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Post by nylawyer on Sept 26, 2022 18:39:49 GMT -5
I would really like to know what it was in the proposed K that those seven found so appalling that it required them to vote no. No provision for paid sabbaticals.  Just speculating, but I suppose some might have objected to something that wasn't in the contract that they felt should have been. |
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cjane
Full Member
Posts: 39 
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Post by cjane on Sept 27, 2022 10:55:36 GMT -5
Congratulations to the 2022 class of ALJs. I was in the massive class in 2016 (over 100 people broken up into 4 groups) and just want to share my thoughts on your training and first year. While you may think that 4 weeks of in-person training is better, it is a LONG time to be away from your home and family. I was far enough away that traveling back home on a weekend was just not reasonable. Oddly, I did get very homesick - it really took me for a loop because I love traveling, meeting new people, going out to dinner, etc. I did make friends and am in touch with several to this day. So, yes, being in person does help form and cement your friendships, but the time away is a grind.
Speaking of grinds, I found the training and my first year as an ALJ to be a grind. I did have to commute 60 miles to my HO, so that added to the grind. I found the work to be interesting, but tedious. I did have wonderful support in the HO and the other ALJs were always helpful. But it was a difficult first year (or two).
Your experiences will be different due to Covid protocols and being able to train/work from home. I wish my first year or two could have been that way. But it's all a process, and it's common knowledge that the first few years are the toughest. So hang in there and adjudicate fairly.
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Post by nylawyer on Sept 27, 2022 17:41:01 GMT -5
If the incoming class loom is in fact very heavily loaded with insiders and former insiders, I would hope the training would be very different than what it looked like in the past.
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Post by tripper on Sept 27, 2022 18:02:04 GMT -5
If the incoming class loom is in fact very heavily loaded with insiders and former insiders, I would hope the training would be very different than what it looked like in the past. Agreed. I think a week of newbie-only to start might make sense. |
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Post by nylawyer on Sept 27, 2022 18:27:43 GMT -5
If the incoming class loom is in fact very heavily loaded with insiders and former insiders, I would hope the training would be very different than what it looked like in the past. Agreed. I think a week of newbie-only to start might make sense. Doesn't sound like there are enough actual newbies to justify it with this class. |
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Post by Baymax on Oct 2, 2022 13:13:22 GMT -5
Congratulations to the 2022 class of ALJs. I was in the massive class in 2016 (over 100 people broken up into 4 groups) and just want to share my thoughts on your training and first year. While you may think that 4 weeks of in-person training is better, it is a LONG time to be away from your home and family. I was far enough away that traveling back home on a weekend was just not reasonable. Oddly, I did get very homesick - it really took me for a loop because I love traveling, meeting new people, going out to dinner, etc. I did make friends and am in touch with several to this day. So, yes, being in person does help form and cement your friendships, but the time away is a grind. Speaking of grinds, I found the training and my first year as an ALJ to be a grind. I did have to commute 60 miles to my HO, so that added to the grind. I found the work to be interesting, but tedious. I did have wonderful support in the HO and the other ALJs were always helpful. But it was a difficult first year (or two). Your experiences will be different due to Covid protocols and being able to train/work from home. I wish my first year or two could have been that way. But it's all a process, and it's common knowledge that the first few years are the toughest. So hang in there and adjudicate fairly. Another member of that huge 2016 class here. Congratulations to all the new ALJs to-be!!!! Training was a lot of fun, and honestly, I did make the 5h drive home one weekend, but really regretted it due to how tiring it was. But it was a great opportunity to make new friends and memories. That first year of my daily 218-mile round trip commute was very difficult, and I had to get a hotel room a couple times that winter. The silver lining to the pandemic shutdown was not having to do that drive 2-3d a week. I would expect that with max telework still being the general rule, and with that being a part of the new CBA as well, new ALJs will probably be able to telework from day 1. I know that all of the new office staff hires have been teleworking once training is done (although thir arrangements are different than ours). Welcome to the corps!! |
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Post by Gaidin on Oct 2, 2022 19:16:19 GMT -5
Based on what the insiders I knew said the first 2 weeks were very boring. The second two weeks were somewhat eye opening for them because many had never considered what happened in the hearing rooms more than tangentially. As an outsider the first two weeks were essential because I had no familiarity with disability law. I tend to agree if there are outsiders giving them a week of additional training in person might be helpful even if it is just a few of them.
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Post by Gaidin on Oct 3, 2022 10:44:22 GMT -5
So training dates for the new ALJ class are as follows
Phase 1: 10/11/22 - 10/25/22 - watching VODs, etc.
Phase 2: 10/26/22 - 12/20/22 - instructor led virtual and in person training
Phase 3: 12/21/22 - 4/28/23* - mentoring to continue as long as necessary
1/9/23 1st date non-OHO experienced ALJs may hold hearings
1/16/23 1st date non-OHO experienced ALJs may hold hearings
February 23 is the first month of scheduling for purposes of the learning curve.
4-5 hearings per week through Feb
20-25 hearings for Mar (can start hearing kid cases)
25-30 hearings for Apr
30-35 hearings for May
35-40 hearings for Jun
40-45 hearings for Jul
Afterwards full dockets. If a hearing office does not have sufficient pending cases to meet scheduling guidelines, scheduling should be completed in line with current scheduling targets.
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Post by fowlfinder on Oct 11, 2022 21:18:36 GMT -5
To all the 2022 ALJ hires, hope your first day as an ALJ was great. Good luck on your new new career.
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