There are a lot of acrylic shields in place in Social Security hearing rooms. They're a pain in the neck for those participating in hearings in person. It can be hard to hear. I believe there are also a lot of acrylic shields in Social Security field offices. Is it time for them to go? Are they still needed?
24 comments:
These shields are pandemic theater. They provide no useful benefit. Masks yes; shields no.
Since most reps want 100% phone hearings and since most judges are only given one or two in person days a month by Central Scheduling, hearing room decor is hardly a priority.
If people would get vaccinated and (ideally) wear a mask instead of acting like petulant man-babies and woman-babies, I’d fully support taking down the shields. In the meantime, folks’ lunacy is jeopardizing the health and safety of SSA staff, and those shields are better than nothing.
I prefer the shields. Nothing worse than people reaching over the counter or invading your personal space. They’re clear and in the field offices, I’m literally 3ft from them so there hasn’t been any issues hearing in general. The masks on the other hand, those make it really hard for those with hearing issues who need to read lips or see mouth movements. So, not sure about the hearings issues, but I hope we keep them in the field.
10:48 - "those shields are better than nothing" - except, they're not. There hasn't been any scientific evidence that the shields prevent COVID transmission. I was stunned recently when visiting a public DHS office and not only were there no shields, but masks were not required (as is the case in OHO offices). I thought these requirements were mandated in all federal offices, but apparently SSA is now an outlier.
Unfortunately the people who whine about removing any measures are viewed as more important than those who are weary of them when they have become totally ridiculous. Goes for masks as well.
The trend in field offices with renovations is to a "barrier format". reception windows have full protection, No contact w/ claimants , like in a bank. Employees have back end desks for time alloted to case work. I don't necessarily think a health issue but rather a security issue,
Right. That’s why I like the barriers. The masks need to go. I don’t wear a mask anywhere else except at SSA
In my area ALJs are doing 5-6 in-person hearings days each month.
They have made the process so unpleasant between the masks and the shields
it is not worth doing an in person hearing anymore. At first I missed the camaraderie with the ALJs other attorneys and the packed hearing waiting rooms. Now with the masks and the shields it is not worth it.
In the field office they need to be bullet proof
The continued use of Plexi and masks is entirely understandable once you accept the fact that SSA adapts to change with all the efficiency and agility of the Titanic with 2 broken screws and a busted rudder.
But we deal with most vulnerable populations. We can’t get them sick. That wouldn’t be good.
Anything less than a properly fit N95 respirator is not going to be effective against an airborne virus. A 3x3 piece of Plexi serves no purpose except window dressing. But changing it will require too much union wrangling, so the beat goes on.
I caught Covid a couple of weeks ago. Even though fully vaccinated and boosted it's not pleasant. I'm still not back to normal.
I think masks should be required not only at SSA but in grocery stores and airports. If we can get people wearing masks again we don't need the plexiglass..
We are not ready to go back to normal. I'm willing to go along with anything that will stop this stuff from spreading. I cannot understand the resistance to measures to combat this virus. I'm glad we didn't do this with polio and measeles.
The plexiglass was in FO’s years before Covid.
@5:34pm: Is that you, Trump? Can we please stop spreading this misinformation? A mask does not have to provide the level of filtration offered by a N95 or KN95 to provide substantial protection against COVID-19 and many other airborne respiratory viruses.
Thank-you 11:17, I was surprised that more people didn't appreciate the much lower incidence of flu and other respiratory illnesses during early covid when we all were wearing masks everywhere.
I can’t wear the masks. Part of a disabling condition I have. My workloads are suffering greatly since they require me to be in the office. Taking a ton of days off due to my conditions. I’d like to see the masks go. I don’t wear them anywhere else.
In my office we are struggling to fill in person days. Fewer and fewer people want to drive to a petrie dish.
The whole thing is farcical. Wear mask into building. Take off mask while working in open cubicle. Wear mask to break room. Sit at table in break room and remove mask. If masks were so effective, then why aren't they required on airplanes anymore? Or prisons? Or practically anywhere else other than laggard SSA? They are a vestige of pre-vaccine COVID.
Because the Union is trying to use them to keep telework.
Absolutely! Field office workers are all the public can see and get angry with yet they really need to take it out on “the man behind the curtain”
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