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Post by nylawyer on Mar 8, 2020 21:18:01 GMT -5
Anyone see the union email today? There is a reference to the Work at Home by Quarantine program, and that amongst those who would qualify is anyone whose child is shut down by the Corona virus.That's pretty close, but nylawyer 's fast fingers left out the word, "school." So the language should be ". . . whose child's school is shut down . . . . " Discussion is fine, but let's not copy and paste the union email. Not sure if this line of discussion should be here or under the more generic Coronavirus thread. Pixie I'm blaming autocorrect rather than my fast fingers. Between this thread, the Coronavirus thread, and telework there is a lot of overlap. |
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Post by arkstfan on Mar 9, 2020 7:29:43 GMT -5
Regarding 1) work on arprs once u are done with post and alpo. As an agency, we can assign cases to aljs earlier if it’s needed to keep work flow. Judge can request development, including sending out medical and vocational interrogs on cases where it would be beneficial. So alpos and post first, then look at cases with hearings already scheduled and then start on rest of cases in office. We have x-thousand cases in my office to keep work going for awhile with more pre hearing work. I wonder how many physical CEs would be available were we to be in a situation where we are closing offices. Suspect there would be longer than normal waits. |
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Post by arkstfan on Mar 9, 2020 7:34:49 GMT -5
Anyone see the union email today? There is a reference to the Work at Home by Quarantine program, and that amongst those who would qualify is anyone whose child is shut down by the Corona virus. Does that mean that if my kids school closes I am permitted to stay home, or mandated? Because frankly my kids district feels a little jumpy, and it wouldn't shock me if we closed without a confirmed Corona case in the school. Edit- in fact, just learned of a nearby district that is closing tomorrow without having anyone in the district who is infected. Closing because of Coronavirus or because of the flu? We have no cases here but we've had schools closing a few days because of the flu. State funding formula is attendance based so when absences start mounting districts will close to avoid getting hit too hard financially. |
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 9, 2020 8:15:47 GMT -5
That's the thing, I've been told (but haven't seen an official report confirming) that my state has now waived the minimum number of days.
So that's why I suspect the district might well be a little bit quick to close down.
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Post by christina on Mar 9, 2020 8:32:54 GMT -5
That's the thing, I've been told (but haven't seen an official report confirming) that my state has now waived the minimum number of days. So that's why I suspect the district might well be a little bit quick to close down. Better safe than sorry esp if you are indeed in ny. Cv is pretty active up there. |
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Post by jagvet on Mar 9, 2020 8:41:49 GMT -5
I would hate to see things get so bad (or if not bad, so "somatic") that hearings are suspended, but here's a small consolation. When I started with ODAR, I got months ahead in case prep. I requested development, did more OTRs, and asked reps to update records. After getting up to speed and having the 50/month, that quickly ended. I would take advantage of that time teleworking without hearings to do that again.
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Post by tripper on Mar 9, 2020 10:00:41 GMT -5
Agreed jagvet. I'd love the opportunity to really develop the file like we were able those first few months. But with no hearings, the work for the decision writers would dry up pretty quickly. OHO work is really dependent on holding hearings. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. And will travel dockets be canceled? |
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Post by nylawyer on Mar 9, 2020 10:28:56 GMT -5
That leads me to an unhappy thought- might the agency in the event of someone protracted office closing in some areas move the ALJs elsewhere? Doesn't really make sense unless there is a catastrophe that closes offices for months a time, since it would be difficult to get cases scheduled, but could those ALJs in closed offices be mandated to be a floating coverage pool?
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Mar 9, 2020 10:53:57 GMT -5
Moving ALJs from offices purportedly closed to prevent the spread of illness to other areas would seem to be contrary to that goal.
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Post by christina on Mar 9, 2020 11:09:06 GMT -5
Agreed jagvet. I'd love the opportunity to really develop the file like we were able those first few months. But with no hearings, the work for the decision writers would dry up pretty quickly. OHO work is really dependent on holding hearings. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. And will travel dockets be canceled? Well we can help on the pre side of things too |
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Post by tripper on Mar 9, 2020 11:59:13 GMT -5
Agreed jagvet. I'd love the opportunity to really develop the file like we were able those first few months. But with no hearings, the work for the decision writers would dry up pretty quickly. OHO work is really dependent on holding hearings. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. And will travel dockets be canceled? Well we can help on the pre side of things too True! I love finding SAA analysis in the file. |
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Post by everflowing on Mar 9, 2020 12:16:19 GMT -5
Writers could be kept busy on telework with screening cases for OTR and performing aged reviews.
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Post by Pixie on Mar 9, 2020 12:41:34 GMT -5
What we need during this developing crisis is leadership. What the PTB in Woodlawn are providing is management. Management that doesn't do much to protect the worker who comes in contact with the public. A good leader will always look out for his people first, even though it may not square with the wishes from above. Pixie
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Post by roymcavoy on Mar 9, 2020 13:22:03 GMT -5
What we need during this developing crisis is leadership. What the PTB in Woodlawn are providing is management. Management that doesn't do much to protect the worker who comes in contact with the public. A good leader will always look out for his people first, even though it may not square with the wishes from above. Pixie there is a name for people like that in this environment: quickly unemployed |
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Post by roymcavoy on Mar 9, 2020 15:18:07 GMT -5
I believe the PTB would rather employees be forced to take sick leave (after getting coronavirus) than to telework (before getting/prevent spreading coronavirus). the discrepancy between proactive and reactive strategy is stunning. |
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Post by Pixie on Mar 9, 2020 15:44:24 GMT -5
I believe the PTB would rather employees be forced to take sick leave (after getting coronavirus) than to telework (before getting/prevent spreading coronavirus). It sure seems that way. Unfortunately, sick leave may not be the answer; this virus appears to have a high fatality rate. Pixie |
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biker
Full Member
Posts: 40
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Post by biker on Mar 9, 2020 16:08:56 GMT -5
We're up to 22 deaths as of today and I think 169 confirmed cases. We had our office meeting today- Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, OHO employees in the Seattle Hearing Office, Seattle DWU/CPU and Seattle RO will be afforded the opportunity to telework consistent with their pre-March 2, 20202 status. They are not closing the office nor expanding telework beyond the limits permitted prior to March 2, 2020. No precautions regarding the public other than our security guards are supposed to be on the lookout for sneezers and coughers. We're still doing hearings but can be liberal in granting postponements or requests for telephone hearings. Of course if the Governor "shuts down" the state then we can close the office.
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Post by Ace Midnight on Mar 9, 2020 20:04:49 GMT -5
We're up to 22 deaths as of today  15 of these 22 deaths were at a single, poorly run nursing home in Washington State. The average age of fatality in the United States so far is 80. |
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Post by christina on Mar 9, 2020 20:10:55 GMT -5
We're up to 22 deaths as of today 15 of these 22 deaths were at a single, poorly run nursing home in Washington State. The average age of fatality in the United States so far is 80. biker lives fairly near this nursing home, much different perspective for biker than u or me. not to mention a starbucks employee in downtown seattle and im not sure how many other folks in seattle are infected. |
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Post by workdrone on Mar 10, 2020 1:00:42 GMT -5
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