The Washington Post reports that plans to reopen federal offices are up in the air across the board, including at Social Security.
I'm amazed the reporter got someone on the phone at Social Security's field office in Fayetteville, NC. I need to ask them how they did it.
32 comments:
Reopening is too dangerous at this point. The case counts exceed 100k a day and the virus is spreading rampantly. For the safety of the public SSA must continue to provide services over the phone and through video. Reopening offices would be wreckless and dangerous. We cannot go back to March 2020 when SSA sat on its hands and allowed the public to be exposed to danger.
It's the right call, to put SSA reopening plans on hold. The Delta variant is a game changer and unfortunately the number of COVID19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are rising. And who knows what other variants will come in the winter.
Perhaps SSA should start to look upon telework and 100% remote work as a permanent way of doing our business, and start developing the plans and infrastructure for that.
I agree with the two prior posts. In fact, it is too dangerous for any worker in any job in any field. If we want true worker equality we need to protect everyone, from the office worker to the truck driver. Their life is worth the exact same as any other life.
All of America is back to the office. Get back to the office and service the public. Get your vaccine, put your big girl panties on and get into the office.
It's worse now than it was when it was bad, and it's not just a case of taking it home to your grandmother. The young are vulnerable too. Add that to the current lack of leadership by some state governors to combat this thing, we should continue as we are. On a smaller scale, where you can control who comes in and where they are, you can stay open. But Social Security Offices can be packed and it's just not safe. I'm not at an OHO office often enough to see what they can do or not do safely.
While the FO and HO are probably at the highest risk, payment centers and teleservice centers are no picnic either. Poor ventilation, crowded elevators and narrow hallways, improper spacing between cubicles, public restrooms which are not cleaned often enough.
Even being fully vaccinated does not prevent a person from catching it and bringing it home, nor does it protect that person from becoming sick.
While some businesses have reopened, most that have an option for remote work, are letting their employees continue to work from home. Reopening plans have been revised throughout private industry.
Of course some jobs such as grocery store workers or service station attendants, cannot be done from home. While I feel for these workers, their situation is not comparable to the vast majority of SSA workers. Because our jobs can be done safely and well, from our homes.
Actually no, most of America is still WFH.
Your bitterness over having to work in an office is evident. Quit and find a WFH position.
@ 10:07 Is that you DeSantis?
@10:07 AM, I am not sure where you are located but my part of America is not back in the office and large corporations in our area have recently delayed their return to office plans. We are vaccinated but continue to interact with client's remotely and will do so until such time as it is safe and SSA reopens their offices. The Delta variant is only starting to explode and things will get worse before we can begin to hope they will get better.
The delta variant has seemingly altered reopening plans throughout the country. And, SSA should not reopen now. It's sad the delta variant has spread so rapidly and is having such far reaching negative effects. But, since folks who can be vaccinated choose not to do so, the delta variant will, sadly, continue to spread at an alarming rate and, sadly, may cause harm to folks unnecessarily.
11:24 you are incorrect, most office have recalled the workers, it is a nice myth, but those promises have mostly been broken. But if it makes it so you can look yourself in the mirror every day, go ahead and believe your alternate facts.
Office Workers: It is okay if other people get sick and die. And Where is my Amazon order!
When entitlement takes a deadly turn.
1:04 It is obvious that most of those who are posting comments indicating SSA should reopen, are jealous of SSA workers being able to work from home. And I don't think they care much about our health either .
I doubt if they even really care if SSA workers are more or less productive working from home. They just don't want SSA federal employees have the right to telework. They want to see us forced to return to the office, every day of the week, just out of spite. Full speed ahead, no matter COVID or the deadly virus variants.
1:32pm some of the folks who want ssa employees back have never visited the office and in fact send clients to the office to have SSA do the work for the client and the attorney gets a check for "representing" the client.
12:58 off the top ropes with his best Donald J Trump impersonation.
I think it is easier to win concert tickets calling the radio station than get a human being at a field office.
Caller 96 YOU WIN!!!!
At this point I'm thinking SSA should move towards complete and permanent 100% work at home. Except for a few employees who certify documents or other hands on work which requires their presence in the office.
What's the point of planning reopening only to shelve the plans when the virus gets worse. Or calling employees back only to send them home again. COVID is not going to go away for years, if ever.
This uncertainty about reopening is not good for SSA employees, attorneys, claimants, or the general public. Best to resolve it with an announcement that the agency is moving to permanent telework.
@3:12PM Not sure it is just yet time to make telework permanent forever more for SSA. But, reopening should not occur any time soon at SSA given the rampaging delta variant. SSA should, however, be doing all it can to optimize service to the public even if there is not a set timetable for reopening SSA.
Two big problems need to be addressed here: The COVID situation has worsened creating danger for SSA personnel and the public, and there are currently major communication and paperwork problems at SSA resulting in particular harm and impact to the most vulnerable SSI population i.e. claim suppression. How about some proposed solutions that address both issues here. It's much funner to have these dead end polarizing arguments isn't it?
For the most part SSA telework has been a success. Overall productivity is higher, in large part because leave usage has drooped.
The great majority of SSA workers have nothing to do with certifying documents or taking SSI claims. The problems in these areas should be addressed locally. The problems could be solved by bringing back a few specialized SSA employees to deal with these issues, in safe working conditions approved by AFGE. Perhaps extra hazardous pay would be appropriate if complete safety could not be assured.
The problems with certifying paperwork and taking SSI claims should certainly not be addressed by ordering all SSA employees nationally ( including those who have nothing to do with SSI or certifications). back to the office.
8:13 here is your plan.
1 get the vaccine
2 open the offices
Solved both.
Heck, reopen the offices. Just require that everyone passing through the doors - employees and public - show proof of vaccination.
Frankly I resent the comments that SSA should reopen , and force employees back. This would place me and those close to me ,, and other SSA employees, at increased risk from the virus Getting vaccinated is no guarantee.
I work well and hard from home. It is a joy to wake up in the mornings and know that I don't have to commute to the office. I accomplish the same tasks at home that I would in the office.
I will not go back.
I agree…if the offices re-open, unless you’re vaccinated, you have to continue with remote service.
If the vaccination nutters would shut up and get vaccinated we could get back to normal. If the mask whiners would shut up we could as well… but most of the mask whining, vaccination nutters are the same people complaining things are closed. Way to be an actual useless human. Complain and then don’t be a part of the solution. Clearly jealous runs rampant in this blog but if you are a mask whiner or vaccine nutter please don’t speak ever about reopening anything.
Public Sector employers are mandating vaccination or you get fired.
Good policy.
You have a right to make a choice to vaccinate or not.
Your choice may have consequences.
Was just wondering if there would be different guidelines when the local SSA offices open and the OHOs.
Seems logical to open the local SSA offices first. Presumably those visiting the SSA do not all have a disability. Those visiting OHO presumably probably have a physical problem and may be immune compromised.
Was wondering if they could change the check in process at OHOs. Maybe have the claimants check in with the security guard and then wait outside the OHO until the hearing is ready. But then the security guard would have re-check the claimant. Seems like the waiting room could be Covid super spreaders.
The Veterans Administration told its healthcare workers, get the poke or get a new job.
As a veteran I approve of this action.
There are distinct lines being drawn between "professional office workers" and "service industry" folks. It really isnt pretty to see. Folks are very content to risk the health of someone else as long as they are safe. In fact, they will actually demand it!
This is the new America. Liberty and justice for all, but mostly for me and mine and you can have some left over liberty and justice as long as its not as good as mine. I want equality as long as you are not as equal to me.
This isnt going to end well.
8:47 In the face of rising pandemic numbers, it would not make sense to just order everyone back to their place of employment.
There is no logical reason to treat people who can do their job from home (most SSA workers) the same as someone who cannot do their job from home (grocery store workers for example).
I can understand why some people may be jealous of SSA workers and others who can work safely from home. However envy and jealousy should not determine the course of action the government should take.
The health and safety of the employees and the general public should be the primary consideration.
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Conclusion: SSA telework should continue.
This would not be a topic (ongoing at that) had it not been for former Commissioner Saul unilaterally deciding to abolish telework for a large group of employees across the board.
3:59 Yes Saul's outrageous decision terminating telework that we had waited so many years to obtain, was indefensible. Unfortunately that action seemed to make certain people think telework does not work, or that SSA employees do not deserve telework: both not true.
Saul mellowed as his tenure went on. But his ignorant , right wing , dictator like actions during his first months in office, make him the worst SSA Commissioner in history.
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