It was recently reported that three Regional Commissioners for the Social Security Administration received cash awards averaging $54,000 each.

Am I the only one who thinks this isn’t right?

Consider this – The dedicated employees on the field offices awards averaged less than $1,000. And, only the top 20% of employees received an award!

I was in management and had input or made the final decision on who received an award in my office.

When I am talking about awards given in the field offices where the claims are taken and processed, where there are constant demands to do more with less and almost all contact with the public occurred, the awards ranged from about $200-$900.

That was also about the same amount management in the offices received.

The higher up in the bureaucracy that you go, the higher the awards. There is little consideration given to how the individual contributed to the overall success of the agency.

Social Security field offices are understaffed.

It has been Congressional policy for at least the last 20 years to reduce the number of SSA employees every year. Now it is practically impossible to accomplish all the work that is expected of them and do it with any degree of quality.

Yet Congress continues to whittle away at the staffing while wringing their hands and declaring that more work has to be done faster.

But yet, somehow, while decreasing staffing, the funds can be found for $54,000 awards for those at the top.

Thoughts?