From Federal News Network:
The Social Security Administration struck a recent deal with its unions to return employees to the office by the end of March.
Both parties are in talks to negotiate the finer points of that office reentry, but officials say SSA leadership isn’t giving much ground on key elements of office reentry, such as telework, or initially opening SSA field offices on an appointment-only basis.
The American Federation of Government Employees Local Council 220, which represents about 23,000 SSA employees, said agency leadership is pursuing a “business as usual” reentry plan that would fully reopen fields offices to walk-in service. ...
Digeronimo said the union is seeking clarification on how employees working in teleservice centers will socially distance themselves from coworkers once they all return to the office, and whether they will need to wear masks all day while answering phone calls.
AFGE Council 220 is also requesting SSA field offices initially open on an appointment-only basis, to prevent overcrowding and protect the elderly and disabled population that SSA serves. ...
“We recognize the doors need to be open, but we are putting forward some progressive ideas to leverage technology so that we give the public a multitude of ways to contact us and to conduct business with us. But the agency is not willing to listen. They are antiquated in their thinking, and it is just easier for them to just go back to business as usual, which in our mind, is not safe,” Digeronimo said. ...
SSA managers, meanwhile, share many of the same concerns about office re-entry. An email compiling comments from SSA managers to agency leadership shows front-line managers and supervisors are frustrated that the agency has not considered feedback from frontline managers in office reopening. ...
Meanwhile, in the real world, while Covid remains dangerous, the danger is rapidly receding. Yes, we can posit the possibility of some new variant but that hasn't happened yet and may not. This epidemic will enter its endemic phase at some point and there is every appearance that we are very near this point. Nobody at Social Security is saying that field offices will reopen to the public if there's some dangerous new variant but if there's not, the end of March certainly seems like a reasonable time for reopening.
Let's remember that federal employees, including federal managers, are an extremely cautious lot. That's why they chose the security of working for the government in the first place. The public can reasonably expect that Social Security's actions will not be dictated by Nervous Nellies, especially those who have taken a liking to working from home and that number includes some managers.
27 comments:
Sounds good to me. I don’t mind taking more survivor claims and lump sum death payment claims.
Oh you silly geese! Don't you worry about the potential long-term ramifications of a non-fatal COVID infection, like the permanent loss of your ability to taste and smell. Get you behinds back to the slaughterhouses...err, I mean field offices!!!
So when I get infected, how many days exactly do I get to work from home?
Daily USA COVID deaths are currently near the all time high. I don't see how we can say the danger is rapidly receding.
The reality is that people want to pretend the Covid danger is over, even though it is not. Because they are tired of the restrictions and the lockdowns.
I don't believe this March 30 reopening is going to happen for SSA. There has been a new dangerous variant every couple of months.
It's unlikely that the Covid situation will be better by March 30. It is more likely it will be worse.
how will people social distance in an office meant to hold 30 people? you can only fit say 15 people in there. what happens to the rest? standoutside in the cold waiting to come in? what about when you have an appt, do you jump the line?
Today I visited my gym and did not wear a mask. No person was wearing a mask. I had meals in 5 restaurants while traveling this past weekend --- no mask for me, the other diners, and employees. I was inside at the public library today --- no masks seen on anyone. I expect the crowd at the Super Bowl will not be wearing masks, inside or outside the stadium. I watched Purdue play basketball last night --- no mask for the coaches or refs. I drove on busy interstate highways this past weekend --- now that is dangerous but it is a reasonable risk to take, just like returning to work in an office.
@2:13pm. You are absolutely correct. Reopening plans are not well thought out and quite frankly, dumb. COVID is not under control. Maybe SSA just wants to have loss of employees by death or sickness due to COVID. Truly a callous agency.
Will there be extra security guards brought in to keep Frontline staff/mgmt. safe and public that gets caught in the cross hairs? Irate interviews were bad before the pandemic, it will probably be worse after re-entry.
4:54 You are in denial. 2600 people per day are dying of Covid. Some of them died because they were maskless, like you and the people you saw today.
As for SSA reopening many thousands of lives have been saved by having those offices closed. The Covid death total in the USA is over 900,000 and it would be worse if SSA had kept offices open.
Look at the CDC statistics on covid deaths. Nearly 800k, of the 900k who have passed are age 50+. Nearly 650k of the 800k, are age 65+. I'm sure most of those under 50 who died of covid had comorbidities.
What are the two primary demographics SSA serves? The aged and disabled, those at highest risk of actual death or severe infection.
Anyone who has been to an FO knows they stay packed with people. There is no way to socially distance in a packed lobby.
There is no need to have in person appointment except for ssn replacement which are quick. Everything else should be done by phone.
@8:10 pm. You are correct. Unnecessary endangerment of the lives of SSA employees is heartless and stupid. Lawyers are going to have a field day when SSA employees become ill or die due to COVID and unsafe work conditions.
@ 2:13 PM -- you failed to add "Daily USA COVID deaths AMONG THE UNVACCINATED are currently near the all time high." https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status
I’ve seen the argument many times that hearing offices need to reopen because every other office and job etc is open. But on the flip side, many judicial districts around the country have adopted video hearings as the norm going forward. It’s here to stay. Even today the State of Ga which has basically no restrictions announced it was increasing capacity for video hearings in trials and other court preceding. So when is it on everyone to adapt to video as a way of life. If it’s good enough for state courts all over the US it’s certainly good enough for SSA, just like if every other office can open so can SSA.
This blog is now objectively pro-COVID. Over 2k deaths per day still and Charles thinks it's over.
OHO manager here. Offices are "opening", but not really. Only for hearings. The bare minimum number of employees (think 1 per day) will be in the office to keep things going. The rest will remain working from home. We are NOT returning to pre-pandemic operating. Things are different.
The amount of people here openly hoping for a new and deadly variant is disturbing.
We don't need a new variant. Omicron is plenty deadly an community spread is still a major issue everywhere in US. There have been no major breakthroughs with therapeutics and more effective vaccines that prevent infection and spread.
The current situation is worse than at any point last spring, summer, or fall. So, why reopen now?
What Receding Cases?
https://www.bing.com/search?q=covid+cases&cvid=cb8f29c185594bfebf951f07fa31015a&aqs=edge.0.0l8j69i60.11664j0j4&FORM=ANAB01&PC=ACTS
It may be better in some parts of the country but not much better here. Vaccinations are still at 50% and our emergency rooms are chaotic. No one has done anything to improve the ventilation at the local field office. Time cases stop increasing folks want to shout out pandemic's over, let's go back to normal! I don't think we're ready re-open. I can choose not to go to a crowded restaurant, but with some kinds of SS business, I don't have a choice.
Hopefully SSA management is keeping up on the news on the Covid front. Bad news today. I don't think they want to put employees at unnecessary risk.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/10/covid-omicron-variant-live-updates/
A large-scale scientific study found that coronavirus patients were at “substantial” risk of heart disease one year after their illness, increasing the odds of clots, arrhythmias, heart failure and related conditions.
OHO Manager. 3-5 days telework. That is "up to" these days. That is the language presented in the talking points by managers. This does not include when employees have no portable workloads. That is not the case for every component. Stop generalizing for the sake of an argument. Health and Safety FIRST
And surprise surprise! Some upper management and regional office employees get to continue working from home five days a week!! Now that's leadership....
I understand that Saul cut thousands of employees telework to zero , but continued to work from home himself.
The FO employees are going to bear the biggest burden of this call back to the office. They have to face the public, and are therefore at greater risk of COVID infection. And telework days are being cut from five days per week to two days per week.
Look for many FO employees to apply for transfer or promotion to the PSC where they will get four days per week telework and can work in isolation when they do go to the office. No interviewing or face to face contact.
Correct…already applied for transfer to another component and also applying to other federal agencies offering 100% telework. I do agree the offices need to reopen but my job does not require face-to-face interaction so I shouldn’t be limited to 2 days per week.
Not worried about Covid just tired of being put in unnecessary positions. The agency doesn’t care about me and neither do the claimant’s nor should they have to. I have to do what’s best for me.
Breaking news today: Covid booster shots loose effectiveness (including against hospitalization) after 4 months.
It looks like a lot of SSA workers will be forced back to the office at the same time their booster shot is wearing off.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/02/11/covid-boosters-omicron-protection/
It is really unfortunate for FO employees to be down to two days per week. I understand they are public facing and are needed to handle mail, walk in traffic and face to face appointments. But does anyone really think the two days telework can’t be changed to three? I understand it has to be tough for small FOs and despite the mocking here, there has been a decent amount of retirements and transfers all over the agency, not just in the field. It feels like the FO employees have been told to get back into the trenches while the rest of the agency watches from way behind the skirmish lines. But I guess that is the nature of the FO work. It’s a tough situation.
this is one way to save the trust fund. cram the disabled and elderly into an office and let covid have at it.
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