From a press release:
Today, House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Chairman John B. Larson (CT-01), House Appropriations Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education Subcommittee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), House Ways and Means Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Chairman Danny K. Davis (IL-07), and House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (GA-05) sent a letter to Andrew Saul, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), to request transparency and more information after SSA abruptly ended a pilot telework program.
“SSA’s Operations division initiated the Telework Pilot in 2013 and has expanded the pilot significantly over the years. Today, roughly one-quarter of SSA Operations staff or 12,000 employees telework between one and two days per week…. While the SSA Operations Telework Pilot has existed for nearly six years, SSA apparently did not adequately evaluate the pilot and has not articulated its future plans for telework. Management’s failure to properly evaluate telework performance metrics while it was in a pilot phase should not be the rationale for suspending telework in its entirety,”Just a thought. You know these Subcommittees could hold oversight hearings. There are many other issues at Social Security that go well beyond telework.
Very short sighted by the new commissioner. Some teleworkers commuted at least 1 hour and some as much as 2. Is it unfair to assume a better rested employee is more productive ? He has also discontinued beginning in January the closing of field offices on Wednesday afternoons . This is all in the interest of reducing waiting times . Without that desk time there will be back logs! I guess he does not include the time waiting for case processing completion as a customer service priority !
ReplyDeleteRegardless of my opinions about telework, I think this is a good use of the committees time. Just to let the new Commissioner know that all decisions need to be supported by relevant facts and logical reasoning. I know this decision to revoke telework only effects the relative comfort of agency employees, however other decisions down the line could affect a broader group of individuals.
ReplyDeleteThe fact anyone believes Andrew is at all interested or involved in running this department in truly adorable. This admin's appointments are based on adding a notch to the belt during white-tie events and staying out of Mitch's way. Typical DC nonsense, just louder and wearing nicer clothes these days.
ReplyDelete11:53 " relative comfort of agency employees " . When a teleworker performs the COMFORT it provides TO ALL is that someone else will not have to complete that assigned work.
ReplyDeleteThe experience in my office is that most of the staff was conservative and voted for Trump. Now I hear about opening on Wed afternoon and ending telework not being fair and equitable from them. Careful who you vote for.
ReplyDeleteWord on the street is that Saul thought it was the Telework Elimination Act and not the Telework Enhancement Act. He was then informed that it's Congressional oversight and not overlook. Upon receiving clarification he responded with “my bad”
ReplyDelete1:44 ummmm... What?
ReplyDeleteand for all you conspiracy nerds out there, 2:41 PM is of course speaking in jest. so don't send Charles any crazy messages on unmasking the so-called whistleblower.... in fact I seriously doubt Saul is even is aware of the Telework Enhancement Act.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Commissioner Saul anticipated the firestorm that would be brought on, by suddenly eliminating telework for many thousands of Social Security workers. But he should have.
ReplyDeleteTelework has become an important part of employees work-home life, and it works pretty well for all concerned. It is also good for the community as it reduces traffic congestion and accidents.
To terminate telework this time of year was particularly outrageous, with the holidays, winter weather, cold and flu season: It is absolutely the worst time of year for him to do this.
I am happy Congress is now getting involved with this. Perhaps Commissioner Saul will be taught he cannot act like a dictator in matters concerning Social Security and SSA employees.
I know of only one clear study on telework. When I began telework I increased by decisions issued by one per week because it is more efficient. With the backlog fading makes sense to get me back in the office and doing fewer decisions.
ReplyDelete8:17 i keep seeing the "at the holidays" comment and it makes me wonder what that has to do with anything. They are supposed to be doing the work of the tax payer is paying them for not stuff at home for the holidays.
ReplyDelete@ 12:49. Exactly! Oh I guess we can wait until next year to process claimaints benefits and backpay. After all the holidays are in a month.
ReplyDeleteLiterally every single employee I've come in contact with from the local field office, to the payment centers to operations has had an attitude that says they really don't care about the work they're doing.
Just recently I inquired the payment center on an outstanding retro benefits issue. I explained that the claimant has been without an income or any money at all for several years. The rep responded with "Well you can send a letter". A letter to who? Fact is she didn't care, no one does.
Screw SSA and their telework. Now I know why managers never answer their phones. Their at home, lol.
@150 AM Teleworkers are able to get calls at home through the computer. You may have some valid complaints but you also don't know what you are talking about in regards to telework.
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