet are ODAR offices. Telephone ringing is a rarity, most staff communicate by lync or email. Save for the occasional music leaking out of earbuds inside staffs cubicles or from desktop stereos (mainly in ALJ offices brought on their own), the overall sound in ODAR offices is just a lowlevel rythymic continous clicking of keyboards. As with most offices there is little to very little office lingering and couch potato sitting among staff/ALJs during workdays so there is little need for the extra chairs. As Tiger aptly pointed out , as an ALJ you are going to spend 99.99999% of your time staring at two computer monitors either in a hearing room and more commonly in your office. Once done with computer work you are going to be out of there on telework, credit hours, travel, leave, vacation etc, or just clocking out. Thus having a large office filled with accoutrements is nice but not physically necessary to your production as you will rarely notice anything outside the peripheal view of those two computer monitors. As long as I have my electric stand up desk (admittedly the best office accoutrement you will be provided) a good lumbar desk chair and a window for that occasional glance away from the monitor screens, and up to date computers, I am happy. Papa, don't you need a place to showcase your high school chess club trophies?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 15, 2015 13:40:15 GMT -5
I went to a Catholic HS back in the early 70's. Chess was not on the agenda then.
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Post by prescient on Jul 20, 2015 8:43:09 GMT -5
Has there been a more recent transfer list posted?
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 20, 2015 14:41:36 GMT -5
Has there been a more recent transfer list posted? Nope. I think I have the July list and if I do I will try to get it up this evening.
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Post by moopigsdad on Jul 20, 2015 14:43:09 GMT -5
Has there been a more recent transfer list posted? Nope. I think I have the July list and if I do I will try to get it up this evening. Thank you Gaidin.
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Post by bartleby on Jul 20, 2015 20:26:34 GMT -5
Some transfers are occurring now.
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Post by gary on Jul 20, 2015 20:49:05 GMT -5
Some transfers are occurring now. Thanks for letting us know Bart.
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Post by Gaidin on Jul 21, 2015 12:24:21 GMT -5
Has there been a more recent transfer list posted? Nope. I think I have the July list and if I do I will try to get it up this evening. It's going to be tomorrow at the earliest before I can get to this. Sorry gang but duty calls.
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Post by funkyodar on Jul 21, 2015 14:37:25 GMT -5
Nope. I think I have the July list and if I do I will try to get it up this evening. It's going to be tomorrow at the earliest before I can get to this. Sorry gang but duty booty calls. There. Fixed if for you Gigo....um...Gaidin.
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Post by Judicially Imployed on Jul 21, 2015 15:42:56 GMT -5
It's going to be tomorrow at the earliest before I can get to this. Sorry gang but duty booty calls. There. Fixed if for you Gigo....um...Gaidin. Sigh. .... Just another ALJ making a wicked and evil edit to the work of a good-hearted and well intentioned AA / writer!
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