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Post by barkley on Nov 13, 2008 9:45:53 GMT -5
I realize that this is primarily a board for ALJ/ALJ applicants, but I feel this issue will impact the ability of ALJs to do their job, so I am posting. Sorry if it is too off-topic.
Yesterday, I had three paralegals separately come into my office and say "I'm thinking about retirement." All three of them have been writers for more than 15 years. One of them could walk tomorrow if she so chose to, the other two can retire within the next five years. They are good writers who can write a reliable decision.
Why retire? There has always been some pressure on writers to produce. We are constantly reminded of goals and processing times. But apparently word has gotten out that management is going to ratchet up the pressure to get the numbers out. All three of these writers are good workers - they don't hide in the breakroom or stay on the phone all day. They are coming in and putting in a good 8 hours, sometimes more. They are working hard and they feel unappreciated and inadequit. I am concerned that management is going to lean on these good employees until they just snap and retire.
Replacing these experienced workers is going to make matters worse for the Agency. The SCTs do not have the background to easily transfer into the job. The learning curve for new attorneys is steep. I don't think management even realizes how close some of these good workers are to retiring. Without good writers to get the decisions out, the ALJs can't meet their numbers. So it impacts us all.
Is there any hope?
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Post by extang on Nov 13, 2008 13:16:43 GMT -5
No.
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Post by morgullord on Nov 13, 2008 13:18:01 GMT -5
OHA/ODAR's experience with upgrading SCTs to wirters was so bad I doubt it will ever be done again. The hiring of an individual to be a paralegal specialist will be a rare event. Also, the learning curve for attorneys is not that steep. Treat them as fellow bar members and they will take care of you. Be disrespectful and they will also take care of you, perhaps in a different way...
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Post by workdrone on Nov 13, 2008 13:27:25 GMT -5
On average, it only takes about six months of training to get a new attorney up to speed. So as long as the agency replaces the retiring GS-12 paralegals with new GS-9 attorneys, this shouldn't be a big problem.
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Post by hopeful on Nov 13, 2008 14:57:30 GMT -5
1) This issue should not keep any prospective ALJs from taking a position.
2) Our office not too long ago promoted a non-attorney to paralegal specialist writer so the program is certainly not dead.
3) The non-binding production goals are not very onerous. If anyone cannot come close to meeting the goal month after month, and/or they cannot tolerate a discussion about productivity with a supervisor every few months, maybe it is time to retire.
4) It does not take 6 months to train a new writer; I got virtually no training and was writing favorable decisions the first week and unfavorable decisions with a month. While I may be hopeful, I know better than to consider myself a genius. New writers can certainly write favorable decision in the first month, and become competent to write unfavorable decisions in less than 6 months while still being productive. This applies to non-attorneys as well, some of which are better writers than many of the attorneys. If there are still too many decision to write, overtime will be offered to the writers.
That is enough ranting for today. Also, this is not meant as an attack on anyone, so do not perceive it as such. The point is that the job is not that difficult. If a non-attorney GS-12 with 15 years experience is unsatisfied with making more than $80K per year + benefits and being accountable for a modest level of production . . . that is all I am saying.
Anyone looking to become an ALJ should also expect to be held accountable for a modest level of production as well.
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Post by nonamouse on Nov 14, 2008 13:36:08 GMT -5
The production expected depends on what each office assigns to attorneys, paralegals or senior attorneys and the number of competent people in each category. Everyone is being pushed for higher numbers from the newest case technician to the most experienced ALJs. Every person in the hearing office needs to be good at organizing and prioritizing their own work to allow some flexibility when the unexpected happens. However, some good writers are going to leave the hearing offices whether the production expected is reasonable or not. I've seen more people leave due to personality conflicts than over the numbers. Most intelligent people can find a way to tweak their work habits and crank out a bit more productivity, but no one can fix someone else's personality to improve the work environment.
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Post by deltajudge on Nov 14, 2008 15:02:40 GMT -5
8-)OHA/ODAR used to be a quasi-judicial agency. It is far removed from that now. It is now an assembly line production, whose goal is to get the cases out the door. No professionalism. People are disheartened and depressed. Not fun to go to work anymore.
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Post by judicature on Nov 14, 2008 19:35:59 GMT -5
Oh well, there's always Wall Street! Wait, oh no....  The truth is that the private sector is much scarier right now than government service. How do lay-offs, missed draws and severance packages sound? Law school placements are way down - - lots of grads without jobs. People are waiting 2 to 3 years for a hearing - losing their homes, losing everything they have, and folks within the agency feel pressure to get through more cases and are upset about it. Draw your own conclusions. |
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Post by deltajudge on Nov 14, 2008 21:46:54 GMT -5
8-)There appears to be an undercurrent to the effect that ODAR will cease selecting candidates from the OPM register, and set up their own register for hearing examiners. Their register will not be subject to the APA, kinda like the old SSI examiners and Black Lung Judges.
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Post by govtattorney on Nov 14, 2008 21:47:34 GMT -5
it's been a while since i've written. 3 months new to the agency and new as ALJ. the numbers pressure is what it is. i choose to focus on the service i provide and in learning the trade.
judicature is right about the reality check we all should have. it's getting tough out there and will only get worse in the coming years. keep a positive attitude about the job and your experience will be good. and, remember to smile.
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Post by pm on Nov 14, 2008 22:18:53 GMT -5
8-)There appears to be an undercurrent to the effect that ODAR will cease selecting candidates from the OPM register, and set up their own register for hearing examiners. Their register will not be subject to the APA, kinda like the old SSI examiners and Black Lung Judges. SSA has been wanting to do that for 20+ years and they are no closer now than they were 20 years ago. ODAR cannot cease selecting candidates from the OPM register nor set up their own register without a change in statute. And before they can change the statute someone has to introduce a bill to do so. No such bill exists. Don't tell me you are channeling the moron on the other board. |
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Post by workdrone on Nov 15, 2008 2:09:58 GMT -5
Don't tell me you are channeling the moron on the other board. No kidding. I'm sure such a plan has been the fantasy of some in Baltimore since the beginning of time. However, until a bill is introduced in Congress amending the Social Security Act, it's as realistic as a pipe dream. So until such a bill has been introduced in Congress, let's not turn our board into the nuthouse that the old board has become recently. |
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tater
Full Member
Posts: 73 
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Post by tater on Nov 17, 2008 20:54:14 GMT -5
8-)There appears to be an undercurrent to the effect that ODAR will cease selecting candidates from the OPM register, and set up their own register for hearing examiners. Their register will not be subject to the APA, kinda like the old SSI examiners and Black Lung Judges. SSA has been wanting to do that for 20+ years and they are no closer now than they were 20 years ago. ODAR cannot cease selecting candidates from the OPM register nor set up their own register without a change in statute. And before they can change the statute someone has to introduce a bill to do so. No such bill exists. Don't tell me you are channeling the moron on the other board. Er.. that would be "morons" now... |
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Post by workdrone on Nov 17, 2008 22:13:51 GMT -5
Er.. that would be "morons" now... I just checked the old board, and sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words....  |
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Post by workdrone on Nov 20, 2008 2:32:04 GMT -5
Bravo, Workdrone - well-played!  Thanks, hope you had a good laugh! ;D |
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