Social Security Administration Reviews

Pros

Very Efficient place, using less than 1 dollar to administer out $99 in benefits. The communication within Social Security Administration is amazing. People there are willing to bend over backwards to help you. You have so much responsibility and influence over people's daily lives.

Cons

The programs and policies are set by laws, so they cannot be changed easily. Communication flows better than most places, but there is still barriers because of the size of the organization.

Advice to Senior Management

You have listened and taken care of your employees, please continue to share information.

Pros

benefits, environment, managers, bonus, advancement

Cons

pay, red tape, desk fee, insurance,

Pros

Salary is decent after being there for 5 yrs.

Cons

They do not really care about higher education. If you have a masters, or even two, that will not help you here...

Pros

Compensation is decent for public sector job
Nice work-life balance
Overtime occasionally available

Cons

Career advancement is virtually non-existent. For example, promotions are few and far between. SSA-ODAR says that it is not a "numbers' organization, but it is. Promotions are based on high producers, which are normally people cranking out 4-5 cases a today without any real substantive analysis. Detail opportunities are also reserved for a "chosen" few. I would say that the analyst job is great for someone who has no aspirations of career advancement and enjoys rote work.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote based on quality not quantity of work.

Pros

The people! They have great people who are always willing to help you out on problems. Management also if very understanding of emergency situations and help you balance work priorities with personal ones as well.

Cons

Tedious work - very redundant. Constant budget issues and freezes on hiring, overtime, etc.

Pros

Make good money considering most people in the Agency does not have advance degrees.
There are so many programs, policies and procedures to learn, you will never get bored of the job.
Get to help seniors and disabled people who are in need.

Cons

Management at times favors seniority instead of performance. Also, management is not open to change.

Advice to Senior Management

Reward and promote employees based on performance not seniority.
We should get bonuses based on amount of claims taken properly.

Pros

Job Security. Superb pay. Flexibility with vacation time, sick time and 8hr working schedules. They have a great thrift savings (like 401K) matching plan.

Cons

The office I worked in, you could only get promoted if you were very well liked by the management staff. Not for working hard, skill or experience. The health insurance was very costly.

Advice to Senior Management

Listen to the people who work WITH YOU...stop allowing managers to become militant and inhumane. Stop being prejudiced in more ways than one. Also stop letting too many old BATS that are stuck in their ways become office managers.

Pros

Flexibility.
Pay.
Relaxed environment.
Salary increase every year.
All a family.*

Cons

*gossip was terrible.
Each group had a different system of completing work.
Problems were not handled face to face, they were either ignored or you were yelled at for something you knew nothing about.
Stress; an unnecessary amount of stress.

Pros

Good pay and good benefits.

Cons

Supervisors micromanage because they have time to fill. Employees must perform at a high output level, if they cannot do the job in 40 hours per week they are encouraged to do the work during "credit hours" where you can work and extra hour or so each day then take the time off later. Problem is there is so much work you can never take the time off. Management has favorites who get recognized for work well done when others who do better work go unrewarded and unrecognized.

Advice to Senior Management

Have Supervisors continue to meet with public at windows or take claims...don't expect workers to do work you won't do. Supervisors have time to sit and chat with each other for hours, use it productively to help out.

Pros

collegial environment; job security; room for advancement; meaningful work

Cons

incompetent and unprofessional staff cannot get fired and are a burden

Advice to Senior Management

reinstitute exams for higher level positions instead of letting one person making the hiring decision