The Social Security Administration has prepared an explanation of the recent Regional Management Training Forum it held at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix. It is obvious that Social Security obtained an extraordinarily good deal from the hotel. I did not see an explanation of the motivational dance troupe, but that may have been covered in an attachment that is not available to me.
My problem with this meeting is not where it was held, but whether it should have been held at all. It would not have been much cheaper for the meeting participants to have stayed at a Motel 6 while meeting at Social Security's Western Program Service Center in Richmond, California. The problem I have is whether the meeting should have been held at all at a time when Social Security's field offices cannot answer their telephones. Does Social Security management understand the severity of the staffing problems at its field offices?
My problem with this meeting is not where it was held, but whether it should have been held at all. It would not have been much cheaper for the meeting participants to have stayed at a Motel 6 while meeting at Social Security's Western Program Service Center in Richmond, California. The problem I have is whether the meeting should have been held at all at a time when Social Security's field offices cannot answer their telephones. Does Social Security management understand the severity of the staffing problems at its field offices?
It is so very interesting that SSA Management feels that it is so necessary to be in a personal face to face environment in order to effectively train their managers.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, the ODAR component of SSA, responsible for the Due Process Hearing, is busy setting up national and regional hearing centers where the Administrative Law Judges (on behalf of SSA) will either coerce or force claimants to accept televideo conference hearings in order to adjudicate disability claims.
It would seem that SSA's position is that the effectiveness of face to face communication is required for training their managers, but not required for adjudicating Constitutionally mandated Due Process Hearings.
Where should the higher standard apply? This is such an easy question to answer for the reasonable person and thus begs the final question; Are SSA managers "reasonable people"?
I haven't read the explanation yet but i agree with your analysis mr hall.Ssa lack proper effort or committment reducing the backlogs.Congress also lack pr oper oversight of ssa.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the amount of criticism and second-guessing that I have been reading about this one conference. SSA is probably the most conservative Agency in terms of spending public money. This is the first conference that the region had for employees in 7 years!!I was not involved with the conference but knowing the Agency, I can assure you that government money was only used as allowed by law. Maybe you should go check some of the other Federal agencies, or Congress regarding how they spend money. And let's not even talk about private industry. How can you begrudge a conference bringing together employees for training, sharing of ideas and some stress management. Being a Federal employee is hard enough these days without such unwarranted criticism. Grow up and focus on some real issues.
ReplyDeleteYou should grow up and realize that these were not "employees" who actually do the job but managers who do nothing but harass the employees who do the job. If anyone needs stress relief or in person training, it is the rank and file employees of the Agency. You unwittingly epouse the very attitude that contributes greatly to the poor moral and hence the decreases in processing caseload. SSA managers are the most anal retentive, micro managing, inflexible bunch of autocratic people I have ever met. That is the major problem with the backlog on every level of processing.
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