|
|
Post by ssaogc on Mar 22, 2024 15:41:11 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Gaidin on Mar 23, 2024 0:19:19 GMT -5
It would be an absolute win to bring some folks in from OMHA. Especially, if they were previously SSA ALJs. Folks whose learning curve and ramp up were much shorter who could get cracking on the West Coast where things look so brutal. |
|
|
|
Post by dshawn on Mar 23, 2024 18:54:48 GMT -5
I volunteer as tribute.
|
|
|
|
Post by fowlfinder on Mar 23, 2024 21:26:41 GMT -5
It just says staffing increase. And while that may mean more ALJs I suspect it also means more staff such as LAs and writers. Even since I have been on board my office's support staff numbers have decreased substantially and there are retirements on the way as well. It wont take much for those numbers to negatively effect the work flow and create some serious bottlenecks. So while I would love to onboard some more ALJs I suspect this budget item is going to be much more focused on support staff. But I have no policy knowledge to base that belief on. Just what I hear and have seen regarding staffing levels. |
|
|
|
Post by neufenland on Mar 25, 2024 9:08:26 GMT -5
If you are a vet, doesn’t that put you at the back of the list for a RIF? Or does that not matter for excepted service? My understanding is that it’s reverse seniority as far as the order of who goes, but that they go through all the non-vets first. Thus, you could still be a pretty junior ALJ, but as a vet, they would have to RIF more senior non-vets before getting to you.
If I’m wrong, I apologize. Not my area of expertise.
|
|
|
|
Post by FrogEsq on Mar 25, 2024 9:15:35 GMT -5
If you are a vet, doesn’t that put you at the back of the list for a RIF? Or does that not matter for excepted service? My understanding is that it’s reverse seniority as far as the order of who goes, but that they go through all the non-vets first. Thus, you could still be a pretty junior ALJ, but as a vet, they would have to RIF more senior non-vets before getting to you. If I’m wrong, I apologize. Not my area of expertise. Just to clarify- it's the veteran who received Veteran's preference points at hiring. I served 8 years (btw 76-84) but I did not qualify for Veteran's preference points at hiring due to service outside of VA designated periods. |
|
|
|
Post by neufenland on Mar 25, 2024 10:07:27 GMT -5
If you are a vet, doesn’t that put you at the back of the list for a RIF? Or does that not matter for excepted service? My understanding is that it’s reverse seniority as far as the order of who goes, but that they go through all the non-vets first. Thus, you could still be a pretty junior ALJ, but as a vet, they would have to RIF more senior non-vets before getting to you. If I’m wrong, I apologize. Not my area of expertise. Just to clarify- it's the veteran who received Veteran's preference points at hiring. I served 8 years (btw 76-84) but I did not qualify for Veteran's preference points at hiring due to service outside of VA designated periods. Drag. I qualify because of my time, which is in a VA-designated period. It’s on my SF-50. I’m not an OMHA ALJ, but just floating it out there to perhaps ease a few minds. if you have a service-connected disability, you qualify for 10 pts regardless of the time period, I think. |
|
|
|
Post by Burt Macklin on Mar 25, 2024 10:29:43 GMT -5
neufenland is correct on the Vet Pref for a RIF. An agency has to burn through all the non-Vet Pref ALJs first based on date of Fed service. Then they could reach those with a Vet Pref, with those folks falling into two separate buckets: 1) 30%+ service connected disability; 2) anyone else eligible for the preference. The 5/10 point difference does not really factor in. www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force/workforce_reshaping.pdfThe vet preference OMHA ALJs are likely all fine in the event of an agency wide RIF. Their only danger comes if HQ seeks to pay the butcher's bill via office level liquidations (closing an entire office) - vet pref does nothing to help in a case like that. |
|
|
|
Post by ssaogc on Mar 25, 2024 15:58:37 GMT -5
neufenland is correct on the Vet Pref for a RIF. An agency has to burn through all the non-Vet Pref ALJs first based on date of Fed service. Then they could reach those with a Vet Pref, with those folks falling into two separate buckets: 1) 30%+ service connected disability; 2) anyone else eligible for the preference. The 5/10 point difference does not really factor in. www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force/workforce_reshaping.pdfThe vet preference OMHA ALJs are likely all fine in the event of an agency wide RIF. Their only danger comes if HQ seeks to pay the butcher's bill via office level liquidations (closing an entire office) - vet pref does nothing to help in a case like that. They may also have to run two lists one for competitively appointed ALJs and one for ALJs who were appointed under Exempted procedures. Or they could just run a RIF on one of those groups. See page 34. |
|
|
|
Post by Top Tier on Apr 8, 2024 6:37:51 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by arkstfan on Apr 11, 2024 13:14:53 GMT -5
FY2025 Budget looks like an absolute disaster for OMHA. Reduction from 117 Line ALJs to 78. 39 ALJs will be shown the door.
Attrition and details aren't getting OMHA there - seems like a RIF is a certainty at this point.
Edit: see pg 216 of the PDF (PDF pagination).
Throwing this out there: HOCALJ openings for St. Louis NHC (close date April 11) and the Harrisburg PA (close date April 4) were just circulated yesterday, and Downtown Not sure if the agency is willing to consider those ALJs currently outside the agency but I thought I'd pass it on. EDIT: and Longbeach CA (closes April 5). Little Rock has been advertised I think three times now with no one taking the bait. |
|
|
|
Post by christina on Apr 14, 2024 6:16:23 GMT -5
Throwing this out there: HOCALJ openings for St. Louis NHC (close date April 11) and the Harrisburg PA (close date April 4) were just circulated yesterday, and Downtown Not sure if the agency is willing to consider those ALJs currently outside the agency but I thought I'd pass it on. EDIT: and Longbeach CA (closes April 5). Little Rock has been advertised I think three times now with no one taking the bait. Hmm well that is curious and interesting information… |
|
|
|
Post by hopefalj on Apr 14, 2024 12:30:38 GMT -5
I would think HOCALJ positions are going to be hard to fill for a while. Even ignoring the downside to the position (for those that think there’s a downside anyway), I would think that most of us are already in their preferred locale at this point. For those who aren’t but bought a home prior to 2023, it’s difficult to sell a house financed or refinanced at 2.5% and then purchase a new home at 7% in a new town. Relocation benefits are helpful for a lot of moving costs, but they don’t get you lower rates.
|
|
|
|
Post by ssaogc on Apr 14, 2024 14:54:38 GMT -5
Some of these places are advertised, folks apply and then hear crickets.
A fellow ALJ applied for a HOCALJ position in a desirable city and was interviewed. Supposedly five folks were interviewed for the position and that was the last any of them heard from the agency. The position has been re- advertised again recently. Keep this in mind if you are thinking of applying—have realistic expectations
The classes hired in 2017 are hitting their seven years this year, meaning top pay. Most of these folks are at their desired locations. The pool of candidates for all these HOCALJ positions is small
For me the line ALJ job is as good as it gets.
|
|
|
|
Post by neufenland on Apr 15, 2024 10:43:54 GMT -5
Some of these places are advertised, folks apply and then hear crickets. A fellow ALJ applied for a HOCALJ position in a desirable city and was interviewed. Supposedly five folks were interviewed for the position and that was the last any of them heard from the agency. The position has been re- advertised again recently. Keep this in mind if you are thinking of applying—have realistic expectations The classes hired in 2017 are hitting their seven years this year, meaning top pay. Most of these folks are at their desired locations. The pool of candidates for all these HOCALJ positions is small For me the line ALJ job is as good as it gets. I recently applied for a promotion in my same “big” agency (I’m in a different component, currently), and had two interviews. I followed-up with an email about a month afterwards, and still nothing. Ghosted. I was in the 2022 interview group at SSA: ghosted. I applied for IJ twice and made it to second round interviews twice: ghosted (until OPM closed the notice on USAJOBS, to be fair, but that was months later). I guess that’s the norm, but I hate it. |
|
|
|
Post by hal3000 on May 15, 2024 19:52:52 GMT -5
I heard OMHA employees got an email today about the possibility of reassignments. Anyone else heard anything?
|
|
|
|
Post by christina on May 15, 2024 20:20:38 GMT -5
I heard OMHA employees got an email today about the possibility of reassignments. Anyone else heard anything? Not yet. I’ll ask around |
|
|
|
Post by atlattadv on May 16, 2024 7:50:03 GMT -5
I heard OMHA employees got an email today about the possibility of reassignments. Anyone else heard anything? There was an e-mail released, but it did not add many details regarding how ALJs will be affected. The only statement regarding the future of ALJs was, “As a next step, the HHS Office of Human Resources (OHR) will work with OMHA on opportunities for Administrative Law Judges (ALJ).” It did make it clear that OMHA has enough work to support 85 ALJ teams, and there are more than that (110-115 or so?). They are going to offer another early out/voluntary separation incentive. As for other employees, the e-mail states that voluntarily reassignments will be exhausted before any management-directed reassignments take place. There is also the caveat that all bargaining unit obligations will be met. |
|
|
|
Post by Burt Macklin on May 16, 2024 8:12:18 GMT -5
Involuntary (“management directed”) permanent reassignments outside of OMHA sure gonna be interesting for the LA/AA side of the house.
It also seems a clear telegraph that an ALJ RIF will be needed after the next VERA and whatever optional details they can scrounge up don’t cover the 31 judges they need to divest.
|
|
|
|
Post by christina on May 16, 2024 9:14:00 GMT -5
Well if they follow ssa lead, they will do what they can do through early retirements. Hang in there everyone.
|
|
