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Nov 25, 2009

No Early Dismissal For Social Security

An e-mail to Social Security employees:

November 25, 2009

MESSAGE TO ALL SSA EMPLOYEES:

SUBJECT: THANKSGIVING 2009

Late yesterday, the Office of Personnel Management issued a memorandum authorizing agency heads, as a mark of gratitude for the service provided by their employees, to provide an early dismissal on November 25 to the extent that doing so does not interfere with agency operations.

While we are, of course, truly grateful for the service you provide each day, it is critical that we continue to make that service available to the American public. Due to the nature of our operations, we cannot implement an early closing in a fair and equitable manner without disrupting critical and necessary agency operations. For these reasons, the Social Security Administration will not offer an early dismissal today.

Again, thank you for your continued commitment to our mission and the welfare of all of those who depend on us.

Reginald F. Wells

Deputy Commissioner

for Human Resources

at

14 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:30 PM, November 25, 2009

    "While we are, of course, truly grateful for the service you provide each day, it is critical that we continue to make that service available to the American public. Due to the nature of our operations, we cannot implement an early closing in a fair and equitable manner without disrupting critical and necessary agency operations."

    BS

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  2. Anonymous1:37 PM, November 25, 2009

    He probably issued that from home.

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  3. Anonymous6:43 PM, November 25, 2009

    I don't think I've ever seen a bunch of BS like that before, that is new level of class in SSA.

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  4. Anonymous9:28 PM, November 25, 2009

    Management deems the employees too important to leave early on November 25, 2009, but management has no problem taking a few days off at the Arizona Biltmore Resort for a little dance session. Why the double standard? This is the mentality of SSA management towards its employees and that is one of the reasons that the SSA employess do not have a signed contract!!!!

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  5. Anonymous10:44 AM, November 26, 2009

    Millions of people are waiting for a just conclusion. That may have been the proper action.

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  6. Anonymous11:33 AM, November 26, 2009

    I don't care at all about getting out early--It was just the pure stupidity of management--as usual--in announcing that everybody else is allowed to leave early except SSA, because we are too valuable to let go, even though SSA won't hire enough staffing to actually get the work done. It is just a bone-headed play, patting us on the head while stabbing us in the back. These clowns really have no idea how they are perceived by us in the field--They have no value at all to the agency.

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  7. Anonymous11:38 AM, November 26, 2009

    The agencies should not be able to pick who stays or who goes home for half a day. The order should be for all agencies. If SSA is so important then we should receive higher salaries to reflect how critical our jobs are to the public.

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  8. Anonymous11:58 AM, November 26, 2009

    If SSA is truly grateful for our service, then why don't we have a signed contract for SSA employees? Secondly, why does management receive much higher bonuses then the average SSA employee? ($83000 for Mr. Vaz of Boston SSA) Grateful? I don't think so!

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  9. Anonymous1:32 PM, November 26, 2009

    SSA management is spineless in that they were probably so afraid of media or public flak over people going home with all the backlogs.

    I say part of the blame goes to Obama as well. Should have just said everyone goes home an hour or two early and not left it up to bonehead management to decide.

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  10. Anonymous5:49 PM, November 26, 2009

    Geez, I'm from Alabama and you folks are acting like a bunch of kids in the 7th grade who found out you wouldn't be getting a snow day. These types of actions always end up badly. The folks on leave will complain and want their leave restored because their co-workers go dismissed early.

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  11. Nancy Ortiz11:10 AM, November 27, 2009

    It seems to me we didn't usually have early closing on Thanksgiving eve. However, our AFGE Natl. Agreement has leave granting provisions which require granting leave well in advance for days before and after all federal holidays. Generally, it's a bare minimum of people on duty the day before and after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

    Whenever there are early dismissals before holidays, disputes regarding restoring leave, etc, always ensue. Just correcting leave records is a workload in itself. Then, there are the unusual cases (people on extended sick leave, LWOP, or Workers Comp) to make matters worse.

    What's dumb about this is the tacky, sticky sweet, "We sure think the world of y'all, BUT..." The way to do it is to say, "SSA offices will not close early on the day before the holiday." Period. No explanation needed, because granting administrative leave on this scale costs big bucks. We're grown ups. Them's the facts. Nancy Ortiz

    PS--Regional Commissioners such as Vaz are members of the Senior Executive Service, not regular Civil Service employees. Whole different bonus, pay and promotion system. That's why the big bucks for them, and not us. Different budget line item. NO

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  12. Anonymous2:07 PM, November 27, 2009

    Reply for Ms. Ortiz former DM of Santa Maria California. Don't you feel ashamed that you received higher bonuses when the claim's representatives and service representative are doing most of the work? What did Mr. Vaz do to justify earning more than $83000 in bonuses in 2008? Finally, you never responded to the question of why SSA employees do not have a signed contract since 2005!! Enjoy your retirement!

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  13. Anonymous10:15 AM, November 28, 2009

    Oh for crying out loud, get off Nancy's case. How the heck would she know what Manny Vaz did to earn his SES bonus? Those bonuses get passed around each year; "earning" them is mostly a matter of hanging in until it's your turn. Nor would she necessarily know the answer to "unsigned" contract question; she is retired, you know.

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  14. Nancy Ortiz12:37 PM, November 28, 2009

    Ummm, about my awards. They were LOWER than the unit members' Yep. Different budget. And, no, I haven't got a clue about why Manny Vaz got an $83K bonus. Just so you know, I'm no fan of the SES. Sorry to disappoint, but look on the bright side. I'm retired! NO

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