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Post by Gaidin on Jun 24, 2015 9:35:35 GMT -5
I got a PM from a longtime member but infrequent commenter about the June 29 class. I thought I would pass it along. They got this info from a reliable source. I have seen a class size of 45 reported a couple of times so this jives with that fairly well. The big take away from this is the 20 going to Region 5.
"There were 46 hires from most recent (6/29 report date) hiring - 20 going to region 5 offices. Planning (but based on recent hirings, optomistic imo) 150 more hires for August and September."
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Post by wingnut on Jun 24, 2015 9:40:05 GMT -5
That is very interesting intel, Gaidin. Thanks for posting. I think it would be much easily to fill all those slots if they allowed people to expand their GAL. Just trying to be helpful here of course.
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Post by gary on Jun 24, 2015 9:45:16 GMT -5
That is very interesting intel, Gaidin. Thanks for posting. I think it would be much easily to fill all those slots if they allowed people to expand their GAL. Just trying to be helpful here of course. I too altruistically but humbly suggest they open GALs for modification. |
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Post by ibnlurkin on Jun 24, 2015 11:24:43 GMT -5
Interesting..... anyone have thoughts on if, how, why they would be focusing on a region ?
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MW2
Full Member
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Post by MW2 on Jun 24, 2015 11:25:43 GMT -5
Nice to have the confirmation on the anticipated class size. Would be a fun couple of months if the 150 number were true as well.
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Post by Gaidin on Jun 24, 2015 12:50:57 GMT -5
Interesting..... anyone have thoughts on if, how, why they would be focusing on a region ? My guess is that except for filling the leaky buckets that are the Mt. Pleasant and Cincinnati offices they really haven't hired much there given the number of offices and moving to Michigan in June is easier than January. |
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Post by redryder on Jun 24, 2015 13:35:50 GMT -5
Region V is one of the two regions with the highest receipt per day per ALJ in the nation for this fiscal year. The only one with a higher receipt is the Denver region. So it would appear vacancies are being filed where the need is more pressing than just based on an empty office.
With electronic files and video hearings, the work can be moved around some. But this has its limits. For example, there are problems when the hearing office is in a different time zone than the claimant. Or if the hearing site for the claimant is in a field office which has limited access hours. Then there are those cases where the claimant or rep has opted out of having a video hearing. Then someone has to hold the hearing in person. Judges can be brought into areas to hold hearings, but that incurs the travel expenses, and lost time for travel itself. The optimal situation is still to put judges in those offices where the claimants are.
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Post by ba on Jun 24, 2015 15:29:21 GMT -5
Region V is one of the two regions with the highest receipt per day per ALJ in the nation for this fiscal year. The only one with a higher receipt is the Denver region. So it would appear vacancies are being filed where the need is more pressing than just based on an empty office. With electronic files and video hearings, the work can be moved around some. But this has its limits. For example, there are problems when the hearing office is in a different time zone than the claimant. Or if the hearing site for the claimant is in a field office which has limited access hours. Then there are those cases where the claimant or rep has opted out of having a video hearing. Then someone has to hold the hearing in person. Judges can be brought into areas to hold hearings, but that incurs the travel expenses, and lost time for travel itself. The optimal situation is still to put judges in those offices where the claimants are. I know you are saying it colloquially, but I have been told that there may not be an actual physically empty office for these positions. |
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Post by Gaidin on Jun 24, 2015 15:35:10 GMT -5
Region V is one of the two regions with the highest receipt per day per ALJ in the nation for this fiscal year. The only one with a higher receipt is the Denver region. So it would appear vacancies are being filed where the need is more pressing than just based on an empty office. With electronic files and video hearings, the work can be moved around some. But this has its limits. For example, there are problems when the hearing office is in a different time zone than the claimant. Or if the hearing site for the claimant is in a field office which has limited access hours. Then there are those cases where the claimant or rep has opted out of having a video hearing. Then someone has to hold the hearing in person. Judges can be brought into areas to hold hearings, but that incurs the travel expenses, and lost time for travel itself. The optimal situation is still to put judges in those offices where the claimants are. I know you are saying it colloquially, but I have been told that there may not be an actual physically empty office for these positions. Office sharing? |
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Post by hopefalj on Jun 24, 2015 15:52:36 GMT -5
Region V is one of the two regions with the highest receipt per day per ALJ in the nation for this fiscal year. The only one with a higher receipt is the Denver region. So it would appear vacancies are being filed where the need is more pressing than just based on an empty office. With electronic files and video hearings, the work can be moved around some. But this has its limits. For example, there are problems when the hearing office is in a different time zone than the claimant. Or if the hearing site for the claimant is in a field office which has limited access hours. Then there are those cases where the claimant or rep has opted out of having a video hearing. Then someone has to hold the hearing in person. Judges can be brought into areas to hold hearings, but that incurs the travel expenses, and lost time for travel itself. The optimal situation is still to put judges in those offices where the claimants are. I know you are saying it colloquially, but I have been told that there may not be an actual physically empty office for these positions. You'd be surprised, although they will stick judges in empty writer or GS offices. Region 5 tends to lose judges at a higher rate than the other regions. It'll be interesting to see the ALJ-to-hearing room ratio when some of these offices get filled beyond ALJ office capacity. That'll be the biggest issue. |
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Post by luckylady2 on Jun 24, 2015 17:12:28 GMT -5
You'd be surprised, although they will stick judges in empty writer or GS offices. Region 5 tends to lose judges at a higher rate than the other regions. It'll be interesting to see the ALJ-to-hearing room ratio when some of these offices get filled beyond ALJ office capacity. That'll be the biggest issue. In one of my early jobs, I actually did have a former coat closet as an office! I just brought in a bunch of lamps. So - Hey, Bob G - I think I can still find a bunch of lamps - office size is NOT an issue here!  |
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Post by gary on Jun 24, 2015 18:16:23 GMT -5
You'd be surprised, although they will stick judges in empty writer or GS offices. Region 5 tends to lose judges at a higher rate than the other regions. It'll be interesting to see the ALJ-to-hearing room ratio when some of these offices get filled beyond ALJ office capacity. That'll be the biggest issue. In one of my early jobs, I actually did have a former coat closet as an office! I just brought in a bunch of lamps. So - Hey, Bob G - I think I can still find a bunch of lamps - office size is NOT an issue here! Hey Bob, if you put me in a repurposed closet I'm sure Luckylady2 would loan me a lamp or 2. |
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Post by bartleby on Jun 25, 2015 7:26:46 GMT -5
Toledo has a need again...
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Post by changedusername on Jun 25, 2015 8:22:28 GMT -5
I will set up a tent in the parking lot, have a cooler full of beverages, a weber grill and a fire pit for the winter. I am cheap!! Just call me Bobby
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Post by redryder on Jun 25, 2015 14:58:06 GMT -5
As hopefalj pointed out, there may be problems when an office has more judges than it was originally designed to accommodate. But this is also provides the ALJ corps in that office with the opportunity to show the staff what cooperation, ooordination and professionalism look like. Rather than sinking into squabbles over use of hearing rooms and other resources, I hope our corps will make us proud by working together to resolve the problems. This has not always been the case in many of our offices. And when these kinds of squabbles break out, it makes the judges look petty and pompous to the rest of the office.
Having been on both sides as a writer and as a judge, as well as in the middle as a manager, I know of what I speak. Please honor the dignity of this position of judge and act accordingly, even when you think others don't.
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Post by legallyblonde on Jun 26, 2015 12:27:58 GMT -5
Well said, redryder.
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float
Full Member
Posts: 82
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Post by float on Jun 27, 2015 21:46:19 GMT -5
Region V is one of the two regions with the highest receipt per day per ALJ in the nation for this fiscal year. The only one with a higher receipt is the Denver region. So it would appear vacancies are being filed where the need is more pressing than just based on an empty office. With electronic files and video hearings, the work can be moved around some. But this has its limits. For example, there are problems when the hearing office is in a different time zone than the claimant. Or if the hearing site for the claimant is in a field office which has limited access hours. Then there are those cases where the claimant or rep has opted out of having a video hearing. Then someone has to hold the hearing in person. Judges can be brought into areas to hold hearings, but that incurs the travel expenses, and lost time for travel itself. The optimal situation is still to put judges in those offices where the claimants are. I know you are saying it colloquially, but I have been told that there may not be an actual physically empty office for these positions. Yeah, there is no space in Mt Plez. We have 3 judges starting Monday and they are going into non-conforming space. We have 5 writers coming in right after them, and they will take up the remaining open offices. Any further hires are going to require a hugely successful re-work of the transfer list, since we have several judges looking to go home. Unfortunately, they are in the teens on their transfer lists, and each of them is gunning for either a popular SSA office or another agency altogether. And since CJ Bice has made clear that it will take an exceptional circumstance to let a new judge out of the agency before they've completed a full year, we're about to have folks stacked up circling the runway over the office. Personally, I think we've got that "exceptional circumstance" which Judge Bice has been talking about. My two cents, which of course Judge Bice has not requested, is that she let the three judges here who want other agencies out now, and put into those offices three judges who are prepared to commit to SSA for the long term. I'm sure this will be put into place by Wednesday (she said, cynically) so stand by, all. |
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