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Post by icemaster on Jul 23, 2020 7:20:01 GMT -5
Bear with me because I'm just basically talking out loud.
I have been curious as to how the various agencies are going to transition employees who have underlying health conditions that make them vulnerable to the current virus back into the workplace.
Again, just thinking out loud.
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Post by Pixie on Jul 23, 2020 8:10:58 GMT -5
I wonder if SSA really cares? I hope so, but I have my doubts. Pixie
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Post by jagvet on Jul 23, 2020 9:17:14 GMT -5
Serious problem for feds and for most employers. ADA accommodations for employees with diabetes, obesity, heart and lung problems. ADEA problems with excluding employees over 60 or 65. That will destroy a lot of people's careers. Employers can't afford to put staff on lengthy paid leave. They may not want to hire vulnerable applicants. I suspect Congress will sneak in broad waivers in those laws in some other bill if waivers are based on pandemic concerns.
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Post by hopefalj on Jul 23, 2020 9:43:30 GMT -5
Serious problem for feds and for most employers. ADA accommodations for employees with diabetes, obesity, heart and lung problems. ADEA problems with excluding employees over 60 or 65. That will destroy a lot of people's careers. Employers can't afford to put staff on lengthy paid leave. They may not want to hire vulnerable applicants. I suspect Congress will sneak in broad waivers in those laws in some other bill if waivers are based on pandemic concerns. I was talking to someone about this today and wondering whether we (the gubbment) would be included in the liability waivers being pursued in the Senate. |
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Post by ba on Jul 23, 2020 14:26:42 GMT -5
I wonder if SSA really cares? I hope so, but I have my doubts. Pixie About us? They don’t. About being sued by claimants that contract COVID19 in our building? That they care about. |
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Post by acttwo on Aug 2, 2020 10:32:12 GMT -5
I wonder if SSA really cares? I hope so, but I have my doubts. Pixie About us? They don’t. About being sued by claimants that contract COVID19 in our building? That they care about. It does seem sometimes that abusing, berating, and mocking government workers is a popular sport. We do seem to get it from both bosses and public. Those times when we are thanked and appreciated are so much more meaningful because of it. It's August, I am holding my breath to see how the virus morphs. We have lost a couple of colleagues to this blasted virus, and not all that old. I just keep going into the office and searching for comfortable masks. Please, you all must stay safe! |
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Post by hamster on Aug 2, 2020 11:41:21 GMT -5
I just get sick and tired of the fixation on production above all else. Obviously, we are all paid to do a job. We need to do it to the best of our abilities...but that does not mean dying for the Agency. Regional Chief Judge Horne in San Francisco, on at least a monthly basis, exhorts us all to do our best. What does she think we’re doing? Eating bonbons? All she talks about is production. Numbers. How about a word on our sick or dead colleagues? They’re numbers too...and have families. What is the status of our Region and our colleagues? Or do they only care about dispos and APT?
Our Agency and its managers are, with a few exceptions, hostile and myopic.
Respectfully, Hamster
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lospettro
New Member
When you need the ghost.
Posts: 12
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Post by lospettro on Aug 2, 2020 14:10:33 GMT -5
I just get sick and tired of the fixation on production above all else. Obviously, we are all paid to do a job. We need to do it to the best of our abilities...but that does not mean dying for the Agency. Regional Chief Judge Horne in San Francisco, on at least a monthly basis, exhorts us all to do our best. What does she think we’re doing? Eating bonbons? All she talks about is production. Numbers. How about a word on our sick or dead colleagues? They’re numbers too...and have families. What is the status of our Region and our colleagues? Or do they only care about dispos and APT? Our Agency and its managers are, with a few exceptions, hostile and myopic. Respectfully, Hamster Quite frankly, I'm surprised POTUS hasn't thrown us into the fire yet. It's amazing that he and his cronies are dying on the hill about sending kids and teachers back to school and no one has asked why he hasn't sent the Federal civilian work force back in, en masse. I suspect that there is a push to get us back into the office on or around Labor Day, regardless of the rising COVID conditions nation-wide. He knows he doesn't need us for his votes, and that beating up "bureaucrats" is something that energizes his lunatic base. |
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Post by nylawyer on Aug 2, 2020 15:11:02 GMT -5
I just get sick and tired of the fixation on production above all else. Obviously, we are all paid to do a job. We need to do it to the best of our abilities...but that does not mean dying for the Agency. Regional Chief Judge Horne in San Francisco, on at least a monthly basis, exhorts us all to do our best. What does she think we’re doing? Eating bonbons? All she talks about is production. Numbers. How about a word on our sick or dead colleagues? They’re numbers too...and have families. What is the status of our Region and our colleagues? Or do they only care about dispos and APT? Our Agency and its managers are, with a few exceptions, hostile and myopic. Respectfully, Hamster Quite frankly, I'm surprised POTUS hasn't thrown us into the fire yet. It's amazing that he and his cronies are dying on the hill about sending kids and teachers back to school and no one has asked why he hasn't sent the Federal civilian work force back in, en masse. I suspect that there is a push to get us back into the office on or around Labor Day, regardless of the rising COVID conditions nation-wide. He knows he doesn't need us for his votes, and that beating up "bureaucrats" is something that energizes his lunatic base. I agree with a lot of this. Government (civilian) employees are going to be second only to Biden's immediate family in terms of percentage that will be voting against President Trump. Plus, it is a pretty effective attack- at a time when so many front line workers are risking their lives and private sector employees have lost their jobs, federal workers want to just sit at home and be paid. |
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Post by ssaogc on Aug 2, 2020 18:05:12 GMT -5
I just get sick and tired of the fixation on production above all else. Obviously, we are all paid to do a job. We need to do it to the best of our abilities...but that does not mean dying for the Agency. Regional Chief Judge Horne in San Francisco, on at least a monthly basis, exhorts us all to do our best. What does she think we’re doing? Eating bonbons? All she talks about is production. Numbers. How about a word on our sick or dead colleagues? They’re numbers too...and have families. What is the status of our Region and our colleagues? Or do they only care about dispos and APT? Our Agency and its managers are, with a few exceptions, hostile and myopic. Respectfully, Hamster Get the same e-mail from Region 4 RCALJ, it’s like clockwork every month. Oh you are doing such a great job of public service, you are great workers (never mind that CALJ and Deputy Commissioner Terry are at war with ALJ union going so far as accusing many of us of undermining the OHO mission) then the second paragraph is “we have a goal this month of.....“ No we do not have a goal, that is your goal. We are all working to get our cases through the system. |
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Post by jagvet on Aug 2, 2020 20:16:45 GMT -5
I read these posts and I chuckle. Read what you have written and ask yourself why the president or his campaign think there is any value to the ALJ corps or other federal employees. With attitudes like the the above posts you all make the case that federal employees only care about themselves. People are sick and dying, disabled people can't get hearings, and you, who have missed neither a paycheck or a meal, cry big tears because the RCALJ says you're doing a great job and keep it up. Because she really doesn't mean it. Boo hoo hoo!
And then you compound the point by saying how feds are going to vote in big numbers against him. Great! If I were president, I would say, "Fine. RIF them all now so they can't contribute to my opponent and start fresh. Maybe hire claimants and out-of-work cops to run SSA."
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Post by daisyjane on Aug 3, 2020 12:35:29 GMT -5
Funny, I read through all the Posts in this thread and interpreted them completely opposite from your assertions, i e., that TPTB at SSA do not care one iota about their employees and ALJ’s, but only about Production and Numbers. They have no compassion or empathy that some employees, or close family members, have died due to COVID-19. Moreover, they firmly believe each and every one of you are expendable, regardless of the years of institutional knowledge you may hold, or the time and expense to replace and train new employees,
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Post by mercury on Aug 3, 2020 12:48:52 GMT -5
I read these posts and I chuckle. Read what you have written and ask yourself why the president or his campaign think there is any value to the ALJ corps or other federal employees. With attitudes like the the above posts you all make the case that federal employees only care about themselves. People are sick and dying, disabled people can't get hearings, and you, who have missed neither a paycheck or a meal, cry big tears because the RCALJ says you're doing a great job and keep it up. Because she really doesn't mean it. Boo hoo hoo! And then you compound the point by saying how feds are going to vote in big numbers against him. Great! If I were president, I would say, "Fine. RIF them all now so they can't contribute to my opponent and start fresh. Maybe hire claimants and out-of-work cops to run SSA." I don’t disagree with this analysis entirely, but you could shorten it and just say Federal employees with little power have been expressing their rights and the President disagrees, so let’s remove their livelihood and thus that power, going back to the spoils system. In other news, all federal jobs will become 4 year NTE with the possibility of extension. |
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Post by jagvet on Aug 3, 2020 12:51:31 GMT -5
Maybe instead of eating bon bons, people should actually read Judge Horne's emails. Maybe I missed the callous demand for production in this one.:
From: [RCALJ Region IX]
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2020 3:46 PM
To: ***************
Subject: These days
Hello Region IX. I’m not sure what I want to say to you about what is happening these days – it feels like our world has gone upside down, with more tragedy, loss, mourning, and violence than many of us have seen in our lifetimes. In my earlier message to you, sent during Public Service Recognition Week, I focused mostly on COVID-19, and on the tragedy, loss, and mourning that we all have seen, and that some of us have experienced personally. Now, over the past couple of weeks, we are experiencing even more tragedy, loss, and mourning, as longstanding issues come again to the fore. As with COVID-19, these are issues that we all have seen; and similar to COVID-19, these are issues that many of us have experienced personally.
In our Region, the Federal Building that houses our Oakland Hearing Office has been hit hard by violence, and a longtime, well-known, well-esteemed FPS officer was killed. In Las Vegas, near the Federal Building that houses our Las Vegas Hearing Office, a man began shooting until he was shot by police. A few blocks from the Federal Building that houses the Long Beach Hearing Office, protests occurred, as well as significant destruction, looting, and arson, which resulted in the blocking of streets and the deployment of the National Guard.
In the face of these events and these tragedies, it can feel that the foundation of our lives is built on quicksand, easily shaken and not quite as stable as we once might have hoped. But then we see peaceful actions, neighbors reaching out to neighbors, cleaning up the residue of violence in neighborhoods that may not even be theirs. We remember our heroes, too, who day in and out do heroic deeds, whether caring for COVID patients, shopping for elderly parents or neighbors, or pushing the button to issue a fully favorable decision for a homeless claimant. The vast majority of the buildings that house our hearing offices are also intact in this region, and untouched by violence. And so maybe our foundation is not quicksand, and that though it’s shaken by all that we are seeing and hearing, it is more resilient than we thought, and more able to hold us as we move forward through these difficult times.
And so, despite this swirl, I hope that you are able to hold on to these two things, simultaneously: the situational awareness of events, both near and far, that seem to upend our lives these days; and the knowledge that that is not all there is. There is much good as well, in our willingness to support each other, and in our daring to commit random, and not so random, acts of kindness, for ourselves, for our families and friends, and for strangers in our midst. Our situational awareness helps keep us safe, and the support and kindness that we provide, and receive, helps keep our humanity intact as we walk through this. EAP can help all of us to maintain that balance, and to just keep moving through this difficult time, so please reach out to them if you need to.
My hope for all of us caught in this maelstrom is that we all emerge safe and sound, with a full recognition of the dignity and respect that is the birthright of each and every one of us. Please take care of yourselves, and support your families, your friends, and any one you meet who could use a hand.
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Post by mercury on Aug 3, 2020 13:02:41 GMT -5
Maybe instead of eating bon bons, people should actually read Judge Horne's emails. Maybe I missed the callous demand for production in this one.: I don’t know if you’re referring to me, but I’m not in region IX or SSA anymore, so I hadn’t seen the email and thank you for posting this, although I stand by my point about the spoils system. |
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Post by barkley on Aug 3, 2020 15:05:02 GMT -5
I don't know anything about other regions, but last Friday in Region IV we got an email from our RCALJ. The first paragraph was along the lines of we mourn the loss of the victims of COVID. Many families have been toughed by illness and death. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, because the NEXT paragraph was "Moving on, our goal for July had been lowered and we are still short. We have XX cases in ALPO, EDIT, SIGN and MAIL and let's all work hard to come as close as possible."
It could not have been more tone deaf.
If the first paragraph was sincere, would have been better in a separate email.
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Post by nappyloxs on Aug 5, 2020 22:57:17 GMT -5
Serious problem for feds and for most employers. ADA accommodations for employees with diabetes, obesity, heart and lung problems. ADEA problems with excluding employees over 60 or 65. That will destroy a lot of people's careers. Employers can't afford to put staff on lengthy paid leave. They may not want to hire vulnerable applicants. I suspect Congress will sneak in broad waivers in those laws in some other bill if waivers are based on pandemic concerns. One word: Liability Two words: Worker’s compensation. Accommodations is easy for feds. Full-time telework. Service and non-portable work employers will have problem. People start getting sick at work from co-workers or public. Not only will employees get lengthy paid leave, they will get reimbursed for pain and suffering. There is also hazardous pay, which agencies are avoiding to pay. As someone who goes into the office and they require me to wear a mask all day, I would think it is reasonable to get hazard pay. All other employees are not in office because of COVID (hazard), I must go in to take care of certain tasks because they are not there. Agency already classified as exigent circumstance. Some people have to take the risk, but aren’t compensated for the risk? Imagine with tracing if a claimant caught COVID at a hearing or in field office and they died, because they were high risk. Wrongful death? (And some judges if given the option would make claimants appear in person, so this would be possible). Signs on the doors will not constitute a waiver, no matter how colorful or how many pictures. Yes, Congress and States have already been silently granting businesses immunity. I know in my area, there was already news coverage about how many COVID worker’s comp claims are being denied. This all leads to more increased disability claims over next 2-4 years. SMH. There is already a backlog at DDS. Imagine when all those people you named get laid off and/or unemployment ends Almost every week, I hear about a long-time small business closing for good. They are the ones who are flexible with hiring and subsidize work. OHO is at about 460K right now and operating at what 60% capacity on the friendly side. (Don’t let number of hearing scheduled fool you, it is probably much less). Somewhere between 2022-2025, OHO will be 750k -million pending. (10% of the 15m unemployed plus regular receipts will easily get us there, not mentioning those who will apply because of COVID). If TPTB are smart, they will hire ALJs the minute they reopen to get new ALJs trained and up to speed for when the backlog happens. (Sorry for long post). |
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