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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Apr 4, 2020 9:33:37 GMT -5
I work in a great office, with very hardworking people who take it as an honor to fulfill their role in serving the public.
There have been struggles due to some folks who have had their internet provider's service experience a wide-spread outage due to overloading its system. Others stepped up to the task to fill-in. Not anyone being lazy, it's outside their control.
There have been equipment failures, happens in any product offered for sale. Outside anyone's control.
However, we are doing it. To the very best of our abilities, and hearings are happening. The public service continues.
But the underlying issue is we are having to figure it out as go. More of a "good luck to you, because if this fails, I can say I was right", kind of attitude.
This lack of direction, this lack of input, the lack of support, lack of even basic communication, and our having to come here to find out what is going on (and even those messages are not consistent), is beyond frustrating. It actually is beginning to appear deliberate (see the above paragraph).
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Post by hopefalj on Apr 4, 2020 9:38:03 GMT -5
This is not the place to put down other ALJs you purport to represent. What it sounds like is you need to step down as LAR because you clearly don't have your fellow ALJs' interests at heart. Or take a chill pill. It's a pandemic. They should be able to air their grievances without the fear of reprisal from a fellow union member of all people. Many are scared and stressed. And rightly so. And not scheduling a lunch for the VE and staff??? Who does that??? These are people who are working and helping YOU. Give them time to eat! It depends on your schedule. If you're doing 6-7 a day, then a break is warranted (unless you plow through them and get them all done by 1). When I switched to 5 hearings per day in the long, long ago, I originally included a lunch hour and scheduled my last hearing at 1:30. I surveyed every VE and VHR I was working with at the time, and to a person, they preferred going 5 straight over doing 4, having a lunch break, and then sitting around for one hearing that only went forward about 1/3 of the time (my last hearing is almost always unrepped).
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Post by okthen on Apr 4, 2020 9:52:08 GMT -5
If a HCSR (SCT) did not get lunch, it is because the dumbass Judge didn't do their job while scheduling their hearings. I have always planned a 1 hour break in the middle of the day for lunch, not the whole hour, but a one hour break that will allow any over run in the AM hearings, but still allow for at least a 30 minute lunch break. I know that some Judges just plow right through, those type Judges don't have my respect and NEVER will! This job is not about you, it's about America and the Claimants! Treat the staff with respect, give them a lunch break, if you can't do that, well that says more about you than it does about any rationale trying to justify your decision to work through lunch! Easy fella. Painting with a broad brush. My VHRs generally enjoy going through without a lunch. They would rather get out early than have a 3PM hearing. Staff... yes, I can see them being upset about losing a lunch. But we were not scheduling with the staff needs in mind. Still, I think most would rather miss a lunch with a good and respectful judge than get a lunch with judge that has Black Robe Syndrome.
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Post by shoocat on Apr 4, 2020 10:46:35 GMT -5
If a HCSR (SCT) did not get lunch, it is because the dumbass Judge didn't do their job while scheduling their hearings. I have always planned a 1 hour break in the middle of the day for lunch, not the whole hour, but a one hour break that will allow any over run in the AM hearings, but still allow for at least a 30 minute lunch break. I know that some Judges just plow right through, those type Judges don't have my respect and NEVER will! This job is not about you, it's about America and the Claimants! Treat the staff with respect, give them a lunch break, if you can't do that, well that says more about you than it does about any rationale trying to justify your decision to work through lunch! I have always scheduled a 45 minute break from noon to 12:45 for the same reasons but that is just my preference.
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Post by Ready-Now! on Apr 4, 2020 11:03:32 GMT -5
If a HCSR (SCT) did not get lunch, it is because the dumbass Judge didn't do their job while scheduling their hearings. I have always planned a 1 hour break in the middle of the day for lunch, not the whole hour, but a one hour break that will allow any over run in the AM hearings, but still allow for at least a 30 minute lunch break. I know that some Judges just plow right through, those type Judges don't have my respect and NEVER will! This job is not about you, it's about America and the Claimants! Treat the staff with respect, give them a lunch break, if you can't do that, well that says more about you than it does about any rationale trying to justify your decision to work through lunch! Easy fella. Painting with a broad brush. My VHRs generally enjoy going through without a lunch. They would rather get out early than have a 3PM hearing. Staff... yes, I can see them being upset about losing a lunch. But we were not scheduling with the staff needs in mind. Still, I think most would rather miss a lunch with a good and respectful judge than get a lunch with judge that has Black Robe Syndrome. Absolutely correct okthen. I have never had anyone complain about getting finished. That is some harsh language there TigerLaw. You need to remember all situations differ. Chill!
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Post by lurkerbelow on Apr 4, 2020 11:34:35 GMT -5
Unrelated news:
I'm pretty sure that hardware supply stores in our area are happy as clams. Everyone on our street is doing yardwork.
Next run on supplies: power tool batteries and lumber?
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Post by charlsiekate on Apr 4, 2020 12:02:14 GMT -5
Unrelated news: I'm pretty sure that hardware supply stores in our area are happy as clams. Everyone on our street is doing yardwork. Next run on supplies: power tool batteries and lumber? Keep in mind if you cut yourself with a power tool you will probably have to go the corona hospital, something we are all trying to avoid at the moment. A friend who works in a hospital that is not yet overrun with the virus reported a huge uptick in people injuring themselves falling off ladders, cleaning gutters, and sawing things. Stay safe my friends. Love from the safety of my couch with my silly dog and a mimosa, we survived another week.
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Post by TigerLaw on Apr 4, 2020 12:02:19 GMT -5
Easy fella. Painting with a broad brush. My VHRs generally enjoy going through without a lunch. They would rather get out early than have a 3PM hearing. Staff... yes, I can see them being upset about losing a lunch. But we were not scheduling with the staff needs in mind. Still, I think most would rather miss a lunch with a good and respectful judge than get a lunch with judge that has Black Robe Syndrome. Absolutely correct okthen . I have never had anyone complain about getting finished. That is some harsh language there TigerLaw . You need to remember all situations differ. Chill! You are correct, I was too harsh in my words and I apologize to anyone that was offended! I think it is everyone's right to run the hearings how they wish. I do 6 to 7 hearings a day and that is too long without a meal break, but I could see plowing through with 5 hearings instead of a 30 minute lunch break. I will not ever do it, but I understand those that do! I do get too judgmental sometimes! I hope everyone is staying safe, at home, and doing the best job you can under the circumstances!
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Post by Ace Midnight on Apr 4, 2020 12:17:58 GMT -5
I do get too judgmental sometimes!
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Post by hamster on Apr 4, 2020 12:21:58 GMT -5
Absolutely correct okthen . I have never had anyone complain about getting finished. That is some harsh language there TigerLaw . You need to remember all situations differ. Chill! You are correct, I was too harsh in my words and I apologize to anyone that was offended! I think it is everyone's right to run the hearings how they wish. I do 6 to 7 hearings a day and that is too long without a meal break, but I could see plowing through with 5 hearings instead of a 30 minute lunch break. I will not ever do it, but I understand those that do! I do get too judgmental sometimes! I hope everyone is staying safe, at home, and doing the best job you can under the circumstances! Tiger: All is well. I know that you were in the Army, so I understand the need to cut you some slack. I spent 20 years on active-duty in the Chair Force, so I’ve learned to accept the foibles of those serving in the other Services. Be well. Respectfully, Hamster
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Post by nylawyer on Apr 4, 2020 13:33:00 GMT -5
Unrelated news: I'm pretty sure that hardware supply stores in our area are happy as clams. Everyone on our street is doing yardwork. Next run on supplies: power tool batteries and lumber? Last weekend I painted two rooms and fixed a sink. This weekend I'm automating the house. If we are still doing this in May I'm ripping up the boards on my deck and replacing with fiberglass.
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Post by SPN Lifer on Apr 4, 2020 17:38:28 GMT -5
Try not to inhale any fiberglass dust.
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Post by 2rvrrun on Apr 4, 2020 19:23:24 GMT -5
Well however y'all are doing it, I am impressed. It must be challenging especially for those the internet providers found less than profitable to serve with the best technology. You and the support staff are making us proud that you can do it dispite...
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Post by ba on Apr 5, 2020 7:35:14 GMT -5
And not scheduling a lunch for the VE and staff??? Who does that??? These are people who are working and helping YOU. Give them time to eat! It depends on your schedule. If you're doing 6-7 a day, then a break is warranted (unless you plow through them and get them all done by 1). When I switched to 5 hearings per day in the long, long ago, I originally included a lunch hour and scheduled my last hearing at 1:30. I surveyed every VE and VHR I was working with at the time, and to a person, they preferred going 5 straight over doing 4, having a lunch break, and then sitting around for one hearing that only went forward about 1/3 of the time (my last hearing is almost always unrepped). That’s scheduling a late lunch at 2-2:30.
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Post by ba on Apr 5, 2020 7:41:49 GMT -5
If a HCSR (SCT) did not get lunch, it is because the dumbass Judge didn't do their job while scheduling their hearings. I have always planned a 1 hour break in the middle of the day for lunch, not the whole hour, but a one hour break that will allow any over run in the AM hearings, but still allow for at least a 30 minute lunch break. I know that some Judges just plow right through, those type Judges don't have my respect and NEVER will! This job is not about you, it's about America and the Claimants! Treat the staff with respect, give them a lunch break, if you can't do that, well that says more about you than it does about any rationale trying to justify your decision to work through lunch! Easy fella. Painting with a broad brush. My VHRs generally enjoy going through without a lunch. They would rather get out early than have a 3PM hearing. Staff... yes, I can see them being upset about losing a lunch. But we were not scheduling with the staff needs in mind. Still, I think most would rather miss a lunch with a good and respectful judge than get a lunch with judge that has Black Robe Syndrome. I would be careful with that. One of the judges in my office turned to the VHR and the VE and asked them “so are you guys interested in taking lunch or do you want to push through, because I’m fine with pushing through if you are.” They both said, push through. The next day, the judge heard the VHR was complaining to staff that he made them work without a lunch. Yes, it is their fault for not expressing their preference, but there is an unbalanced power dynamic in that hearing room and some VHRs and VEs will not express their actual preference and try to say what they think the judge wants to hear.
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Post by hopefalj on Apr 5, 2020 9:40:06 GMT -5
It depends on your schedule. If you're doing 6-7 a day, then a break is warranted (unless you plow through them and get them all done by 1). When I switched to 5 hearings per day in the long, long ago, I originally included a lunch hour and scheduled my last hearing at 1:30. I surveyed every VE and VHR I was working with at the time, and to a person, they preferred going 5 straight over doing 4, having a lunch break, and then sitting around for one hearing that only went forward about 1/3 of the time (my last hearing is almost always unrepped). That’s scheduling a late lunch at 2-2:30. Hearings were originally scheduled at 830, 930, 1030, 1130, and 130. Lunch was 1230-130 or potentially at 1145 to 130 if the 1130 didn't go. With the new schedule, hearings are done at 1245-100 2/3 of the time with the last hearing rarely going past 1:30 the other third. Lunch has rarely (maybe 1-2% of the time) wound up at 2-230.
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Apr 5, 2020 12:14:56 GMT -5
Well, that explains it.
The majority of judges who telework must schedule 6 to 7 hearings per hearing day to even hope to be able to take a vacation and still meet the quotas.
Additionally, many video hearings are scheduled in field office locations that do not open until 9 a.m. By the time the VHR gets screened, in the hearing room, and set up, the hearings cannot start until 9:30 a.m.
Six to seven hearings without a lunch would make a very long day, even if the VHR or VE did not have health conditions that require a lunch.
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Post by hamster on Apr 5, 2020 13:39:18 GMT -5
Well, that explains it. The majority of judges who telework must schedule 6 to 7 hearings per hearing day to even hope to be able to take a vacation and still meet the quotas.Additionally, many video hearings are scheduled in field office locations that do not open until 9 a.m. By the time the VHR gets screened, in the hearing room, and set up, the hearings cannot start until 9:30 a.m. Six to seven hearings without a lunch would make a very long day, even if the VHR or VE did not have health conditions that require a lunch. Back when life was normal, I took vacations whenever I wanted and didn’t worry about meeting the quota. So, they wouldn’t let me telework. Big whoop. Now I don’t vacation and am still not meeting the quota. But I AM teleworking! It’s nice to know that even Judge Nagle had to yield to force majeure. Still, it probably pissed him off. Respectfully, H
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Post by statman on Apr 5, 2020 13:59:43 GMT -5
Given that claimants can opt out of telephone hearings it will be impossible to make the non quota quota so do not try. I do 6 hearings a day with no scheduled breaks. The contract hearing reporters prefer this but the staff people may not. I have already submitted my schedule through July so it is too late to change even if I wanted to.
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Post by Pixie on Apr 5, 2020 17:11:31 GMT -5
Given that claimants can opt out of telephone hearings it will be impossible to make the non quota quota so do not try. I do 6 hearings a day with no scheduled breaks. The contract hearing reporters prefer this but the staff people may not. I have already submitted my schedule through July so it is too late to change even if I wanted to. All things are subject to change. Pixie
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