From
Government Executive:
Officials with the nation’s largest federal employee union on Friday raised concerns that a 2024 law enabling the General Services Administration to offload federal property based on low occupancy rates could mistakenly target busy Social Security Administration field offices for closure.
In recent months, SSA has implemented a “badge in/badge out” system for measuring how many employees work at the agency’s various offices around the country. That’s part of the federal government’s broader effort to implement the provisions of the 2024 Utilizing Space Efficiently and Improving Technologies Act—USE IT, for short.
The USE IT Act requires federal agencies track the occupancy rates of their various buildings, with a goal of at least 60% occupancy. If a particular office consistently fails to hit that threshold, GSA is empowered to take steps to shrink that agency’s physical footprint. …
AFGE Council 220 President Jessica LaPointe, whose union represents field office and teleservice center employees, told Government Executive that basing whether or not to offload an office solely on employee occupancy data could have unintended consequences at an understaffed agency like SSA. Without additional data, such as non-employee foot traffic or customer demand, a busy but understaffed could be erroneously targeted for closure. …
Wonder why they felt the need to lie to field staff about the reason for the badge in and out rule.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the lie? Compliance with the occupancy act was literally the reason for the badge in / badge out. That was in every talking point that was issued for staff.
DeleteUSE IT Act details are on GSA's website along with occupancy rates for offices. Even with RTO, rates are dismal.
DeleteThis is a good idea. Close all the non-FO buildings and maximize telework. Massive savings. Is this admin too obtuse to see that? Why am I driving two hours to work when my team is spread across the country?
ReplyDeleteWell- SSA employees have been sounding the alarm for years about how overworked and understaffed we are. It falls on deaf ears from leadership to Congress. We continue to get told we have to do more with less.
ReplyDeleteAll the while- the jobs are simply too complex now and the work volume is too much for the wages paid to entry level employees (most come in at GS 5/7).
SSA cannot retain newer employees. And the budgets we keep being given don’t allow for enough hires to even cover for attrition. And a significant portion of the seasoned employees are getting close to retirement age, if not there already.
Maybe if offices start to close Congress and the public will finally wake up.
DJT had no idea what Project 2025 entailed but yet hired many individuals with strong roots in this conservative wish list.
ReplyDeleteThe plan promises a takeover of our country’s system of checks and balances in order to “dismantle the administrative state” – the operations of federal agencies and programs according to current law and regulation, including many of the laws and regulations that govern federal employment.
Nobody should be surprised now since the public was warned many times prior to the election.
There are plenty of things to worry and complain about. Badging in/out should not be one. HQ and other sites have been badging both directions for a while.
ReplyDeleteClose every office and turn it into free housing. Let everyone telework.
ReplyDelete