|
|
Post by roonie on Jul 23, 2021 14:36:32 GMT -5
I’m currently an SAA and would like to be an ALJ, but I’m pretty tied to my home area. I know the chances are better if you can move, but are you allowed to stay in your home office if there is space? I ask because we are down two judges.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ace Midnight on Jul 23, 2021 14:53:32 GMT -5
I can only tell you, "Maybe."
I have known judges who offered a limited area of geographic availability and given their home office. I know judges who had to accept a remote appointment and then try to transfer back.
And that was with the old process - who knows what changes this new process will bring?
|
|
|
|
Post by nylawyer on Jul 23, 2021 15:38:52 GMT -5
Without knowing how "desirable" your office is, and of course without knowing exactly how hiring will be done going forward, it's all a big guess.
But, my guess is that (if SSA wants you) it will actually be easier to get your desired location than it used to be.
(I had been told at one point that SSA did not hire ALJs in offices where they had worked as writers, but have been subsequently told that is not true).
|
|
|
|
Post by superalj on Jul 23, 2021 22:40:41 GMT -5
I’d be concentrating on trying to get hired and it’s a good problem to have. However, unless you’re in a really undesirable area, get ready to move. They don’t have nicknames for “Fresno” to be “Fresyes” for nothing!
Depending on your circumstances, it’s worth it bc the job is great and hopefully the Union will be able to pry open that transfer list. Before the former COSS closed the transfer list, it took most of the peeps from my class 18-36 months to get back home.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pixie on Jul 24, 2021 8:33:53 GMT -5
In the past a very few lucky candidates were hired for their home city, but that had little to do with it being an undesirable or desirable location. Years ago I saw a list of eligibles for all of the locations. Even what I would consider undesirable locations had multiple names, maybe 10 or so. The larger cities, such as NY, DC, LA, Chicago, etc. had maybe 20 to 30 names. So, there was intense competition for all locations.
TPTB would concentrate on getting who they wanted, irrespective of the candidate's preferred location and deal with the transfer requests later. Lately, transfers haven't much been happening. With a friendlier regime in power, I think the transfers may be coming back in favor. I certainly hope so, as some of our members are still in their original locations. So, as superalj said above, first concentrate on getting the job, and then worry about getting back to where you want to be.
nylawyer mentioned that under the new system, whatever that may be, it may be easier to get hired for the location one desires. I believe that to be true. The musical chairs game was necessitated by the OPM hiring process. With that probably gone, the new process won't be as convoluted. Pixie
|
|
|
|
Post by redsox1 on Jul 24, 2021 14:34:41 GMT -5
I was in your situation. Extremely limited geographic area due to family matters. I was lucky - hired directly into my home office. So it does happen and is allowed. It’s a little awkward at first but it all works out. All I can say is put in for where you can. That’s all you can do. Many SSA’s transferred back home. Good luck
|
|
|
|
Post by tripper on Jul 24, 2021 16:27:36 GMT -5
Who knows? I’m 57 months in without a transfer so be careful.
|
|
|
|
Post by steelrain on Jul 24, 2021 18:35:28 GMT -5
I was in your situation. Extremely limited geographic area due to family matters. I was lucky - hired directly into my home office. So it does happen and is allowed. It’s a little awkward at first but it all works out. All I can say is put in for where you can. That’s all you can do. Many SSA’s transferred back home. Good luck I was hired for an office about 40 miles from where I live and within 8 months I was able to transfer to an office 15 miles from me. So under the old system it worked. But my office has two judges from the last hire that want to transfer and it has been years. |
|
|
|
Post by rp on Jul 24, 2021 20:14:36 GMT -5
And don’t forget that we don’t know what the number of judges in offices will be. “Down two judges” is really not an accurate measurement of how many judges will be hired into an office in the future. I was in an office that had 13 judges. The office is down to 6 and there are barely enough cases to keep them busy. So there are no guarantees there is a vacancy in your home office.
|
|
|
|
Post by jagvet on Jul 25, 2021 23:00:08 GMT -5
Interesting discussion. Here's my humble advice, roonie: 1. List your locations carefully, but be creative, such as a 90 mile commute might be hard, but what if you stayed in a hotel once or twice a week? Not so bad. Unless you're really willing to go there, don't just put down anyplace or everyplace. 2. Don't count on transfers. Ever. 3. Remote telework is more available than ever. We're not going back to the bias in favor of in-office in the near future, and I doubt ever, but as the Huntington scandal showed, TBTB can take away anything and everything if they like. I could see some ALJ abusing telework and they cut it for everyone. 4. It is a wonderful job, and you should keep trying! |
|
|
|
Post by intothewild on Jul 26, 2021 22:17:43 GMT -5
Interesting discussion. Here's my humble advice, roonie: 1. List your locations carefully, but be creative, such as a 90 mile commute might be hard, but what if you stayed in a hotel once or twice a week? Not so bad. Unless you're really willing to go there, don't just put down anyplace or everyplace. 2. Don't count on transfers. Ever. 3. Remote telework is more available than ever. We're not going back to the bias in favor of in-office in the near future, and I doubt ever, but as the Huntington scandal showed, TBTB can take away anything and everything if they like. I could see some ALJ abusing telework and they cut it for everyone. 4. It is a wonderful job, and you should keep trying! How many days a week does SSA allow judges to telecommute? |
|
|
|
Post by TigerLaw on Jul 26, 2021 22:57:09 GMT -5
Interesting discussion. Here's my humble advice, roonie : 1. List your locations carefully, but be creative, such as a 90 mile commute might be hard, but what if you stayed in a hotel once or twice a week? Not so bad. Unless you're really willing to go there, don't just put down anyplace or everyplace. 2. Don't count on transfers. Ever. 3. Remote telework is more available than ever. We're not going back to the bias in favor of in-office in the near future, and I doubt ever, but as the Huntington scandal showed, TBTB can take away anything and everything if they like. I could see some ALJ abusing telework and they cut it for everyone. 4. It is a wonderful job, and you should keep trying! How many days a week does SSA allow judges to telecommute? Currently two days a week, but that will be expanded to "any day that you do not have hearings" in my opinion! While the Union is a mess at the top, the current administration will support 100% telework unless in hearings! That's my opinion and the naysayers are stuck in another era that should not be relied upon, at least not in the current administration! Tiger! |
|
|
|
Post by TigerLaw on Jul 26, 2021 23:07:00 GMT -5
Who knows? I’m 57 months in without a transfer so be careful. I would bet $1,000 dollars that this time next year (August to October 2022), I will be moving to my final transfer prior to retirement and you will be where ever you need to be! The bet is on my move, not yours as I have no clue where that is other than I think it's in Oklahoma! Tiger! |
|
|
|
Post by TigerLaw on Jul 26, 2021 23:14:02 GMT -5
In the past a very few lucky candidates were hired for their home city, but that had little to do with it being an undesirable or desirable location. Years ago I saw a list of eligibles for all of the locations. Even what I would consider undesirable locations had multiple names, maybe 10 or so. The larger cities, such as NY, DC, LA, Chicago, etc. had maybe 20 to 30 names. So, there was intense competition for all locations. TPTB would concentrate on getting who they wanted, irrespective of the candidate's preferred location and deal with the transfer requests later. Lately, transfers haven't much been happening. With a friendlier regime in power, I think the transfers may be coming back in favor. I certainly hope so, as some of our members are still in their original locations. So, as superalj said above, first concentrate on getting the job, and then worry about getting back to where you want to be. nylawyer mentioned that under the new system, whatever that may be, it may be easier to get hired for the location one desires. I believe that to be true. The musical chairs game was necessitated by the OPM hiring process. With that probably gone, the new process won't be as convoluted. Pixie Pixie and all others, I think many of you are too confident that the OPM and current Administration will allow anything other than the way it has always been to be the way it will be in the future after January 20, 2021! At least until 2025! Lawsuits by Veterans and others have proven this new system to be fragile at best, and I'm guessing anything other than an OPM approved system that provides a Veteran's preference and the "Rule of Three" will be a waste of time, but Pixie and all others, keep dreaming!  |
|
|
|
Post by tripper on Jul 27, 2021 7:23:53 GMT -5
Who knows? I’m 57 months in without a transfer so be careful. I would bet $1,000 dollars that this time next year (August to October 2022), I will be moving to my final transfer prior to retirement and you will be where ever you need to be! The bet is on my move, not yours as I have no clue where that is other than I think it's in Oklahoma! Tiger! Far from Oklahoma. |
|
|
|
Post by recoveringalj on Jul 27, 2021 7:39:52 GMT -5
Is there some sort of rumor that SSA will be hiring soon? Or is this thread just wishful thinking?
|
|
|
|
Post by tripper on Jul 27, 2021 7:48:11 GMT -5
Looking at the average hearings nationally it must just be wishful thinking. There is no justification for ALJ hiring in the near term.
|
|
|
|
Post by ba on Jul 27, 2021 11:40:50 GMT -5
How many days a week does SSA allow judges to telecommute? Currently two days a week, but that will be expanded to "any day that you do not have hearings" in my opinion! While the Union is a mess at the top, the current administration will support 100% telework unless in hearings! That's my opinion and the naysayers are stuck in another era that should not be relied upon, at least not in the current administration! Tiger! Pretty sure Tiger accidentally typed in the quote. If there’s any confusion I believe this is what he intended it to look like. EDIT NOTE by PIXIE: I went in and fixed it. Wasn't easy, but I did it. Pixie |
|
|
|
Post by cookie on Jul 27, 2021 14:17:10 GMT -5
Who knows? I’m 57 months in without a transfer so be careful. I would bet $1,000 dollars that this time next year (August to October 2022), I will be moving to my final transfer prior to retirement and you will be where ever you need to be! The bet is on my move, not yours as I have no clue where that is other than I think it's in Oklahoma! Tiger! Respectfully, you sound like you have a lot of time in. This is based on your comment that this will be your final transfer prior to retirement. While YOU may be lucky enough to move (and I’m not holding my breath for any movement), I don’t know how it looks for those of us without seniority. |
|
|
|
Post by fowlfinder on Jul 27, 2021 15:20:04 GMT -5
Is there some sort of rumor that SSA will be hiring soon? Or is this thread just wishful thinking? I believe the discussion arose mainly out of language in the agency's FY 22 budget prospectus which gave some discussion about hiring. |
|
