From WFTV:
Dozens of people waited in line for hours outside the newly opened Social Security Administration Office on Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando.
It’s been a daily occurrence since the new office opened on Monday, June 17.
Social Security Administration told Eyewitness News Tuesday evening that the long lines were due to recently implemented security screening requirements.
“We are working on a long-term security screening solution for the building, potentially including an additional magnetometer,” the agency said. ...
Eyewitness News spoke to people in line Tuesday who reported up to 3 hours to get in and out of the office. Some toward the end of the line said they had been there an hour and a half.
This was as dozens were fighting Orlando’s 90-degree heat in the line, including the elderly, the disabled bound by wheelchairs, and children. No overhang or shelter was covering most of the line.
“It’s super hot! I can’t even take it,” said 7-year-old Marly, waiting to go into the office with her dad. ...
Why is a reporter asking a 7 year old if it was hot? Doesn’t it make more sense to ask senior citizens in wheelchairs or strollers about waiting outside of the SSA offices in those weather conditions?
ReplyDeleteSecondly, keeping the public and the employees safe is important. Threats to federal employees have not subsided one bit and the hot weather will not help with the short tempers.
Yes, threats to Federal employees are a real concern. But don't you think treating claimants properly would go a long way to diffusing the problem? Here is the solution used in Texas last year: rent a large white tent, rent chairs, 4 industrial fans and a couple of pallets of water. There is discretional money for safety issues and this is one.
DeleteThe agency has been moving slowly to incorporate some virtual services (e.g. MS Teams). In my mind, the best scenario for any overrun office with low staff is have claimants who need in-person service check-in on a kiosk (some are able to sign in ahead with a pre-scheduled appt) and take a number. Then they can leave the building if they wish, wait in a vehicle with AC, or run other errands, and when your number is up next, perhaps an alert is sent to your phone to report to the building within 15 mins. Then you skip the line and get served without waiting endlessly in a crowded room. Many private companies have call-back option for waiting on hold. This is a similar idea. Restaurants even give you a device that blinks and buzzes when it's your turn. This same technology can be used to make in-office service more effective. With COVID-19, doctors were asking patients to check in by phone when they arrived and then come in once they were called by a staff member. This can be applied on a local level or national level. It just depends on the size of population being served in each office. The rural office where I work has about 10 chairs in the lobby and averages around 40 visitors per day so we don't need this technology like inner-city offices do.
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