Message:
From: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 05:32 PM
Subject: COMMISSIONER'S BROADCAST--12/14/11
A Message To All SSA Employees
Subject: Important Message
While Congress continues to consider an omnibus appropriations bill along with extensions to the payroll tax cut and Unemployment Insurance benefits, there is no guarantee that it will finish its work before our current appropriation expires on Friday at midnight. The President has urged all Members of Congress to complete the work they were elected to do and has made clear that there is no excuse for Congress to leave on vacation before its work is complete. The President has also made clear that he does not want a government shutdown. Given the realities of the calendar, however, prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress fail to complete its work or fail to pass another short-term continuing resolution that would give it more time to take up these important matters.
Both the President and I know that the uncertainty of the current situation puts federal employees in a difficult position, and we are very much aware that a shutdown would impose hardships on many employees as well as the groups and individuals our agency serves. As we approach the expiration of the current appropriation, we will provide you with updated information as soon as it becomes available. For now, I want to provide you with information on how the potential funding lapse–should it occur–would affect our employees.
If funding lapses, we would not be permitted to incur further financial obligations for activities funded by annual appropriations, except those related to the orderly suspension of operations or performance of excepted activities. Such a funding lapse would mean that some employees would be furloughed and prohibited from working. Our contingency planning for the potential funding lapse includes determining which agency functions and employees are excepted from a furlough. Should it become necessary to implement our contingency plans, you will receive informal notice from your manager no later than Friday, December 16 and formal notice no later than Monday, December 19 regarding the designation of your position and furlough status.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website, www.opm.gov/furlough2011, addresses some of the questions that I know must be on your mind. As needed, OPM will provide additional pertinent information for federal employees as the week progresses. We will also do our very best to provide clear information about the status of events as the week progresses.
Thanks to your hard work and dedication, we provide critical services to the American public. Your contributions touch lives in so many significant ways, and I want you to know how deeply I appreciate your dedication and your expertise.
We will be in touch again soon.
Michael J. Astrue
Commissioner
From: ^Commissioner Broadcast
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 05:32 PM
Subject: COMMISSIONER'S BROADCAST--12/14/11
A Message To All SSA Employees
Subject: Important Message
While Congress continues to consider an omnibus appropriations bill along with extensions to the payroll tax cut and Unemployment Insurance benefits, there is no guarantee that it will finish its work before our current appropriation expires on Friday at midnight. The President has urged all Members of Congress to complete the work they were elected to do and has made clear that there is no excuse for Congress to leave on vacation before its work is complete. The President has also made clear that he does not want a government shutdown. Given the realities of the calendar, however, prudent management requires that we plan for an orderly shutdown should Congress fail to complete its work or fail to pass another short-term continuing resolution that would give it more time to take up these important matters.
Both the President and I know that the uncertainty of the current situation puts federal employees in a difficult position, and we are very much aware that a shutdown would impose hardships on many employees as well as the groups and individuals our agency serves. As we approach the expiration of the current appropriation, we will provide you with updated information as soon as it becomes available. For now, I want to provide you with information on how the potential funding lapse–should it occur–would affect our employees.
If funding lapses, we would not be permitted to incur further financial obligations for activities funded by annual appropriations, except those related to the orderly suspension of operations or performance of excepted activities. Such a funding lapse would mean that some employees would be furloughed and prohibited from working. Our contingency planning for the potential funding lapse includes determining which agency functions and employees are excepted from a furlough. Should it become necessary to implement our contingency plans, you will receive informal notice from your manager no later than Friday, December 16 and formal notice no later than Monday, December 19 regarding the designation of your position and furlough status.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website, www.opm.gov/furlough2011, addresses some of the questions that I know must be on your mind. As needed, OPM will provide additional pertinent information for federal employees as the week progresses. We will also do our very best to provide clear information about the status of events as the week progresses.
Thanks to your hard work and dedication, we provide critical services to the American public. Your contributions touch lives in so many significant ways, and I want you to know how deeply I appreciate your dedication and your expertise.
We will be in touch again soon.
Michael J. Astrue
Commissioner
9 comments:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - good by use or lose!
Good thing I got a sweet deal on a crate of canned tuna and bag of rice. Makes me wish I had just 4 more years so I could be walking out like everyone else.
Like last time I will probably be told I have to freaking work, which to me is BS. If you don't have money, you shut everything down.
Working is fine while on furlough. The problem is the classification of 'essential' personnel being told to report for duty for non-essential activities (e.g. processing work other than awards, allowances and denials).
I don't understand how the federal government can require federal employees to work without pay... isn't this against federal labor laws?!?! I am sure I am missing something about interruptions to necessary public service.
If you are 'essential' to operations, then you report for duty. You will be compensated for work once a budget is established.
If you are 'non-essential', you do not come in for work, you do not get paid.
At this time, some PSC employees were informed they are deemed 'essential' and should not take holiday leave or use-or-loss leave. We have also been informed that Federal Holidays are now work days while if a furlough does go into effect on Monday (e.g. Dec 26th and Jan 2nd).
Awww no shutdown :(
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congressional-leaders-negotiating-key-bills-to-avoid-government-shutdown/2011/12/15/gIQA6nPwwO_story.html
Just saved in time by the US Congress and Obama.
Obama had nothing to do with it, unless you're being sarcastic, which is understandable.
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