Writing Conventions Redux -- Say Her Name

 I wrote about the use of Mr. and Ms. in Writing Conventions -- Mr. and Ms. in February 2021. After watching of Your Honor on NetFlix, I thought it worthwhile to revisit the issue. Spoiler alert, if you intend to watch the series and don't want to read the first three pages of the last chapter of the book first, just go back to the 2021 post. 

Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police officers in Louisville, Kentucky, during the service of a no knock warrant. The protests that followed carried the cry, "Say her name." ABC produced a multi-part documentary about Taylor. YouTube lists six videos, #SayHerName, an open letter to the mother of Breonna Taylor. Stripping Taylor of her name removes the human from the equation. Our culture demands that we recognize the person by saying their name. 

Back to Your Honor. The plot line related to the point of this piece, to say the name of our clients, is simple. Eugene Jones is on trial for trying to kill the son of a mobster that killed his brother (Kofi) but ends up killing the son (Adam) of a dishonored judge (Desiato) that tried to cover up the son's hit and run that killed the younger son (Rocco) of the mobster. That's all we need to know. To the pivotal scene, Eugene tells the jury that his mother had been busted for possession of drugs. Desiato dismisses the charges because the cops lied. The cops arrested Kofi for stealing Desiato's car, the one that Adam drove in the hit and run. 

Eugene describes the next day, he left the house to go get food because the family had not eaten all day. On his way back, the house explodes with his mother and three younger siblings inside. After further examination by defense counsel, the prosecutor objects on the grounds that the question mischaracterized "the deaths of a mother and her children." Eugene responds, "they have names." The judge in the trial asks Eugene to repeat what he said:

Everyone keeps saying ... mother and her children.

My mom was Female Jones, and her kids were Goodluck, Sophie, and Rose. And they have names.

Powerful scene beautifully rendered, and a poignant reminder that people have names. We don't speak to the consultative examiner by that title, we use the doctor's name. But it isn't the doctor's case yet we give more respect to the doctor than our own clients. Say her name. 

Whether it is the real life story of Breonna Taylor or the fictional account of Eugene Jones saying the names of Female, Goodluck, Sophie, and Rose the result is the same. People want their names to be said. The speaking of their names makes their intrinsic humanity real. 

I have long advocated for the use of our clients' last names in our briefing. The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure gives a hollow veil of privacy using the first name, and often the middle name or initial, and partially redacting the last name to the initial. The docket is a public record available on a multitude of websites. If I want to know the name of a client in a particular case, give me five minutes but I only need two. Rule 5.2 is lattice that provides a hint of privacy. So let's drop the charade and listen to our culture, say her name. She is a person with dignity and rights. She has the right to not be called by a demonstrative pronoun or a non-specific temporal status identifier. Say her name. If you want to use the first name and last initial, go for it. But please, your client is not "plaintiff" or even "Plaintiff." 

Say her name. 

Postscript -- I find it difficult to watch legal shows. I struggle to suspend reality. So I confess, Maggie watched the entire two seasons, I watched the first episode, parts of several others, and the last episode. Maggie filled me in on the plot lines and character development. 

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Suggested Citation:

Lawrence Rohlfing, Writing Conventions Redux -- Say Her Name, California Social Security Attorney (October 14, 2024) https://californiasocialsecurityattorney.blogspot.com

The author has been AV-rated since 2000 and listed in Super Lawyers since 2008.

 

The Top Five Job Numbers for Light Unskilled Work

 The growing ubiquity of SkillTRAN and its flagship Job Browser Pro ("JBP") makes it imperative to use and understand the strengths and weaknesses of JBP standing alone and incorporated into OASYS. Searching for light unskilled work using OASY S provides the list of DOT codes sorted by job numbers. 

We start with the observation that JBP list sets out 1,572 DOT codes ranging from 458,000 jobs to 1 job with 124 DOT codes representing no jobs. JBP lists 52 DOT codes as representing 10,000 or more jobs. The 1,572 DOT codes represent about 3.5 million jobs. The top five occupations represent over 1.2 million jobs, more than a third of the total. The top five answers on the board are:

We know where most of these jobs exist. Cashiers work predominantly in retail trade. Power-screwdriver operator is a manufacturing occupation. Housekeeping cleaner work in accommodation in almost have the jobs. Marker works in retail trade, hence the DOT industry designation. And counter attendants work in hotels and restaurants. What we intuitively know is backed up the Occupational and Wage Employment Statistics ("OEWS") and the Employment Projections ("EP"). 

In estimating job numbers for a Social Security disability case, the first question is whether the work represents full-time work. The second question asks for the other physical demands of that full-time work. 

1. Cashiers

The O*NET reports that 43% of cashiers represent full-time work. JBP estimates 32% of jobs represent full-time work. 

The 2023 Occupational Requirements Survey ("ORS") states that cashiers have a maximum lift/carry of 25 pounds at the median. Labor currently defines light work as up to 25 pounds occasionally. SSA has not re-defined light work but to make the program fit with Labor's data, expect that change before the abandonment of the DOT. The 2018 ORS estimated that 35.5% of cashiers engaged in light work. The 2023 ORS does not give a strength estimate by neat classification. 

The estimate of strength requires consideration of maximum weight lifted, frequent weight lifted, occasional weight lifted, and constant weight lifted. 

The constant (68% or more of the day) lifting a negligible weight (one pound or less) is light work even if that is the only lifting requirement. Constant lifting of up to 10 pounds is medium work. Constant lifting of up to 25 pounds is heavy work.  

Frequent lifting of a negligible weight is sedentary work. Frequent lifting up to 10 pounds is light work. Frequent lifting up to 25 pounds is medium work. Frequent lifting up to 50 pounds is heavy work. 

Occasional lifting includes the category of seldom in the ORS and probably the separate measure of maximum lifted. 

What percentage of cashiers engage in light exertion? I use the 2018 first wave final estimate, 35.5%. It is a final first wave estimate. The data does not permit a clean demarcation of 25 versus 20 pounds lifted. 

If a witness wants to use JBP, use the 32% full-time estimate. If a witness does not use JBP, use the 43% full-time estimate. 

Based on the data, there are probably between 1.1 and  1.5 million cashiers working full-time. There are probably between 391,000 and 525,000 light cashier jobs. 

The SSA doctors (CE and DDS) reflexively endorse about six hours of standing/walking in a workday. How many cashiers do not have an expected work requirement of standing/walking six hours? None. The 2018 data set reports standing (including walking) 87.5% of the workday; the 2023 data set reports standing 80% of the workday. The choice of sitting or standing does not limit the amount of standing. The choice applies where the employer endorses sitting but the person can stand or where the job has some functions that sit and some that require standing and the employee can choose when to perform those two different functions. It is not a measure of a sit-stand option. A choice exists in 4.4% of jobs on the 2023 ORS and 5.4% of jobs on the 2018 ORS. 

The number of light unskilled cashier jobs that stand/walk six hours or less in a full-time workday is not statistically represented but is clearly less than 10% of jobs. Stated differently, there is no basis for taking administrative notice of full-time cashier work with standing/walking six hours or less. 

2. Power-Screwdriver Operator

SkillTRAN puts power-screwdriver operator in SOC OEWS group 51-2090, assemblers and fabricators. OEWS use of code 51-2090 includes 51-2092 and 51-2099. It is a composite. The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) also reports 51-2090. I expect that Labor will break out miscellaneous assemblers and fabricators in the next OOH/OEWS releases. 

The OEWS and EP/OOH report between 1,489.280 and 1,498,300 wage and salary employment jobs for assemblers and fabricators.  

The ORS reports that 41.8% of assemblers and fabricators engage in light work -- lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds. 

The ORS reports that less than 63% of assemblers and fabricators engage in unskilled work. 

Using the BLS methodology:

                        1.5 million x 41.8% = 627,000 light jobs

                        627,000 x 63% = 395,010 light unskilled jobs

At the mean, assemblers and fabricators stand/walk 84.2% of the day. At the 25th percentile, assemblers and fabricators stand/walk 85% of the day. The ORS reports < 5% of jobs require sedentary exertion. This not statistical basis for the inference that there are assembler and fabricator jobs that do not require more than 75% of the day standing/walking and do not represent sedentary work. (8 x 75% = 6). 

3. Housekeeping Cleaner

SkillTRAN puts housekeeping cleaner in SOC/OEWS code 37-2012, maids and housekeeping cleaners. SkillTRAN estimates that 54% of maids and housekeeping cleaners represent full-time work. The O*NET reports 86% of maids and housekeeping cleaners represent full-time work. 

The OEWS and EP/OOH report between 826,230 and 1,215,400 wage and salary employment jobs.  

The ORS reports that 70.5% of  maids and housekeeping cleaners engage in light work -- lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds. 

The ORS reports that less than 91.4% of  maids and housekeeping cleaners engage in unskilled work. 

Using the BLS methodology:

                        1.2 million x 70.5% = 846,000 light jobs

                        846,000 x 91.4% = 773,244 light unskilled jobs

At the mean,  maids and housekeeping cleaners stand/walk 95.7% of the day. At the 10th percentile,  maids and housekeeping cleaners stand/walk 87.5% of the day. There is no statistical basis for the inference that there are  maids and housekeeping cleaners jobs that do not require more than 75% of the day standing/walking. 

4. Marker

SkillTRAN puts marker in SOC/OEWS code 53-7065, stockers and order fillers. SkillTRAN estimates that 58% of stockers and order fillers represent full-time work. The O*NET reports 68% of stockers and order fillers represent full-time work. 

The OEWS and EP/OOH report between 2,872,680 and 2,861,200 wage and salary employment jobs for stockers and order fillers.  

The ORS reports that stockers and order fillers have a maximum lift/carry of 25 pounds at the 10th percentile -- BLS defined light work. 

The ORS reports that less than 85.5% of  stockers and order fillers engage in unskilled work. 

Using the BLS methodology:

                        2.8 million x 10% = 280,000 light jobs

                        280,000 x 85.5% = 239,400 light unskilled jobs

At the mean,  stockers and order fillers stand/walk 91.8% of the day. At the 10th percentile, stockers and order fillers stand/walk 80.0% of the day. There is no statistical basis for the inference that there are  stockers and order fillers jobs that do not require more than 75% of the day standing/walking. 

5. Counter Attendant

SkillTRAN puts marker in SOC/OEWS code 53-7065, stockers and order fillers. SkillTRAN estimates that 58% of stockers and order fillers represent full-time work. The O*NET reports 68% of stockers and order fillers represent full-time work. 

The OEWS and EP/OOH report between 2,872,680 and 2,861,200 wage and salary employment jobs for stockers and order fillers.  

The ORS reports that stockers and order fillers have a maximum lift/carry of 25 pounds at the 10th percentile -- BLS defined light work. 

The ORS reports that less than 85.5% of  stockers and order fillers engage in unskilled work. 

Using the BLS methodology:

                        2.8 million x 10% = 280,000 light jobs

                        280,000 x 85.5% = 239,400 light unskilled jobs

At the mean,  stockers and order fillers stand/walk 91.8% of the day. At the 10th percentile, stockers and order fillers stand/walk 80.0% of the day. There is no statistical basis for the inference that there are  stockers and order fillers jobs that do not require more than 75% of the day standing/walking. 

We have examined a third of the light unskilled jobs according to SkillTRAN and its various products. We know from commonsense confirmed by the ORS that light work often requires more than six hours of standing/walking during a full-time workday. This raises the problem of agency policy, SSR 83-10. 

6. Resources

Every person that represents people at hearings needs access to and learn how to use SkillTRAN products Job Browser Pro and/or OASYS. Every representative must understand and know how to use the O*NET, ORS, County Business Patterns, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and the Employment Projections. SkillTRAN links to or reproduces many of these government publications. So too does OccuCollect. 

7. Agency Policy Is Misunderstood and Applied

SSR 83-10 uses the mantra that light and medium work require approximately six hours of walking or standing in a workday. The agency no longer specifies the amount of standing and walking. The state agency does, "about 6 hours." Most vocational experts assume that the absence of a statement implies that the person can stand/walk the whole day. More importantly, SSR 83-10 refines the approximately six hours of standing/walking with the statement, "Sitting may occur intermittently during the remaining time." The remaining time is two hours. Intermittently does not mean the entire time. SSR 83-10 is misunderstood by the agency because it won't read the next sentence for light or medium work. Intermittently means something different than the entirety of the rest of the time. 

___________________________

Suggested Citation:

Lawrence Rohlfing, The Top Five Job Numbers for Light Unskilled Work, California Social Security Attorney (October 1, 2024) https://californiasocialsecurityattorney.blogspot.com

The author has been AV-rated since 2000 and listed in Super Lawyers since 2008.

 

Unskilled Work -- Not Defined in the DOT

Unskilled work is a phrase that the Dictionary of Occupational Titles does not use and does not define. The DOT does define specific vocational preparation (SVP) with SVP 1 requiring short time and SVP 2 requiring up to 30 days. SSA has long defined unskilled work as requiring SVP 1 or 2. Or has it?

The regulations define unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled work. 20 CFR § 404.1568. Subsection (a) defines unskilled work:

Unskilled work is work which needs little or no judgment to do simple duties that can be learned on the job in a short period of time. The job may or may not require considerable strength. For example, we consider jobs unskilled if the primary work duties are handling, feeding and offbearing (that is, placing or removing materials from machines which are automatic or operated by others), or machine tending, and a person can usually learn to do the job in 30 days, and little specific vocational preparation and judgment are needed. A person does not gain work skills by doing unskilled jobs.

 The first sentence contains the word that. Merriam-Webster defines that in paragraph 1.c as "the kind or thing specified as follows." The structure of the definition implies three elements to the definition of unskilled work: (1) little or no judgment; (2) doing simple duties; and (3) learned in a short period of time. If the occupation requires more than little or no judgment, requires doing more than simple duties, or requires a learning in more than a short period of time, it is not unskilled on the Commissioner's regulation. 

The regulation continues to define simple duties that require little or no judgment. Those kinds of duties require: (1) handling; (2) feeding and off bearing; and (3) machine tending. Those duties can be learned in 30 days and require little specific vocational preparation and judgment. We see not only three types of duties but also 30 days or less of training (SVP) and little judgment. The critical word is and, a conjunction. 

What kinds of jobs require handling, feeding and off bearing, or machine tending? Thanks for asking. We turn to the DOT Appendix B. The DOT defines the data, people, and things codes -- the middle three digits of the DOT number. The things code, the sixth digit, the last digit before the hyphen, is the one we are looking at. 

                5 Tending

                6 Feeding-Off Bearing

                7 Handling

If the things code is 0-4, the job does not require as its primary worker functions tending, feeding and off bearing, or handling. Those codes mean:

                0 Setting up

                1 Precision Working

                2 Operating-Controlling

                3 Driving-Operating

                4 Manipulating

Those thing codes do not match the examples of unskilled work define in § 404.1568(a). Those jobs do not require little or no judgment and are not simple even if they require 30 days or less of training (SVP 1 or 2). I did not write the regulation so don't blame me if this upsets your applecart. 

 Chapter 3 of the Revised Handbook for Analyzing Jobs (RHAJ) makes this point clear. Tending and feeding-off bearing are machine-related levels of worker function that require little or no latitude for judgment. Handling is a nonmachine-related level of worker function that requires little or no latitude for judgment. 

The RHAJ defines operating-controlling, driving-operating, and manipulating as having some latitude for judgment. Operating-controlling, driving-operating, and manipulating are not examples of work that require little or no judgment as unskilled work is described in § 404.1568(a). 

The DOT lists 334 codes with the things worker function as 2, 3, or 4. A fair question raised by the SSA regulation asks whether operating-controlling things, driving-operating things, or manipulating things requires simple duties involving little or no judgment despite meeting the and requirement of 30 days or less to learn the occupation's functions. Neither operating-controlling things, driving-operating things, nor manipulating things are examples of unskilled work in § 404.1568(a). SSA could have left the definition of unskilled work as SVP 1 or 2 but did not. SSA defined unskilled work by specifying judgment, learning period, and giving examples of worker functions that fit neatly within the structure of the DOT and RHAJ, the definition of all terms used in the DOT dataset. 

A venerable stalwart in Social Security litigation historically warned that new ideas are frequently wrong. Convincing the courts that the definition of unskilled does not include all occupations with an SVP 1 or 2 is a dangerous undertaking. This piece illustrates that the regulations do not define simple work requiring little or no judgment as the universe of unskilled work. Occupations that do not fit the tending, feeding-off bearing, handling can be considered unskilled but should not be considered simple, repetitive tasks involving little or no judgment. Reasoning level is not the only marker of conflict with an SRT limitation. 

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Suggested Citation:

Lawrence Rohlfing, Unskilled Work -- Not Defined in the DOT, California Social Security Attorney (October 1, 2024) https://californiasocialsecurityattorney.blogspot.com

The author has been AV-rated since 2000 and listed in Super Lawyers since 2008.