From Government Executive:
Officials from the Biden administration on Thursday defended federal agencies’ approach to workplace flexibilities like telework and remote work from skeptical Republicans, who have grown more stridently against the concept of hybrid work environments in recent months.
In testimony before the House Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on government operations, Office of Personnel Management Director Kiran Ahuja said flexibilities like telework and remote work, where possible, are central to the administration’s effort to revitalize the federal workforce and improve agency efficiency.
“One lesson we have learned throughout the pandemic is that workplace flexibilities, such as telework and hybrid work schedules, can promote resilience of federal government operations in the face of disruptions, enhance productivity, and improve employee morale,” she said. “During this time, we have seen the private-sector labor market—and what workers expect from their jobs—change quickly. Private-sector employers have had to quickly learn how to respond to employee needs. Federal employers must do the same to attract and retain talent in this tight labor market.”
But Republicans on the committee criticized the idea of providing additional “perks” to “bureaucrats,” and blamed teleworking workers for service backlogs at agencies like the IRS, OPM and the Social Security Administration. ...
Republicans want federal employees to quit their jobs so that the agencies are even more understaffed and incapable of meeting the needs of the public than they are today. This all part of the GOP to gut the federal government and privatize its functions...all while lining their pockets.
ReplyDeleteLack of appropriations for over a decade is the primary cause of backlogs at SSA. Lack of any consistent COLAs commensurate with inflation is a continued bar to hiring in the current environment. Many employees are already doubting they will get both a pension and Social Security.
ReplyDeleteAnd if this is not a heads up: there is now an office in the Seattle region with no Claims Specialists. They have two people to scan in mail and answer phones, no adjudication, no claims taken. Why? Telework was reduced to require all parties to office to assist, the last Claims Specialist left is the word. The vacancy announcement has been posted and nobody is selected, likely because none apply.
Telework is not a problem, but I agree that it is not a true solution either. Staff is needed at the forward facing components. That takes appropriation. Congress has none but themselves to blame.
ReplyDeleteI work at a payment center, each week I work 4 days from home, 1 day in the office. I get about as much work done at either location, but I much prefer staying home, not having to commute and wear a mask all day in the office.
If I'm told to come in more than 1 day per week, I will immediately retire. Several of my coworkers have told me they would leave too..
Former commissioner Saul temporily ended telework 3 years ago, with negative effects on employee morale, retention, and recruitment. SSA should not make the same mistake twice.
The evaluation period at SSA for telework is ending soon. A decision will be made by September whether current telework levels will continue.
ReplyDeleteIt was just announced that the decidedly employee unfriendly agreement between SSA and AFGE that the agency jammed through during the Saul era is being renegotiated. Reading between the lines, it sounds like telework is here to stay.
DeleteCould be a huge money saver. I'll eagerly give up my >$30,000 locality pay premium- and the vacant office space taxpayers have been flushing over $1000/month down the toilet to lease for over 15 years now- and move to Bumf*** Oklahoma or Bumf*** Idaho for the privilege of never having to sit in a car or ride on a train for 1-3 hours commuting to and from an empty office once a week to do the same job I do at home every other day of the week.
ReplyDeleteObviously not all positions can be performed effectively with telework. The attorney advisors for example really don’t need to be in the office pretty much ever. VA’s comparable position is all telework because they hired more than they had room for to tackle their backlog. Not a lot of case tech work requires being on-site. With representatives seemingly wanting to make telephone hearings the norm, there is no real reason for ALJs to be in office except for in-person hearings.
ReplyDeleteIn-person hearings, opening the mail, some scanning, and handling claimants at reception before in-person hearings is about it for most OHO offices.
Reality is OHO is over-invested in real estate leases.