FEDERAL EMPLOYEES BACK ON JOB

Federal workers forced to take a four-day holiday were back on the job at the Cape Girardeau Federal Building Monday, catching up on tasks left undone during the battle of wills between Congress and President Clinton.

A compromise Sunday between Republican Congressional leaders and the president ended the partial government shutdown that began Tuesday.

Social Security and Internal Revenue Service employees as well as some secretaries and other federal workers deemed non-essential were among those in Cape Girardeau back at work.

Although the deal wasn't finalized until Sunday, Social Security workers already knew they would be back Monday.

"We received word Friday afternoon that Social Security field employees would all be recalled," said Ted Spencer, Cape Girardeau Social Security district manager. "In the Cape office that is 12 employees who had been on furlough."

Field employees for the Kennett, Sikeston and Park Hills offices, all of which are in the Cape Girardeau district, were recalled at the same time. Basically, employees who were needed to process Social Security, Medicare and veterans' benefits were reclassified from their previous non-essential status.

The 15 employees in the IRS office were pleased to hear of the end of the shutdown, which completely shut the doors of the agency locally.

"I think most of us are glad to be back on the job," said Jim Govreau, an IRS employee.

Govreau and his coworkers had been paying close attention to media reports for word on when they would be expected back. No complaints from the public about lack of service last week were reported.

"I think most people were aware of what was going on," Govreau said.

Although the Social Security office kept a skeleton crew of management personnel on duty, it will take some time for operations to get completely back on track. Two people manned each office in the district.

Spencer said they were able to handle requests from people who had lost their Social Security cards and needed a replacement in order to get their driver's license renewed and take information from people who wanted to file for benefits. However, those forms could not be processed until the remaining office personnel returned.

"It will probably take a week or two to get current again in terms of processing all the actions that need to be," Spencer said.

"It's pretty hectic, but we've found the public very understanding, and I would say it went better than could be expected. But there will be delays caused by the furlough of employees who weren't here to take claims."

Spencer said depending on how busy they are, the office should be caught up by the end of the month. He is thankful the shutdown didn't occur during the first week of the month when checks are sent out.

There is some concern that the return to work is only temporary as the deal to end the shutdown provides for funds to run government through Dec. 15. If a permanent solution is not struck by then, the whole process could start over.

"This is the third furlough for most of us who have been with the agency for 20 years," Spencer said. "We have seen it before but this one lasted the longest. We're hoping the same doesn't happen again Dec. 15."