From Federal News Network:
Social Security Administration employees are back in the office, but understaffing and a restrictive telework policy are making them less productive, according to one of its unions, and may lead to an exodus of more employees.
The American Federation of Government Employees Council 220, which represents SSA employees who work in field offices and teleservice centers, is asking Congress for $16.5 billion in “emergency funding” to support SSA for the rest of fiscal 2023. ...
Sherry Jackson, AFGE Council 220’s second vice president and legislative action coordinator, said during a virtual town hall Thursday that SSA is running with 4,000 fewer field office and teleservice center employees than it did 12 years ago. ...
The emergency funding request amounts to a $1.7 billion increase above the Biden administration’s fiscal 2023 budget request for SSA. Congress passed a continuing resolution that lasts through Dec. 16 and is still working out a comprehensive spending deal for the rest of FY 2023. ...
16 comments:
Not sure restrictive telework policy is making the employees less productive. Why not have them all in the office and see if productivity rises?
i disagree that telework is less productive. it affords employees to kinda work uninterupted ,, except for answering telephone calls on the General Information line. Dealing w/ claimants fumbling through papers in the office is not productive.
You bring them all back, you might get another 10% out of them.
Most of SSA's inefficiency results from the fact that it runs on software designed by idiots, and there just aren't enough employees to make up for that.
SSA #1 design principle:
"Waste as much money as we can designing a totally illogical system which can only be understood and used by insane people and management."
SSA Design principle #2:
"Include provisions for a big bonus to any manager that can figure out how to make it take twice as long to accomplish anything in the new system as it did in the old one! Heck, make it three times as slow, and we'll promoting you and build a craven idol to worship in your honor".
Every SSA systems project for the last 30 years has enshrined these two principles.
When the offices initially reopened earlier this year, I chose not to telework and go in daily. Once they renewed telework for October I chose to telework the two days per week allowed.
I can say without a doubt I get much more of my pending work done on my telework days. The days I’m in FO are filled with benefit verifications and SSN cards and not much else.
I know there’s a need for those things, but I could not get to my own claims because I was constantly at the reception area.
I don’t know what the answer is, but telework is invaluable for getting pending cases done.
True re fumbling papers not being productive. But people still have to be in the office to help the fumblers. Telework can be productive but some actions require workers being in the office. I loved telework but never took in one proof, one letter, one paper fumbled by a claimant.
Restrictive? 2 days a week working in a public facing entity is more than enough time to work from home.
I feel those who were productive in the office are more likely as productive doing telework. Many employees are grateful that they can telework and speaking for myself, I worked more hours doing telework because I was afraid, they would take the privilege away.
Slackers will continue to slack and they need to be held accountable.
The AFGE representative indicated SSA's restrictive telework policies have hurt with recruiting and retention. It is hard to argue this point. Employees have choices these days: on where they will accept employment, and whether they will stay there.
Telework availability should be maximized, and this includes the field offices and hearings offices. Even if working at home was proven to be slightly less efficient than having a worker in the office (I don't think it is), the recruitment and retention issues which SSA faces simply cannot be ignored.
It is very important to hire and retain a skilled, intelligent SSA worker. These jobs are highly technical and take years to learn.
If it is all about the work, then why do people choose Fri and Mon as the prime "wfh" days....
@9:41 AM, I liked Monday and Friday as telework days so I didn't have to schlep my laptop back and forth. It also helps to be able to skip the commute on Fridays if you're going on vacation for the weekend.
Why wouldn’t they?
Mondays are the busiest days but Fridays used to be the least busy pre-covid. I could see not allowing or limiting Monday telework.
COVID remains a deadly threat . The Washington Post ran an article today about how the new variants could cause a winter surge.
SSA telework should be maximized to protect SSA workers and the general public.
I could not agree more. At this point, it is time to update how the agency functions. We also need to offer way more online services and a much better telephone system.
Teleworking employees can be called into the office if coverage is required. It happens weekly in my office. So that’s not really an issue.
I think the public has been "protected" enough already. They want good, timely service.
As for what may happen, let's wait and see if it does. Meanwhile, get in the office and do the work you are being paid to do.
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