Side work

[frev]

I’m sure this will engender much derision, but I don’t care! Has anyone working as an ALJ successfully gotten permission to work a blue collar job part time? I mean like literally working as a cashier at a gas station, or supermarket, or working at a restaurant, or driving for Uber.

Please don’t bother me with the “why would you want to,” I just want to know if it has ever happened before I waste my time (and whoever approves these requests) applying to jobs. The request to engage in outside work activity form seems to contemplate I will be engaged in some high minded activity or business venture, when all I want to do is sell some gas and cigarettes or drive some drunks around at 2 am.

Thanks

[Gaidin]

Sept 7, 2023 16:32:27 GMT -5 frev said:

I’m sure this will engender much derision, but I don’t care! Has anyone working as an ALJ successfully gotten permission to work a blue collar job part time? I mean like literally working as a cashier at a gas station, or supermarket, or working at a restaurant, or driving for Uber.

Please don’t bother me with the “why would you want to,” I just want to know if it has ever happened before I waste my time (and whoever approves these requests) applying to jobs. The request to engage in outside work activity form seems to contemplate I will be engaged in some high minded activity or business venture, when all I want to do is sell some gas and cigarettes or drive some drunks around at 2 am.

Thanks

When I have gotten approval for volunteer activity I basically had to prove that I wasn't getting money/gifts that could influence my decision making and that it was unlikely I wouldn't come into contact with claimants outside of work. That second one seems the likely problem for cashiering or Uber. You could find yourself recusing in lots of cases or possibly worse hearing a case and making a decision only to discover later that the claimant had given you a big tip.

[noah]

I delivered Domino's Pizza evenings and weekends. The tips were stunning when I sang and performed for the clients. My personality and wit generated major bank. Problem was I ate the leftover pizzas and got ship-shaped. Too many chins. They nicknamed me Judge Fat-face.

[jagvet]

I really don't think it's a problem (as @gaidin suggests), unless you're in a small town and claimants will want to buy candy and give you tips at the 7-11. Whether you are a cashier or taxi driver, just don't tell anyone about your day job. Even without a side hustle, friends who know my work see nothing wrong with asking me questions I can't answer like "Do you think my friend has a case if....?," "Can I have my uncle call you about....?," or (my favorite) "My back hurts. How much does it have to hurt before I can get disability?"

My answers are all the same: "I can't discuss any specifics. If you think you have a claim, should contact a field office and file an application, or find a representative to help you." The response is almost always, "Who's the best representative?" I smile and say I can't answer that.

Back to side hustle, I would stay away from public-facing service jobs even though there's nothing wrong with it, except that I always thought I would like to work at Disney World helping people get seated on rides. All small talk, and they are happy.

[hopefalj]

There’s nothing more exciting than running into claimants out in the real world. The one thing you usually have going for you is that you’re standing up and no longer wearing a robe, so they may not recognize you. I’ve had to recuse myself from multiple cases after interacting with a claimant in my daily life.

I’ve often thought about looking into part-time work as a sales associate at Target or something in a retail environment for a change of pace and to be in a scenario where there’s no longer an imbalanced power dynamic between me and everyone else at work (aside from fellow judges). My “customers” can yell at me, coworkers can mock my terrible jokes instead of laughing to humor me, and I could get and give real feedback to my supervisor that could make a difference or change in the work environment.

[marathon]

AND you get an employee discount.