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Post by Pixie on Jul 6, 2020 9:04:49 GMT -5
Clever! And yes, please, everyone be and stay well! The federal government LOVES a good acronym. You win the contest for best/most creative new one! Yes, the Rodent has his moments. Some would say few and far between, but they are there. Pixie |
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Post by barkley on Jul 6, 2020 10:17:39 GMT -5
I think if we reopen hearing offices for face to face hearings (or face to video through our remote sites), OHO should do the same thing my massage therapist, my hair stylist and doctor are doing. The business keeps its front door locked. When I arrive, I call the front desk to tell them I am there. When my provider is ready to see me and the lobby is cleared, they call me back and tell me to come in. No loitering in the lobby. No bringing my entourage.
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Jul 6, 2020 12:50:43 GMT -5
If the experts finally all (or mostly) concur the virus is airborne, some retro-fitting of HVAC systems will be needed, in addition to the already anticipated cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces between each hearing. Provided such retro-fitting is even possible in a building that is not solely occupied by SSA.
Regardless, with several States not anticipated to reach their "peak" number of cases until October 1, or later, it is going to be a while before we can safely be "face-to-face" in whatever form that might take.
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Post by roymcavoy on Jul 6, 2020 13:07:20 GMT -5
If the experts finally all (or mostly) concur the virus is airborne, some retro-fitting of HVAC systems will be needed, in addition to the already anticipated cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces between each hearing. Provided such retro-fitting is even possible in a building that is not solely occupied by SSA. Regardless, with several States not anticipated to reach their "peak" number of cases until October 1, or later, it is going to be a while before we can safely be "face-to-face" in whatever form that might take. Oct 2014 ALJ demographics indicated that 917 out of the 1444 ALJs were over the age of 55, meaning that those who have not retired from that group are now all over 61–which places them in the high-risk age group |
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Post by hamster on Jul 6, 2020 18:32:19 GMT -5
Although my Fun Meter is often pegged, I’ve likely got another 12 to 19 months to go—much to the chagrin of the Agency, no doubt. I would not be at all surprised to still be teleworking a year from now. It is not unusual for me to be twice as old as some of the claimants. I’m far more high risk than “Bad Back Bob” who was born well after I graduated high school—even though I still see myself as virile, strapping, energetic, and svelte—for a hamster.
Time for my nap.
Respectfully, H
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Post by prescient on Jul 6, 2020 19:19:44 GMT -5
If the experts finally all (or mostly) concur the virus is airborne, some retro-fitting of HVAC systems will be needed, in addition to the already anticipated cleaning/disinfecting of surfaces between each hearing. Provided such retro-fitting is even possible in a building that is not solely occupied by SSA. Regardless, with several States not anticipated to reach their "peak" number of cases until October 1, or later, it is going to be a while before we can safely be "face-to-face" in whatever form that might take. This is the issue I worry about. In my neck of the woods, other than a daily cleaning of the bathrooms, we get no cleaning other than emptying the trash. There’s certainly not anywhere near the level of constant throughout the day deep cleaning of surfaces being done and I doubt the budget to make it happen |
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Post by barkley on Jul 7, 2020 10:52:57 GMT -5
I suspect your deep cleaning between hearings will be your HR with a box of Clorox wipes.
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 7, 2020 11:30:05 GMT -5
At what point, in good conscience, can we ask claimants with diabetes, lupus, COPD and the like to sit for any length of time in a waiting room with other chronically ill claimants? When would be a good time to expose immunologically impaired claimants to another claimant who was recently incarcerated or residing in a homeless shelter? I hope that the technologically gifted at OHO are working on our remote video capabilities. Random thought that came up during hearings today- at what point does anyone who would be considered vulnerable become disabled because of it? At this point obviously the durational requirements aren't met. But hypothetically, if next February the hearing offices are all still closed, aren't a whole lot of people going to qualify for disability? But even before February- if it's October and we just don't know when we might reopen. What then? |
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Jul 7, 2020 12:31:24 GMT -5
I suspect your deep cleaning between hearings will be your HR with a box of Clorox wipes. Their contract would probably have to include such a provision before they could be required to do that. Would some do it anyway? Sure. Would all of them? No. Haphazard cleaning would not ensure a safe environment. |
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Post by Thomas fka Lance on Jul 7, 2020 12:38:07 GMT -5
At what point, in good conscience, can we ask claimants with diabetes, lupus, COPD and the like to sit for any length of time in a waiting room with other chronically ill claimants? When would be a good time to expose immunologically impaired claimants to another claimant who was recently incarcerated or residing in a homeless shelter? I hope that the technologically gifted at OHO are working on our remote video capabilities. Random thought that came up during hearings today- at what point does anyone who would be considered vulnerable become disabled because of it? At this point obviously the durational requirements aren't met. But hypothetically, if next February the hearing offices are all still closed, aren't a whole lot of people going to qualify for disability? But even before February- if it's October and we just don't know when we might reopen. What then? I'm not sure the possibility of exposure to an illness someone might catch would be sufficient to find someone disabled, without an actual diagnosis of an illness. |
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Post by oddis on Jul 7, 2020 16:48:49 GMT -5
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Post by jimmyjiggles on Jul 7, 2020 17:06:26 GMT -5
I'm not sure the possibility of exposure to an illness someone might catch would be sufficient to find someone disabled, without an actual diagnosis of an illness. I think at most this would be like many autoimmune diseases. You’d get a limitation for “minimal to no contact with the general public,” but there would still be jobs available. It’s an interesting thought for sure, though. It would be interesting to see if a VE would factor in the many jobs that have converted to work at home since the pandemic in response to such a hypo. It seems many jobs that previously required one to be in the physical presence of co-workers/supervisors now have no interaction when it comes to physical, face to face contact. |
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Post by hamster on Jul 7, 2020 17:23:33 GMT -5
I’m philosophical about this. At least I still have a job. That’s well paying. That’s wholly secure. And with great benefits. Would I like a big raise? You bet. But our economy has taken a huge hit, many are unemployed, and many families are grieving. In good conscience, I can’t complain. I’m very lucky, in the big scheme of things. Hamster |
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 7, 2020 20:07:52 GMT -5
I’m philosophical about this. At least I still have a job. That’s well paying. That’s wholly secure. And with great benefits. Would I like a big raise? You bet. But our economy has taken a huge hit, many are unemployed, and many families are grieving. In good conscience, I can’t complain. I’m very lucky, in the big scheme of things. Hamster I was just at my kids' game, and saw some parents I haven't seen in a few months, and a couple of them are really hurting. One owns a few restaurants in NYC and obviously has been getting killed; the other was manager of a retail store that got trashed in the looting and is going to be closing for good. So, yeah, I can be appreciative that I have a job and understand I'm not getting a big raise. |
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Post by oddis on Jul 8, 2020 5:29:07 GMT -5
Interesting. I also see the reason for the low increase. Of all the areas of the national workforce, the federal employee is near the bottom of those needing help.
However, I also felt that way when the Administration recommended this same number, and remember a lot of teeth-gnashing and bloviation of how the Democrats would fix it during the budget process. While the Nation's situation has changed, it is still priorities and politics.
It seems like we've reached a point where one side is blindly given a pass, no matter the circumstances.
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Post by milagros on Jul 11, 2020 15:56:00 GMT -5
I have been holding hearings by phone, from home, for almost four months now, and I am feeling isolated and in the dark. There is no communication from management (or my colleagues for that matter.) I am curious how other judges are feeling. Are you having meetings? Do you IM or email? How, if at all, do you communicate with management and fellow judges? Are you satisfied with the level of communication?
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osage
New Member
Posts: 5 
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Post by osage on Jul 11, 2020 17:28:09 GMT -5
The LAR periodically sends out an email asking us how we are doing both professionally and personally. We have also independently had zoom meetings and phone conferences. The HOMT and HOCALJ rarely call a meeting, for which all the ALJs in my office are truly grateful. No news from management is good news in my office.
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Post by ssaogc on Jul 11, 2020 18:12:11 GMT -5
I have been holding hearings by phone, from home, for almost four months now, and I am feeling isolated and in the dark. There is no communication from management (or my colleagues for that matter.) I am curious how other judges are feeling. Are you having meetings? Do you IM or email? How, if at all, do you communicate with management and fellow judges? Are you satisfied with the level of communication? No one has checked in on me. We get usual emails from management and have monthly mostly useless meeting I actually love this new way of doing business. My office is not one where ALJs interact much. We do not have a LAR or a HOCALJ. I have a good SCT. Hold my hearing and am quite happy working from home on full time basis. |
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Post by okthen on Jul 11, 2020 23:09:16 GMT -5
I have been holding hearings by phone, from home, for almost four months now, and I am feeling isolated and in the dark. There is no communication from management (or my colleagues for that matter.) I am curious how other judges are feeling. Are you having meetings? Do you IM or email? How, if at all, do you communicate with management and fellow judges? Are you satisfied with the level of communication? Sorry to hear you feel this way. My office has been having weekly meetings. I continue to IM and email with people in the office, as well as other offices, as a way to stay engaged with people. I have zero desire to be in the hearing office with this virus out there like it is presently, so I am grateful to be able to work from home and be safe. Most of the claimants seem to feel the same way actually. If they ever got video from home set-up, I would be in hog heaven, and I would wager dollars to donuts that the ALJ hearings scheduled to held ratio would be fantastic on the whole. |
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Post by christina on Jul 12, 2020 8:26:02 GMT -5
At what point, in good conscience, can we ask claimants with diabetes, lupus, COPD and the like to sit for any length of time in a waiting room with other chronically ill claimants? When would be a good time to expose immunologically impaired claimants to another claimant who was recently incarcerated or residing in a homeless shelter? I hope that the technologically gifted at OHO are working on our remote video capabilities. Random thought that came up during hearings today- at what point does anyone who would be considered vulnerable become disabled because of it? At this point obviously the durational requirements aren't met. But hypothetically, if next February the hearing offices are all still closed, aren't a whole lot of people going to qualify for disability? But even before February- if it's October and we just don't know when we might reopen. What then? Analytically since covid 19 is presumably not a mdi the above individuals have , I’d recommend to my judges they not consider covid further unless we are directed otherwise by central. Also we hope there may be more at home jobs within next year or two if this keeps up 🤞 EDIT NOTE by Pixie: There, I fixed it for you. I took your comments out of the quote by nylawyer . |
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