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Post by intothewild on Jul 27, 2021 18:32:27 GMT -5
Is there some sort of rumor that SSA will be hiring soon? Or is this thread just wishful thinking? Feels like SSA will never hire judges again. |
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Post by johnthornton on Jul 27, 2021 19:27:25 GMT -5
In my office, each of the judges requests 50 hearings a month. And each judge has only been getting 25-35 hearings per month since November.
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Post by TigerLaw on Jul 27, 2021 20:07:12 GMT -5
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. Well only Hawaii and Alaska would be far from Oklahoma as it is in the center of the United States, but I understand the point you are making! I hope you get to where you wish to be. Tiger! |
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Post by TigerLaw on Jul 27, 2021 20:11:04 GMT -5
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 Pixie, that's what you get the big bucks for, but all I did was click "quote" and the rest was what it is! Thanks for clearing it up, Tiger |
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Post by arkstfan on Jul 27, 2021 21:05:13 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. Since none of us except possibly some elves oath-bound to Pixie knows what is next it’s impossible to answer. I went into the pick your wish list process putting down my home office which I knew wouldn’t happen because there were no offices available. Two cities roughly 2 hours away with expectation I’d hotel or find a cheap apartment for 3-4 nights a week. Cities I could drive home from every weekend. Cities I could fly home from every other weekend without changing planes. Cities we’d move to. And struck any place not fitting that list. Currently you can voluntarily telework 8 days per month after one year of service. A co-worker upon reaching telework while 3+ hours from home would get a hotel for Monday-Thursday every other week for hearing weeks. Might get some credit hours hearing week or work 10 hours a day telework to stay home every other week. Knew one judge who didn’t get his home office a 20 minute commute from his home and had to settle for one a 40 minute commute. He said a person from that office got picked up for his home office and because of the location of the person’s home and traffic flow they had a 70 minute commute. That’s a ridiculously long and inefficient way of saying. We don’t know and what you mean by tied to the area might mean you have several options or none if the process permits requesting multiple sites. |
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Post by nappyloxs on Jul 27, 2021 22:52:53 GMT -5
Some articles on new OPM guidance. Say goodbye to telework being tied to # of hearings scheduled per month. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2021/07/make-telework-decisions-based-on-the-job-not-managerial-preference-opm-says/Make telework decisions based on job, not manager preference Data shows agencies quickly and significantly expanded telework last year during the pandemic out of necessity, but here OPM acknowledges some managers remain opposed to the practice when given the choice. Instead, OPM encouraged agencies to treat employees performing comparable jobs and tasks similarly when making telework decisions — and revisit the data often to ensure employees are meeting their missions. Agencies should also decide whether new employees or positions are telework eligible — and reconsider the status of employees who were previously ineligible. Telework isn’t an entitlement for working in the federal government, and agencies shouldn’t use it as a performance management tool or an incentive, OPM said. www.govexec.com/workforce/2021/07/opm-guidance-highlights-post-covid-telework-retention-recruitment-tool/184090/In a shift away from previous OPM documents on telework, last week’s guidance specifically highlights remote work as a “main” category of telework. Unlike routine telework, where an employee has a regular schedule of days in the office and working from home, and situational telework, in which workers telework infrequently—often with management approval—remote work allows employees to work from home on a full-time basis. |
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Post by nylawyer on Jul 29, 2021 8:48:22 GMT -5
Some articles on new OPM guidance. Say goodbye to telework being tied to # of hearings scheduled per month. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2021/07/make-telework-decisions-based-on-the-job-not-managerial-preference-opm-says/Make telework decisions based on job, not manager preference Data shows agencies quickly and significantly expanded telework last year during the pandemic out of necessity, but here OPM acknowledges some managers remain opposed to the practice when given the choice. Instead, OPM encouraged agencies to treat employees performing comparable jobs and tasks similarly when making telework decisions — and revisit the data often to ensure employees are meeting their missions. Agencies should also decide whether new employees or positions are telework eligible — and reconsider the status of employees who were previously ineligible. Telework isn’t an entitlement for working in the federal government, and agencies shouldn’t use it as a performance management tool or an incentive, OPM said. www.govexec.com/workforce/2021/07/opm-guidance-highlights-post-covid-telework-retention-recruitment-tool/184090/In a shift away from previous OPM documents on telework, last week’s guidance specifically highlights remote work as a “main” category of telework. Unlike routine telework, where an employee has a regular schedule of days in the office and working from home, and situational telework, in which workers telework infrequently—often with management approval—remote work allows employees to work from home on a full-time basis. But, then what data would SSA review to determine if teleworking ALJs are meeting their mission (if not number of hearings scheduled per month) |
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Post by barkley on Jul 29, 2021 9:16:35 GMT -5
This is just my experience, but I know at least four people who are current ALJs that just put one city down due to close ties to their home area. And many who put down multiple offices that were sent away while others filled slots in their home office. I know one ALJ who was sent away and they filled FIVE slots in the office near their home.
SSA will do what SSA will do. No rhyme or reason. Don't put down any city you don't want to move to. If home city is important to you, just put down home city. If SSA really wants you, you will get picked up.
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Post by ba on Jul 29, 2021 9:50:01 GMT -5
This is just my experience, but I know at least four people who are current ALJs that just put one city down due to close ties to their home area. And many who put down multiple offices that were sent away while others filled slots in their home office. I know one ALJ who was sent away and they filled FIVE slots in the office near their home. SSA will do what SSA will do. No rhyme or reason. Don't put down any city you don't want to move to. If home city is important to you, just put down home city. If SSA really wants you, you will get picked up. Assuming that system exists again… |
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Post by redsox1 on Jul 29, 2021 11:34:54 GMT -5
This is just my experience, but I know at least four people who are current ALJs that just put one city down due to close ties to their home area. And many who put down multiple offices that were sent away while others filled slots in their home office. I know one ALJ who was sent away and they filled FIVE slots in the office near their home. SSA will do what SSA will do. No rhyme or reason. Don't put down any city you don't want to move to. If home city is important to you, just put down home city. If SSA really wants you, you will get picked up. My experience is similar. Good advice, assuming the new system is like the old one. |
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Post by places2go on Jul 29, 2021 16:38:24 GMT -5
This is just my experience, but I know at least four people who are current ALJs that just put one city down due to close ties to their home area. And many who put down multiple offices that were sent away while others filled slots in their home office. I know one ALJ who was sent away and they filled FIVE slots in the office near their home. SSA will do what SSA will do. No rhyme or reason. Don't put down any city you don't want to move to. If home city is important to you, just put down home city. If SSA really wants you, you will get picked up. I included locations that were commutable from my house. It left me 4 locations with 30-90 min commutes. I luckily got the location closest to me. Also, the # of physical offices is not a factor. My office got 3 ALJs in our round and there were zero vacant ALJ offices available. |
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Post by okthen on Jul 31, 2021 7:12:21 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? Most of this has been answered, but nobody has mentioned the outdated and archaic 2 hour rule. You could be give the Agency the most dispos, and have the best remand rate. Likewise, you may never have missed a hearing in your life. But if you live more than 2 hours from your home office, you will not be permitted to TW. I expect TW to change greatly during these upcoming CBA negotiations (thankfully) |
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Post by unlisted on Sept 9, 2021 11:18:59 GMT -5
Some articles on new OPM guidance. Say goodbye to telework being tied to # of hearings scheduled per month. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2021/07/make-telework-decisions-based-on-the-job-not-managerial-preference-opm-says/Make telework decisions based on job, not manager preference Data shows agencies quickly and significantly expanded telework last year during the pandemic out of necessity, but here OPM acknowledges some managers remain opposed to the practice when given the choice. Instead, OPM encouraged agencies to treat employees performing comparable jobs and tasks similarly when making telework decisions — and revisit the data often to ensure employees are meeting their missions. Agencies should also decide whether new employees or positions are telework eligible — and reconsider the status of employees who were previously ineligible. Telework isn’t an entitlement for working in the federal government, and agencies shouldn’t use it as a performance management tool or an incentive, OPM said. www.govexec.com/workforce/2021/07/opm-guidance-highlights-post-covid-telework-retention-recruitment-tool/184090/In a shift away from previous OPM documents on telework, last week’s guidance specifically highlights remote work as a “main” category of telework. Unlike routine telework, where an employee has a regular schedule of days in the office and working from home, and situational telework, in which workers telework infrequently—often with management approval—remote work allows employees to work from home on a full-time basis. How likely do we think SSA is to implement this guidance? If/when we eventually get back to some live hearings - will they all be live, or has the agency learned that phone and video hearings are more efficient? Is the claimant's bar (which really calls the political shots) warming to the remote hearing concept too, because it's less travel for them? Could it be that ALJs will have maybe one or two days of live hearing a month, and all the rest can be remote telework? Duty station could become pretty much irrelevant. SSA could stop renting so much space, and save a bundle on locality pay. |
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Post by roymcavoy on Sept 9, 2021 11:34:48 GMT -5
Some articles on new OPM guidance. Say goodbye to telework being tied to # of hearings scheduled per month. federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2021/07/make-telework-decisions-based-on-the-job-not-managerial-preference-opm-says/Make telework decisions based on job, not manager preference Data shows agencies quickly and significantly expanded telework last year during the pandemic out of necessity, but here OPM acknowledges some managers remain opposed to the practice when given the choice. Instead, OPM encouraged agencies to treat employees performing comparable jobs and tasks similarly when making telework decisions — and revisit the data often to ensure employees are meeting their missions. Agencies should also decide whether new employees or positions are telework eligible — and reconsider the status of employees who were previously ineligible. Telework isn’t an entitlement for working in the federal government, and agencies shouldn’t use it as a performance management tool or an incentive, OPM said. www.govexec.com/workforce/2021/07/opm-guidance-highlights-post-covid-telework-retention-recruitment-tool/184090/In a shift away from previous OPM documents on telework, last week’s guidance specifically highlights remote work as a “main” category of telework. Unlike routine telework, where an employee has a regular schedule of days in the office and working from home, and situational telework, in which workers telework infrequently—often with management approval—remote work allows employees to work from home on a full-time basis. How likely do we think SSA is to implement this guidance? If/when we eventually get back to some live hearings - will they all be live, or has the agency learned that phone and video hearings are more efficient? Is the claimant's bar (which really calls the political shots) warming to the remote hearing concept too, because it's less travel for them? Could it be that ALJs will have maybe one or two days of live hearing a month, and all the rest can be remote telework? Duty station could become pretty much irrelevant. SSA could stop renting so much space, and save a bundle on locality pay. it’s still going to be an office by office determination so long as the claimant has a right to an in person hearing. I have heard ALJs and reps alike voice the opinion that ALJs are more likely to pay cases where the claimant appears in person. If claimants are forced to accept tele/video hearings, what you say is 100% on point. However, if claimants retain the right to a live action hearing, the number of ALJs in specific offices will be dependent on the number of live hearings they have. I personally think the biggest hurdle SSA will face is when they eventually make a determination that some/all of the workforce should return to the office but claimants cannot have in person hearings. While hypocrisy is not new to govt, that will likely draw attention. |
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Post by jagvet on Sept 9, 2021 22:49:33 GMT -5
I personally think the biggest hurdle SSA will face is when they eventually make a determination that some/all of the workforce should return to the office but claimants cannot have in person hearings. While hypocrisy is not new to govt, that will likely draw attention. It's not necessarily hypocritical. The president today ordered all federal employees (other than Post Office [?]) to be vaccinated, and many claimants are not, there is a reason to keep hearings remote. I'm not saying I agree with it, but there is some logic. |
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Post by roymcavoy on Sept 9, 2021 22:59:46 GMT -5
I personally think the biggest hurdle SSA will face is when they eventually make a determination that some/all of the workforce should return to the office but claimants cannot have in person hearings. While hypocrisy is not new to govt, that will likely draw attention. It's not necessarily hypocritical. The president today ordered all federal employees (other than Post Office [?]) to be vaccinated, and many claimants are not, there is a reason to keep hearings remote. I'm not saying I agree with it, but there is some logic. Great. “Show proof of vaccination and you can have an in person hearing.” Seems like win-win-win-win |
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Post by nylawyer on Sept 10, 2021 13:40:58 GMT -5
It's not necessarily hypocritical. The president today ordered all federal employees (other than Post Office [?]) to be vaccinated, and many claimants are not, there is a reason to keep hearings remote. I'm not saying I agree with it, but there is some logic. Great. “Show proof of vaccination and you can have an in person hearing.” Seems like win-win-win-win Except that the same population of mentally ill/chronically homeless who are most negatively impacted by lack of live hearings (and inability to walk into FOs) are disproportionately not going to have been vaccinated. |
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Post by pumpkin on Sept 10, 2021 19:00:23 GMT -5
Does having the claimant come into a hearing office in person to face an ALJ who appears on screen qualify as an “in person hearing”?
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Post by ba on Sept 10, 2021 20:03:49 GMT -5
Does having the claimant come into a hearing office in person to face an ALJ who appears on screen qualify as an “in person hearing”? If you can dismiss it if they don’t show up, it does to me. |
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Post by unlisted on Sept 11, 2021 9:17:13 GMT -5
What about Friday's email saying that phone hearings will continue into the foreseeable future? Any scuttlebutt, rumors, texture on that?
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