There are many government employees who are significantly affected as a result of the shutdown, especially those employees at the Social Security Administration (SSA). There are many workers who are working full-time and not getting paid, and the new issue is that they are being punished for asking for time off.
According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), some unpaid SSA workers have been denied permission to work from home temporarily, a practice known as “episodic telework.” Instead, they’ve been marked as “AWOL,” which stands for “Absent Without Leave.”
There are many employees who already stressed out and are struggling to pay their bills and receiving this notice may add to their stress and anxiety.
Working Without Pay and Under Pressure
It’s important to remember that there are millions of Americans who rely on Social Security as their financial backbone. The SSA provides multiple services to millions and therefore staff are referred to as essential workers, and they are required to work even though they are not receiving pay checks during the shutdown.
Now, what does this mean? Workers still have to drive or commute to work, pay for groceries and utilities without receiving a pay check. Unfortunately, some workers have even made it known that they are unable to afford the cost of just going to work. And when they ask to telework or take a day off to deal with personal issues, some are being told no and then punished with an AWOL mark.
What Is “Episodic Telework”?
Episodic Telework refers to a flexible work arrangement that makes provision for employees to work from home in the event of an emergency such as illness, family care, or transportation problems. It’s important to remember that this isn’t something that’s permanent, it’s just a solution to assist employees in need.
However, it has been claimed that the SSA has made it much more difficult for employees to use this option since the shutdown started. According to union leaders, many petitions are turned down even when workers have valid grounds.
“We’re Doing Our Jobs, But We’re Being Treated Unfairly”
Many SSA employees felt as if the situation is extremely unfair because they are doing their jobs such as processing claims and keeping the agency running, however they are still not being paid.
It’s a sad reality that some even had to borrow money, skip certain meals or rely on other family members for support. Other employees were not allowed to take time off to see to their children or sick family members.
The Union Is Fighting Back
The SSA is being urged by the AFGE to stop punishing its employees during the shutdown. The union contends that workers shouldn’t be reprimanded for circumstances beyond their control, particularly if they haven’t received their pay checks in weeks.
AFGE leaders say they’ve received several reports of unfair treatment, and they want management to show more compassion.
Real People, Real Struggles
It’s important to remember that these are real people with real life issues. These employees have dedicated many years of their life to public service. They work tirelessly helping other Americans every day and now, they’re being forced to work without pay. Even worse that they’re being denied time off.
Every pay check that they miss brings about more and more stress and anxiety. Their frustration increases with each rejected telework request. Additionally, it is evident from each “AWOL” notice that their commitment is not now valued. All the workers are asking for is just a little flexibility as they are already working hard during the shutdown.