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Post by superdude on May 4, 2009 15:10:39 GMT -5
The following was sent out to all ODAR employees on May 4, 2009. Note the section that reads "We have also completed interviewing for the new class of 157 ALJs. We expect to send out offers by the latter part of May."
Deputy Commissioner Broadcast
Date: May 4th, 2009
This week is Public Service Recognition Week and I can not think of a more fitting group of employees who deserve recognition for their contribution, dedication, integrity, and compassion than those who work in ODAR. Thank you all for your unwavering commitment.
April was a turning point for ODAR. We started the fiscal year with a pending of 760,813 cases and we ended April at 756,107 cases. Again, my congratulations to all of you for your work in tipping the disability backlog this month.
During the HOCALJ/HOD Summit in Nashville this week, I asked all the managers to live up to the promise for a way not only to celebrate this moment in time but also for the years of work on the disability backlog during under-resourced years.
As you all know, we still have a ways to go before achieving the goal of working down the disability backlog to capacity by 2013.
Making Our Hiring Goals
To date, we are at 35% of our goal of hiring 850 new support staff by June 30th. In addition, we must also replace people we have lost due to attrition. All the managers appear confident we will make our hiring goals.
We have also completed interviewing for the new class of 157 ALJs. We expect to send out offers by the latter part of May.
* * *
David V. Foster
Deputy Commissioner
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Post by pm on May 5, 2009 0:07:39 GMT -5
Nice to see confirmation on the exact number of hires this cert. That means there are going to be a lot of multiple hires in some cities.
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Post by lawandorder on May 5, 2009 9:33:13 GMT -5
We have also completed interviewing for the new class of 157 ALJs. We expect to send out offers by the latter part of May.
* * *
David V. Foster
Deputy Commissioner
"Latter part of May" can be construed as any time after May 16, 2009. |
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Post by northwest on May 6, 2009 11:47:26 GMT -5
I just called SSA to find out about offer logistics in light of my trip and being out of contact for a week on a boat.  The staff at the Chief's office initially informed me that the offers would be towards the end of May (possibly as late as May 30). However, they referred me to the personnel office, who will be making the actual contacts with the candidates. I was told that the target date for the offers was tentatively May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day, and that candidates will be given the long weekend (until May 26) to respond. The offers will be by phone, not e-mail. |
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Post by Orly on May 6, 2009 12:43:18 GMT -5
I was told that the target date for the offers was tentatively May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day, and that candidates will be given the long weekend (until May 26) to respond. The offers will be by phone, not e-mail. Northwest, Thanks for the info. 16 more days and then waiting for a phone call that may or may not come. Ah, the stress.  Got a spot left on your boat? ;D |
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Post by chieftain on May 6, 2009 13:28:43 GMT -5
I'm thinking that the offers will start earlier, like maybe 5/18 or 19, and that the 22nd is more of a drop dead target date for receiving acknowledgement of the offer from the recipient. That's an awful lot of calls/voice mails/returned calls to make in one day (5/22) for an already busy staff.
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Post by ssaer on May 6, 2009 13:40:45 GMT -5
I'm thinking that the offers will start earlier, like maybe 5/18 or 19, and that the 22nd is more of a drop dead target date for receiving acknowledgement of the offer from the recipient. That's an awful lot of calls/voice mails/returned calls to make in one day (5/22) for an already busy staff. I agree, particularly in light of the span of time that it took to set up the ODAR interviews (although I recognize that the number of offerees will be smaller than the number of interviewees) and the fact that Friday, May 22nd is, for many, the start of a holiday weekend. |
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Post by morgullord on May 6, 2009 13:42:40 GMT -5
On the Friday leading into a big holiday weekend with lots of traveling...
I believe Chieftain has it pegged.
Everybody sing (to the tune of "She'll be Comin' 'Round the Mountain")
The offers come by phone call when they come;
Yes, the offers come by phone call when they come;
Oh, the offers come by phone call unless they come by e-mail,
Oh the offers come by phone call when they come.
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Post by chieftain on May 6, 2009 13:47:02 GMT -5
Or in Morgullord's case, the Great Eye from the Black Tower will be fixed on him. Saddle up the Fell Beast!
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Post by privateatty on May 6, 2009 14:15:53 GMT -5
I just called SSA to find out about offer logistics in light of my trip and being out of contact for a week on a boat. The staff at the Chief's office initially informed me that the offers would be towards the end of May (possibly as late as May 30). However, they referred me to the personnel office, who will be making the actual contacts with the candidates. I was told that the target date for the offers was tentatively May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day, and that candidates will be given the long weekend (until May 26) to respond. The offers will be by phone, not e-mail. northwest! Thank you thank you thank you! I'm always amazed at brave folks like you who take the bull by the horns and just call. Of course I do it all day long on behalf of clients, but to do something like this involving little 'o me? Why, I'd be fearful one of the personnel folks would say..."oh, Mr. Bubbalicious, we don't seem to have you on our list, maybe you want to contact OPM?"  |
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Post by Legal Beagle on May 6, 2009 14:39:12 GMT -5
I think this is a test for one of those competencies: handling stress. Give out a bunch of conflicting information and see who goes insane.
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Post by superdude on May 6, 2009 15:22:33 GMT -5
I was told that the target date for the offers was tentatively May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day, and that candidates will be given the long weekend (until May 26) to respond. The offers will be by phone, not e-mail. Northwest, Thanks for the info. 16 more days and then waiting for a phone call that may or may not come. Ah, the stress. Got a spot left on your boat? ;D "Never get out of the boat. Absolutely godd@mn right." Capt. Ben Willard, Apocalypse Now |
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Post by barkley on May 6, 2009 16:26:02 GMT -5
Think they will really call? Seems like e-mail would be easier for getting responses.
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Post by chieftain on May 7, 2009 7:28:45 GMT -5
Think they will really call? Seems like e-mail would be easier for getting responses. My understanding is that in the past offers were made via telephone. I would not be surprised if ODAR went back to that method this time. Perhaps it is a sign that they are going to fill declined spots with this cert, and just go down the list. |
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Post by morgullord on May 7, 2009 8:56:00 GMT -5
I thought I would take a break from smelling the noisome dead flowers here in lovely Morgul Vale to say that I must disagree with Chieftain's post, supra. I think ODAR will want to re-shuffle the deck with a new cert rather than go with a "second choice". If the "second choice" ends up as the first choice on a new cert, selah. They pick only first choices only--the best of the best of the best, not the best of what's left.
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Post by privateatty on May 7, 2009 9:11:22 GMT -5
I thought I would take a break from smelling the noisome dead flowers here in lovely Morgul Vale to say that I must disagree with Chieftain's post, supra. I think ODAR will want to re-shuffle the deck with a new cert rather than go with a "second choice". If the "second choice" ends up as the first choice on a new cert, selah. They pick only first choices only--the best of the best of the best, not the best of what's left. The bulk of the Board is with you, morgullord. Chieftain is being wistful, not that I can blame him. After all, the latter approach would make more sense if your goal is to hire 157 Judges in a week. The once pick approach won't get them there. BTW, why only 157? Is it like you have posted before, morg, office space constraints? |
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Post by statman on May 7, 2009 12:41:02 GMT -5
My information is that past offers were made by E-mail and phone calls.
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Post by morgullord on May 7, 2009 12:44:44 GMT -5
Office constraints are the over-riding concern. ODAR is not in a position to hire for the new offices because there is nowhere for the judges to sit until those offices actually open.
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Post by ssaer on May 7, 2009 13:06:13 GMT -5
My information is that past offers were made by E-mail and phone calls. On 2/27/09, Wallace posted the following: Last year all the offers were made at the same time by e-mail: [your name here]-Congratulations! You have been selected for an ALJ position in [your duty station here]effective 6/22/08. I have listed some general information for you below. Please respond by next week with your answer.
You will report to your duty station on the Monday after your effective date, remain there for 2-3 weeks and then report to Baltimore, MD, for formal training. If you decline our offer, please do so in writing but if you are accepting, a statement of acceptance will be provided in the package to be mailed to you in the next 2 weeks.
--Please respond with your correct home address so the orientation materials will be sent correctly and add any phone numbers that are better in which to reach you.
--If employed by the Fed. Govt., we need the name of agency and Personnel Office contact name and number.
--A selection letter and all information concerning Government employment will be mailed within the next 2 weeks. There will be some actions on your part that will need to be done quickly, i.e., obtaining fingerprints, but please first read all the information provided in the package and follow it. . . . SSA assigned your start date. Some people were able to move their dates forward or backward on request. |
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The staff at the Chief's office initially informed me that the offers would be towards the end of May (possibly as late as May 30). However, they referred me to the personnel office, who will be making the actual contacts with the candidates. I was told that the target date for the offers was tentatively May 22, the Friday before Memorial Day, and that candidates will be given the long weekend (until May 26) to respond. The offers will be by phone, not e-mail.
Got a spot left on your boat? ;D
