I don't think it's realistic to expect that the Social Security Administration would have a reopening plan at this time. There are too many unknowns. Will there be a vaccine? If so, when will it become available? If it becomes available, how quickly will it become available to the entire population? How effective will a vaccine be? How many people are willing to be vaccinated? However, Social Security management is thinking about the subject of reopening. They've come up with a
"Reposturing Plan." I don't think this plan gets them very far but I expect they know this. You have to start somewhere. At least it's a sign that there's nothing devious in the works at this time.
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In the notice for hearing offices, it lists symptoms including SOB, Muscle pain, headaches, GI symptoms. Not to be too picky but for the most part, that is why people are claiming disability. I know what they mean but they might want to change that to recent onset related to acute illness or something along those lines so that there is no confusion.
The data indicates that the virus's ability to spread is already waning because so many people have T cell memory from other viruses sufficient to fight it off easily. There will be no point when the virus is over, but the point at which mortality is at an "acceptable" level is fast approaching. Will the cost savings and improved productivity be enough to increase telework dramatically? That's the big question.
If reopening involves spending time in poorly ventilated office settings where social distancing is not even close to reality, I could not see how reopening could occur safely for workers or those seeking benefits until COVID19 is just a distant nightmare.
Anyone see the report of phone hearings through March on the ALJ blog?
https://aljdiscussion.proboards.com/thread/5298/telephone-hearings-november
I'm not an innately "trust management" guy, but they seem to have had a level head about this (after the initial, thankfully short-lived bungling). Considering the (thankfully mostly absentee) Trump appointee in charge of SSA, this might just be HQ's way of shuffling papers for his benefit and saying "sure boss, we're working on that plan right now".
I haven't gotten the sense that they're really pushing towards getting us back in the office yet. The real test will come when some unproven vaccine (or worse, another quack cure that the Big Orange Idiot falls in love with) hits market and all of America then wants everything to re-open the way it was the following Monday. I'm not so confident in SSA leadership's ability to stand up to that tide.
@8:17 AM
Citation please? This doesn't even seem to have an underlying plausible grain of truth to it. How on earth are people gaining increased immunity to a wider range of viruses while distancing themselves from others than they were back before social distancing was encouraged?
At least this is a start , as vague and general as it may be . Understanding that SSA moves glacially I think reopening the field offices is not imminent. It does " mention " child care which is a difficult issue for employees with children . Juggling remote education and work is problematic. Just how compassionate the agency will be remains to be seen . Management has already broached the idea that a "leave of absence " should be considered for a supervisor w/ 2 children under the age of 10. How insensitive !
8:17 Your statement "The data indicates that the virus's ability to spread is already waning" is not backed up by any reliable data that I have seen and I read on this subject every day.
Could it be that you want telework to end and are willing to cherry pick data to fit your agenda? I will not be a test subject and return to work to see if the virus is waning. That would put my life at risk and also those close to me.
I have heard a rumor that PC7 will not reopen until March 2021. While such rumors are not always reliable when I keep hearing rumors that there will not be reopening for a long time, I tend to believe there is some credence.
The document also says nothing about individuals who live with others at high risk of death or debilitating complications from the disease. Do they plan to offer those employees a 30% pay increase to secure separate housing? Somehow I doubt it.
Also @8:17AM, please stop publishing bogus misinformation. It's unhelpful and downright dangerous.
At least it's a sign that there's nothing devious in the works at this time.
You are getting as bad as the QAnon folks.
Funny how the first part of this notice embraced telework. The new commish Saul was totally against it when taking over. Now, the SSA is embracing it as they should have in the first place?
Pretty sure Saul is secretly against this. Better Call Saul.
I get the impression from their Emails, that Commissioner Saul and Grace Kim are surprised that telework has gone so well, and that so much work is being done by employees. It was hard to tell back how effective telework was, when telework days were just part of the week. But now that telework is 100%, it is obvious to all that work is getting done while employees are at home.
I hope that SSA will continue to rely heavily on telework. For example, employees 55+ should be granted continued 100% telework privileges even when the buildings reopen, and other employees should be given at least 3 days per week telework.
People in some OHO offices have been afflicted with serious long-term illness before COVID and I’m not talking about occupational mental illness but occupational physical illness.
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