Last week Social Security Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi sent a message to all Social Security employees informing that Social Security’s plan of returning employees to work on-site has been delayed. Other federal agencies were required to submit reopening plans by now, but the acting commissioner asked for more time in issuing reopening plans for the agency and was granted more time. Below is the full announcement to employees from Kijakazi.
As I enter my second week as Acting Commissioner, I would like to share a bit about my goals, objectives, and for our path forward.
Right now, I am spending much of my time listening to and learning from agency experts. I am meeting with labor unions this week. I also want to hear from you, staff and managers alike. I am relying on you to help identify what we can improve, recommend solutions, and bring about change that helps us serve the public better. If you have an idea you would like to share with me, please send it to the Employee Ideas mailbox.
My goals and objectives for Social Security are straightforward, and they will drive my decisions every day.
Everyone who is eligible for benefits under the programs we administer should receive them. It is up to all of us to identify and resolve any root causes of inequity in accessing our programs.
We must treat our employees fairly and equitably. That means supporting you in the career paths that you choose and recognizing that your success is critical to the success of our organization.
I believe that when we observe or encounter disparities, we should first identify and address systemic barriers that contribute to these disparities before we assume there are deficits in the individuals, families, and communities we serve, or in colleagues with whom we serve.
As our country rebounds from a pandemic that has changed how we engage in our communities, the need for our services is tremendous, particularly for people facing barriers to our services. I know you are wondering about what we are planning for the government-wide transition back to the office and are particularly interested in telework. You may see in the media that yesterday most agencies finalized their plans for reentry. I take this effort seriously, and we have been given a little more time to finalize our plan so that I can ensure it is informed by our employees and stakeholders. Therefore, I will share more information soon. Let me assure you that we will overcome challenges together – thoughtfully and safely.
Thank you for your work every day to help the millions of people who depend on our services.
Kilolo Kijakazi
Acting Commissioner
The clamoring from leaders to open up Social Security offices is getting louder, but it is understandable that they agency be given a bit more time. Kijakazi just recently took over the acting commissioner position after Present Joe Biden relieved Andrew Saul from the top post at Social Security, but hopefully a reopening plan is released soon because many people are becoming restless and the need for in-person service at Social Security is growing.
